Rhetoric Review Mar 2008

“It may seem strange”: Strategic Exclusions in Lincoln's Second Inaugural

Don J. Kraemer California State Polytechnic University

Abstract

Abstract Of the sharp judgment of the South in Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, prior scholarship says it jars because it breaks with his inclusive, conciliatory strategy—a strategy that developed from his ongoing wrestling with God's purposes. This view of this much-studied speech, however, is that the first half of his address obliquely judges the South, a judgment that appeals to the North, reinforcing their affective identification with Lincoln. His suddenly direct judgment, which is then followed by a pivotal paralepsis, finally creates an inclusive moment. This strategic inclusiveness was designed to affect those who most threatened Reconstruction: the Radical Republicans. Notes 1Many thanks to Rhetoric Review's two reviewers, Andrew King and Jan Schuetz, whose careful critique helped improve the argument, and to Steve Dickey, whose example made me read Lincoln in the first place.

Journal
Rhetoric Review
Published
2008-03-25
DOI
10.1080/07350190801921776
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism affect and writing
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (3)

  1. Kraemer (2016)
    Reasonable and Rational: Renewed Loci for Rhetorical Justice
    Philosophy & Rhetoric
  2. Fleming (2013)
    March 1865: The End of Elegance
    Rhetoric Review
  3. Kraemer (2009)
    Identification and Property: Burke's and Lincoln's Ratio of Act and Purpose
    Advances in the History of Rhetoric

References (33)

  1. Barondess Benjamin (1954)
    Three Lincoln Masterpieces
  2. Basler Roy P (1953)
    The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln
  3. Briggs John Channing (2005)
    Lincoln's Speeches Reconsidered
     ↗
  4. Burke Kenneth (1974)
    A Rhetoric of Motives
  5. Burlingame Michael (1997)
    Inside Lincoln's White House: The Complete Civil War Diary of John Hay
Show all 33 →
  1. Campbell Karlyn Kohrs (2005)
    Readings in Rhetorical Criticism
  2. Carpenter Ronald H (1988)
    10.1080/08934218809367457
    Communication Reports  ↗
  3. Carwardine Richard (2006)
    Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power
  4. Donald David Herbert (1995)
    Lincoln
  5. Einhorn Lois J (1992)
    Abraham Lincoln the Orator: Penetrating the Lincoln Legend
  6. Foner Eric (1980)
    Politics and Ideology in the Age of the Civil War
  7. Foner Eric (1988)
    Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution 1863–1877
  8. Hahn Dan F (1979)
    Presidential Studies Quarterly
  9. 10.1353/par.2004.0021
     ↗
  10. Kastely James L (1997)
    Rethinking the Rhetorical Tradition: From Plato to Postmodernism
  11. Leff Michael (2000)
    Readings in Rhetorical Criticism
  12. Lemann Nicholas (2006)
    Redemption: The Last Battle of the Civil War
  13. Levinas Emmanuel (1990)
    Nine Talmudic Readings
  14. McPherson James M (1990)
    Abraham Lincoln and the Second American Revolution
  15. McPherson James M (2007)
    This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War
     ↗
  16. Miller William Lee (2002)
    Lincoln's Virtues: An Ethical Biography
  17. Mitgang Herbert (1971)
    Abraham Lincoln: A Press Portrait
  18. Shenk Joshua Wolf (2005)
    Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness
  19. Slagell Amy R (1991)
    10.1080/10510979109368330
    Communication Studies  ↗
  20. Solomon Martha (1988)
    10.1080/08934218809367459
    Communication Reports  ↗
  21. Tackach James (2002)
    Lincoln's Moral Vision: The Second Inaugural Address
  22. White Ronald C (2002)
    Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural
  23. White Ronald C (2005)
    The Eloquent President: A Portrait of Lincoln Through His Words
  24. Wills Garry (1992)
    Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America
  25. Wills Garry (1999)
    The Atlantic Monthly
  26. Wilson Edmund (1994)
    Patriotic Gore: Studies in the Literature of the American Civil War
  27. Wilson Douglas L (2006)
    Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words
  28. Donald Winkler, H (2003)
    Lincoln and Booth: More Light on the Conspiracy
CrossRef global citation count: 4 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Philosophy & Rhetoric Sep 2024
    Where’s the Rhetoric? Imagining a Unified Field ↗
    Joshua Hanan
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism composition theory genre theory discourse analysis cultural rhetorics argument qualitative research quantitative research digital rhetoric social media grammar and mechanics gender and writing disability studies public rhetoric affect and writing body and rhetoric editorial matter
  2. Rhetoric & Public Affairs Sep 2024
    Liturgy of Change: Rhetorics of the Civil Rights Mass Meeting ↗
    Andrew Booth
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism genre theory african american rhetorics teacher development argument archival research race and writing affect and writing
  3. Rhetoric & Public Affairs Sep 2024
    Greta Thunberg's Gestures: Shame and the Affective Reception of a Climate Icon ↗
    Eric S. Jenkins; Peter K. Bsumek
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism affect and writing
  4. Rhetoric & Public Affairs Jun 2024
    The Evolution of Pragmatism in India: Ambedkar, Dewey, and the Rhetoric of Reconstruction ↗
    Isaac James Richards
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism discourse analysis argument archival research empirical research race and writing affect and writing body and rhetoric book reviews
  5. Philosophy & Rhetoric Dec 2023
    Scale Theory: A Nondisciplinary Inquiry ↗
    S. Scott Graham
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism technical communication gender and writing affect and writing body and rhetoric book reviews editorial matter