Remembering the Maverick: An Analysis of Cross-Partisan Courtesy in Barack Obama's Eulogy for Sen. John McCain

Abstract

This thesis explores the rhetorical strategies in the eulogy former President Barack Obama delivered at Senator John McCain's funeral in 2018. Building on seminal works of rhetorical criticism, this thesis investigates the unique rhetorical situation that gave rise to Obama's speech, as well as how he characterized the situation within his speech. Use of identification in its various forms as well as rhetorical constructions of civility and humor come together to shape a cohesive picture of the persuasive appeals Obama makes in the eulogy. By working within eulogistic and presidential norms, Obama makes appeals to transcendent American values to downplay the political division between himself and McCain and strengthen their identification. He then invites the audience into that shared identity while subtly subverting President Trump, positioning Trump and his supporters as a separate and antithetical group. This piece of rhetorical criticism extends the conversation about rhetoric and partisanship and highlights potential avenues of decreasing polarization through rhetorical civility.