Margaret Chase Smith, Vol. 27

The selected speeches of Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine made throughout her 32 year career in the U.S. Congress are critically analyzed in this rhetorical study. The inquiry focuses on the factors of her political persona that garnered her the support of her constituents and the respect of her colleagues. The chapters are each titled with a segment of her political identity—an American, a Republican, and a women. Thus this work will be of interest to students and scholars of U.S. politics, communications, and women's studies. In addition, this popular political figure should be of interest to readers who want to learn more about the first female U.S. Senator.

A rhetorical study of selected speeches presented during the 32 year political career of Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine.

Booknews

A laudatory look at the oratorical skills of Smith, four-term Senator from Maine. The author argues that the study of Smith's oratory is important because of her involvement in political policy regarding WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, nuclear power, and domestic upheaval; because she was, for a time, the only woman in Senate dominated by men; and because she stands as a model of political integrity. A number of her speeches are analyzed in regard to her political outlook, her role as a woman, her reactions to Kennedy's foreign policy, and her campaign rhetoric. The text of 17 speeches analyzed and mentioned the book are later presented in full. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

MARLENE BOYD VALLIN is Associate Professor of Speech Communication at Pennsylvania State University, Berks-Lehigh Valley College. She is the author of another volume in the Great American Orators series: Mark Twain: Protaganist for the Popular Culture (Greenwood, 1992).