Document Type
Article
Date
Spring 1979
Keywords
William Safire, Syracuse University, rhetoric, American culture
Language
English
Disciplines
American Popular Culture | Rhetoric and Composition
Description/Abstract
Part of a commencement speech delivered by William Safire to the graduating class of 1978 at Syracuse University, William Safire bemoans the state of rhetoric and the written word, chastising not only the White House but society at large. He argues attention spans have steadily waned over the years, with popular culture filling the void where intellectual discourse used to exist.
Recommended Citation
Safire, William. "The Decline of the Written Word." The Courier 16.1 (1979): 22-26.
Source
local input
Additional Information
Adapted from a commencement speech delivered by William Safire on May 13, 1978 at Syracuse University.