3 The oratory of Harold Wilson
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Michael Hill
Abstract
Harold Wilson led the Labour Party for a little over thirteen years from February 1963 until his resignation in April 1976. During this time, he had two spells as Leader of the Opposition and served twice as prime minister. Having established the nature of Wilson's character and the debate over the 1964-70 Labour government, this chapter examines Wilson's oratorical methods and his use of the devices of ethos, pathos and logos. The chapter assesses how Wilson deployed his oratorical skills in Parliament, at the Labour Party conference and examines his use of public meetings and the media. The chapter concentrates on Wilson's oratory during the period between him becoming Labour leader in 1963, to when he left office in 1970, as it was in this period that his political reputation was made and then broken.
Abstract
Harold Wilson led the Labour Party for a little over thirteen years from February 1963 until his resignation in April 1976. During this time, he had two spells as Leader of the Opposition and served twice as prime minister. Having established the nature of Wilson's character and the debate over the 1964-70 Labour government, this chapter examines Wilson's oratorical methods and his use of the devices of ethos, pathos and logos. The chapter assesses how Wilson deployed his oratorical skills in Parliament, at the Labour Party conference and examines his use of public meetings and the media. The chapter concentrates on Wilson's oratory during the period between him becoming Labour leader in 1963, to when he left office in 1970, as it was in this period that his political reputation was made and then broken.
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
