3 The oratory of Harold Macmillan
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Brendan Evans
Abstract
Macmillan’s oratory is closely linked to the persona which he developed to appeal both within the Conservative Party and to communicate with the wider electorate. His manner of speaking across all arenas was cultivated to harmonise with the political personality that he presented. His true personality differed from the unflappability that he displayed in public although his style of speech was designed specifically to reinforce the cultivated nonchalance of his political personality. The Edwardian personality that Macmillan portrayed was a great strength but later became a liability. His style symbolised a great nation and served the needs of for a time his party and country, neither of which were ready to confront Britain’s declining world power and status. Nonetheless, without a resort to demagoguery he healed internal party divisions and for a while he exemplified the Conservative Party’s skill of appealing, on a behalf of a still socially exclusive party, to a mass electorate.
Abstract
Macmillan’s oratory is closely linked to the persona which he developed to appeal both within the Conservative Party and to communicate with the wider electorate. His manner of speaking across all arenas was cultivated to harmonise with the political personality that he presented. His true personality differed from the unflappability that he displayed in public although his style of speech was designed specifically to reinforce the cultivated nonchalance of his political personality. The Edwardian personality that Macmillan portrayed was a great strength but later became a liability. His style symbolised a great nation and served the needs of for a time his party and country, neither of which were ready to confront Britain’s declining world power and status. Nonetheless, without a resort to demagoguery he healed internal party divisions and for a while he exemplified the Conservative Party’s skill of appealing, on a behalf of a still socially exclusive party, to a mass electorate.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations x
- Introduction 1
- 1 The oratory of Stanley Baldwin 14
- 2 The oratory of Winston Churchill 30
- 3 The oratory of Harold Macmillan 47
- 4 The oratory of Iain Macleod 62
- 5 The oratory of Enoch Powell 74
- 6 The oratory of Keith Joseph 87
- 7 The oratory of Margaret Thatcher 103
- 8 The oratory of Michael Heseltine 121
- 9 The oratory of John Major 137
- 10 The oratory of William Hague 150
- 11 The oratory of Boris Johnson 166
- 12 The oratory of David Cameron 182
- Conclusion 198
- Appendix 205
- Bibliography 208
- Index 226
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations x
- Introduction 1
- 1 The oratory of Stanley Baldwin 14
- 2 The oratory of Winston Churchill 30
- 3 The oratory of Harold Macmillan 47
- 4 The oratory of Iain Macleod 62
- 5 The oratory of Enoch Powell 74
- 6 The oratory of Keith Joseph 87
- 7 The oratory of Margaret Thatcher 103
- 8 The oratory of Michael Heseltine 121
- 9 The oratory of John Major 137
- 10 The oratory of William Hague 150
- 11 The oratory of Boris Johnson 166
- 12 The oratory of David Cameron 182
- Conclusion 198
- Appendix 205
- Bibliography 208
- Index 226
