Presidential Presidential LeaksLeaks

Pete KoprincePete Koprince

Presidential RhetoricPresidential Rhetoric

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Quotes about Presidential Quotes about Presidential LeaksLeaks ““Richard Nixon was an Richard Nixon was an

inveterate leaker.”inveterate leaker.” Jeb Stuart MagruderJeb Stuart Magruder

““It’s always the son of a It’s always the son of a bitch who leaks.”bitch who leaks.” Richard NixonRichard Nixon

““Presidents may fume Presidents may fume about unofficial leaks…all about unofficial leaks…all the while sanctioning the while sanctioning mediated ‘official leaks’ mediated ‘official leaks’ orchestrated to influence orchestrated to influence policy-making and public policy-making and public opinion.”opinion.” Keith V. EricksonKeith V. Erickson

Leaks as Rhetorical ActsLeaks as Rhetorical Acts White house leaks White house leaks

information through information through presspress

Enable administrations Enable administrations to:to: Test agendasTest agendas Initiate public policyInitiate public policy Divert public attentionDivert public attention Defame opponentsDefame opponents Manage impressionsManage impressions Construct political realitiesConstruct political realities Signal foreign policySignal foreign policy Mislead White House Mislead White House

enemiesenemies

Agenda Testing LeaksAgenda Testing Leaks Presidents rarely commit to Presidents rarely commit to

policy without first assessing policy without first assessing its popularityits popularity

Allow presidents to side with Allow presidents to side with the majority voice by first the majority voice by first gauging public opiniongauging public opinion Ford and Carter both Ford and Carter both

leaked info about a leaked info about a proposed gasoline tax to proposed gasoline tax to see what the reaction see what the reaction would be. The public did would be. The public did not approve, so the tax not approve, so the tax plans never came to pass.plans never came to pass.

Reagan leaked names of Reagan leaked names of cabinet members, but cabinet members, but public disapproval public disapproval prompted Reagan to call it prompted Reagan to call it mere “speculation” and mere “speculation” and pick new candidates.pick new candidates.

Policy LeaksPolicy Leaks Rhetorically influence the Rhetorically influence the

policy-making processpolicy-making process Facilitate bargainingFacilitate bargaining

Reagan, 1983 – Reagan, 1983 – bargaining about bargaining about tradeoffs in the military tradeoffs in the military and social programs and social programs budgets.budgets.

Speed the legislative processSpeed the legislative process Reagan, 1985 – leaked Reagan, 1985 – leaked

threats to “go to the threats to “go to the people” to speed the people” to speed the 1985 budget through 1985 budget through congress.congress.

Diversionary LeaksDiversionary Leaks Dramatic, unexpected, or Dramatic, unexpected, or

compelling leaks with the compelling leaks with the intent to distract public intent to distract public attentionattention

Often employed when Often employed when programs or policies aren’t programs or policies aren’t working or opposition voice working or opposition voice require “muffling”require “muffling” LBJ leaked news of an LBJ leaked news of an

agreement by US and Russia agreement by US and Russia to limit arms, right before to limit arms, right before Robert Kennedy gave a Robert Kennedy gave a speech in opposition to the speech in opposition to the administration’s policies in administration’s policies in Vietnam.Vietnam.

Nixon, Ford, and Carter all Nixon, Ford, and Carter all leaked positive fiscal stories leaked positive fiscal stories directly prior to negative directly prior to negative reports by the Treasury and reports by the Treasury and Commerce Department.Commerce Department.

Character Leaks (enhancement, Character Leaks (enhancement, defamation)defamation)

Image enhancing leaks: Image enhancing leaks: rhetorically invent, rhetorically invent, embellish, or reinforce a embellish, or reinforce a president’s credibility.president’s credibility. Kennedy leaked account of Kennedy leaked account of

Cuban Missile Crisis to Cuban Missile Crisis to reporters who depicted him reporters who depicted him and colleagues as “great and colleagues as “great heroes”.heroes”.

Defamation leaks: designed Defamation leaks: designed to discredit or malign an to discredit or malign an opponent’s character.opponent’s character. Nixon leaked information Nixon leaked information

about Edward Kennedy’s about Edward Kennedy’s relationships with many relationships with many women.women.

Kennedy discredited a Kennedy discredited a colleague who privately voice colleague who privately voice opposition to the Bay of Pigs opposition to the Bay of Pigs invasion by leaking his invasion by leaking his position.position.

Other types of leaksOther types of leaks Reality Reality

construction leaksconstruction leaks Reagan with the Reagan with the

Soviet UnionSoviet Union Diplomacy leaksDiplomacy leaks

Nixon with Jordan, Nixon with Jordan, Reagan with LibyaReagan with Libya

Disinformation Disinformation leaksleaks Kissinger leak about Kissinger leak about

Cuba – proved falseCuba – proved false

Rhetorical benefits and Rhetorical benefits and risksrisks

Benefits to leaks:Benefits to leaks: AnonymityAnonymity Seen as insider political Seen as insider political

“truth” – more resistance to “truth” – more resistance to public statementspublic statements

Reduce risk of overexposureReduce risk of overexposure Avoid risk of verbal Avoid risk of verbal

mistakesmistakes Risks to leaksRisks to leaks::

““Bungled” leaks can cause Bungled” leaks can cause many problemsmany problems

Risk vengeance of those Risk vengeance of those who suspect “they have who suspect “they have been lied to, manipulated, been lied to, manipulated, or brokered for political or brokered for political advantage.” – (Erickson, advantage.” – (Erickson, 208)208)