THE PUBLIC SPEAKING OF PAUL V. MCNUTT

STEVEN MERRIMAN BUCK, Purdue University

Abstract

Buck, Steven M. Ph.D., Purdue University, June 1960. The Public Speaking of Paul V. McNutt. Major Professor: N. B. Beck.This study investigated and evaluated the public speaking of Paul V. McNutt, former governor of Indiana and long-time federal official.. Specifically these questions were posed: (1) What types of speaking did McNutt do? (2) What kind of speech training did he receive? (3) What. were his theories of rhetoric and speaking? (4) What method of speech preparation did he use? (5) What major ideas predominated in his speak- ing? (6) What kinds of arguments and evidence did he use and how valid were they? (7) What were the characteristics of his oral style? (8) How did he adapt to conditions, times, and audiences? (9) What were the immediate, intermediate, and long-range effects of his speaking?McNutt gave more than a thousand political, policy making, infor mative, patriotic, and ceremonial speeches from 1925 through 1950.Paul McNutt had no formal training in public address. He had ex- tensive dramatic experience in college and received additional training by participating in student government. McNutt participated in the "MootCourt" at Harvard Law School.No statement of his theories of public address was found. The frequency of his speaking and his careful preparation indicate that he ranked public speaking high as a tool of government, an aid to his per- sonal career, and as a source of income.

Degree

Ph.D.

Subject Area

Theater

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