2 The oratory of Hugh Gaitskell
-
Timothy Heppell
Abstract
This chapter shows how Hugh Gaitskell used parliamentary debate to identify the significance of Gaitskell to the political thought of the Labour Party. It considers his conference oratory and examines his public oratory in terms of wider media appearances and electioneering. The chapter evaluates his rhetorical methods and the extent to which he drew upon logos (the appeal to reason and logic), pathos (the appeal to emotion) and ethos (an appeal based on one's character). One of the greatest parliamentary challenges that Gaitskell would experience would be the Suez Crisis. Gaitskell was at his most effective in parliamentary terms when critiquing the appointment of Lord Home to the Foreign Office in 1961. His rhetorical methods and style were also a by-product of his times and his own personality. But in the febrile atmosphere of Labour politics, Gaitskell was in policy, ideology and oratory seen as the antithesis to Aneurin Bevan.
Abstract
This chapter shows how Hugh Gaitskell used parliamentary debate to identify the significance of Gaitskell to the political thought of the Labour Party. It considers his conference oratory and examines his public oratory in terms of wider media appearances and electioneering. The chapter evaluates his rhetorical methods and the extent to which he drew upon logos (the appeal to reason and logic), pathos (the appeal to emotion) and ethos (an appeal based on one's character). One of the greatest parliamentary challenges that Gaitskell would experience would be the Suez Crisis. Gaitskell was at his most effective in parliamentary terms when critiquing the appointment of Lord Home to the Foreign Office in 1961. His rhetorical methods and style were also a by-product of his times and his own personality. But in the febrile atmosphere of Labour politics, Gaitskell was in policy, ideology and oratory seen as the antithesis to Aneurin Bevan.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Foreword by the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP ix
- Acknowledgements xi
- List of abbreviations xii
- Introduction 1
- 1 The oratory of Aneurin Bevan 14
- 2 The oratory of Hugh Gaitskell 31
- 3 The oratory of Harold Wilson 46
- 4 The oratory of Barbara Castle 62
- 5 The oratory of James Callaghan 76
- 6 The oratory of Michael Foot 93
- 7 The oratory of Tony Benn 110
- 8 The oratory of Neil Kinnock 125
- 9 The oratory of John Smith 141
- 10 The oratory of Tony Blair 156
- 11 The oratory of Gordon Brown 172
- 12 The oratory of Ed Miliband 187
- Conclusion 200
- Bibliography 205
- Index 224
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Foreword by the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP ix
- Acknowledgements xi
- List of abbreviations xii
- Introduction 1
- 1 The oratory of Aneurin Bevan 14
- 2 The oratory of Hugh Gaitskell 31
- 3 The oratory of Harold Wilson 46
- 4 The oratory of Barbara Castle 62
- 5 The oratory of James Callaghan 76
- 6 The oratory of Michael Foot 93
- 7 The oratory of Tony Benn 110
- 8 The oratory of Neil Kinnock 125
- 9 The oratory of John Smith 141
- 10 The oratory of Tony Blair 156
- 11 The oratory of Gordon Brown 172
- 12 The oratory of Ed Miliband 187
- Conclusion 200
- Bibliography 205
- Index 224
