The Art of Persuasion

Especially, in the political world is really common to see famous persuasive leaders. Politics that is commonly employed, convincing a person’s politics as any informing ideology which has the potential of persuasion, of influencing another person’s belief and value systems. I am struck by the diversity of persuasive modes which they exhibit. I have read about two great persuader’s leaders in the U.S, such as Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson. Beyond their presidential campaign, I believe that they went beyond their political power promoting their own political views among people, negotiation with other political subjects, and making laws, and their persuasive styles were present throughout their government. They had to persuade their people, but they also did a great job to influence the Congress and politicians with the only purpose to make huge changes in the history of their country with their own styles.

For example, Abraham Lincoln, who was called Lincoln the persuader. His persuasion went beyond that a simple political position. Famous in the 1850s for his speeches and his ability to talk into framing common ground (as in his debates with Stephen A. Douglas), Lincoln was always carefully prepared, with

many of his arguments and positions written out and polished in advance. Wilson remarks that “Abraham Lincoln was president, the American public gradually discovered, much to its collective astonishment, that this unprepossessing Illinois politician had remarkable abilities as a writer.” Moreover, Lincoln’s ceremonial speeches, messages to Congress, proclamations, and public letters in newspapers proved to be timely, engaging, consistently lucid, killing in argument, and most important of all, invested with memorable and even inspiring language.

The next great example of persuasive leaders was Lyndon Johnson; I remember one of the famous pictures that it is in the hall of the L.B.J library. I confessed that this picture persuaded me, and his style.

 “LBJ leaning on his friend Abe Fortas, whom he would later name to the Supreme Court, and even later attempt to elevate to Chief Justice.“ 

LBJ was famous for his powers of persuasion, dispensing them with what became known as "the Johnson Treatment." He used his imposing physical size and intimidating personality to emphasize his point. According to the article published by Brummet, president editor, “The Johnson Treatment has been described as having 'a large St. Bernard licking your face and pawing you all over.' LBJ was a big man, and the original "close talker." The Johnson Treatment was a singular combination of physical intimidation and coercion, and it was one of his most effective tools as he mastered the Senate, and later, to a far lesser degree, the Presidency.”

According to Conger, “credibility grows out of two sources: expertise and relationship.” Political leaders have their especial style to persuade and influence their people. I think for politicians persuasion is art because it their profession. Then, the lectures of these greater persuaders are based on their original and unique persuasive style. In short, a variety of methods are applied in politics, which include promoting their own political views among people, their power of negotiation with other political subjects, making laws, and exercising force, including warfare against adversaries. the challenge here becomes to fill their gaps are their own styles to persuade.

References

Brummet J. (2011, February). The Johnson Treatment: LBJ's version of persuasion and coercion, with photos and links to 15 previous stories on LBJ and "The Johnson Treatment". Jack Brummet Presidents Editor. Retrieved from: http://jackbrummet.blogspot.com/2011/02/johnson-treatment-lbjs-version-of.html Conger, J. (1998, June). The necessary art of persuasion. Harvard Business. (pp. 57-68).
Wilson, D. (2006). Lincoln the Persuader. The American Scholar Retrieved from: http://theamericanscholar.org/lincoln-the-persuader/