Theodore Roosevelt referred to the White House as “bully-pulpit.” more below

Question

Theodore Roosevelt referred to the White House as “bully-pulpit.” Discuss the meaning of this phrase in terms of contemporary politics and current issues.

Answer 1

When an individual in a position of prominence uses his position to influence the thinking or mind set of others. Ministers do it all the time as well as governors, mayors and other officials of authority that want to influence their audiences to follow their wishes or to cover their mistakes by clouding the issue. It is a position unavailable to the average person who is the target of the of the persuasive efforts.

There can be more than one bully-pulpit from which the same issue is addressed. i.e. global warming.