Differences between traditional and modern presidencies
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Modern presidencies come with complexities that traditional presidencies did not have. The first presidential office was composed of the president and his secretary- now, the president makes thousands of appointments when he enters office. Beginning with Andrew Jackson, who saw his election as the common man's victory, and carried on by successors like Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, the idea of the president as "one of the people" made way for massive changes in modern-day presidencies.
"Regular Joe" Factor
The State of the Union, along with countless other speeches made by modern day presidents, is a chance for the president to connect with Americans, explain his intentions and put concerns to rest. Modern day presidents like Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton speak as one of the people- they use their rhetorical skill to connect with the common man. This kind of speech was considered indulgent and was discouraged in traditional presidencies- in fact, presidents didn't even use their election as a cue to push through their personal policies until the early 20th century.
Role of the President's Wife
Traditionally, the First Lady mostly handled hosting social functions and state events, like Martha Washington and Dolly Madison. Helen Taft and Lou Hoover upgraded their roles as President's wives by becoming advocates for immigrants and women. Eleanor Roosevelt was the real stand-out, serving as a social activist and public political partner to her husband. She even spoke on his behalf and served as a presidential ambassador. Bill Clinton used his wife's experience and intelligence as part of his campaign, telling his supporters they would be getting a two-for-one deal if they elected him. The role of the president's wife seems to escalate as time marches on, so much so that Hillary Clinton even ran for president herself.
Television
It has been widely speculated that if television had been invented when Franklin D. Roosevelt was running for president, he would not have been elected because he was in a wheelchair. In more modern presidencies, the president is constantly giving speeches, waving at crowds, even playing with the dog on the White House lawn, all on television. Articles are written solely on modern president's speaking abilities, facial expressions and even choice of tie. When Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy participated in the first televised presidential debate, Nixon was pale and sickly looking. He refused makeup, much to his detriment- the dapper and attractive Kennedy was much more appealing on screen. What presidents say --and how they look on television when they say it--can change a person's vote.
Social Media and the Internet
Twitter and Facebook have changed the way presidents communicate, and also how their actions are delivered and perceived. Information is readily available online, whether through President Obama's tweets to the nation or a YouTube video of one of George W. Bush's speeches. Presidents must focus much more on damage control and public relations. Some presidential hopefuls have suffered serious damage through poor social media decisions, such as John Edwards' YouTube video making fun of his hair care or Hillary Clinton's take on "The Sopranos."
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