The Great Silent Majority

In his televised and widely watched speech to the nation on November 3, 1969, Pres. Richard M. Nixon introduced a phrase—“silent majority”—and a policy—Vietnamization of the war effort—that echo down to the present day. Nixon’s appearance framed the terms in which much of the subsequent civil conflict and military strategy would be understood.
The first single volume dedicated to this speech, this addition to the distinguished Library of Presidential Rhetoric provides the speech text, a summary of its context, its rhetorical elements, and the disciplinary analyses that have developed.
KARLYN KOHRS CAMPBELL is a professor of communication at the University of Minnesota.