The Rhetorical Presidency and “Accountability” in Education Reform: Comparing the Presidential Rhetoric of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush

Abstract

To assess how presidential rhetoric shapes public policy over time, this essay analyzes the rhetorical frame of accountability and its role in the current education policy of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The essay compares the presidential rhetoric of two U.S. presidents, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, because President Reagan's rhetoric about the standards movement set the stage for the current education policy of NCLB and President Bush's rhetoric of accountability with federal funds. The article concludes that an emphasis on individual accountability and personal responsibility continues to shape education reform and public policy across partisan lines, even with President Obama's administration. Such rhetoric prevents education reform that focuses on increasing equality for students in the United States. The article suggests rhetorical framing recommendations for the Obama administration and future presidents.

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