Public Relations, 4th Edition

10Government and political public relations

Stephen Stockwell

In this chapter

1. Introduction
2. Rhetoric, persuasion and propaganda
3. Ministerial media minders
4. Government information officers
5. Lobbying
6. Election campaigns
7. Conclusion

Introduction

In his 1863 Gettysburg Address, United States president Abraham Lincoln redefined democracy as ‘government of the people, by the people, for the people’. The speech remains a masterpiece of brevity (272 words), but it also contains a powerful mix of vision statement and practical purpose. Lincoln was one of the early masters of public relations. He used the Gettysburg Address to reposition his unpopular presidency, held responsible for an unwinnable war. Speaking through the press to his wider public, Lincoln used ...