Mary Lincoln refers to a tradition that "once a man is chosen as the presidential candidate, he no longer gives speeches". How do you think that helped or hurt a candidate in the 1850s? What about today?

Mary Lincoln refers to a tradition that "once a man is chosen as the presidential candidate, he no longer gives speeches" (p. 158). How do you think that helped or hurt a candidate in the 1850s? Do you feel it would help or hurt today’s candidates if this tradition returned?

It is an interesting perspective, assuming if someone is chosen as the candidate most voters are already aware of the candidate's positions on issues. It would never work today, however. Candidates today are much too enamored with their own voices.

Speeches are important, presidential debates are important. We need to know our candidates and especially in debates we learn much about the different personalities!

People in the 1850s+ got most of their political news from multiple newspapers that they read and shared with others and political organizations. Today it's much easier for the candidates to be mobile and talk to people via tv, the internet, and all the other electronic devices. For me, the more we know, whether from speeches, writings, or electronics, the better citizen we can be.

I agree with MariontheLibrarian as to where people became informed about the news including political news which was through newspapers unless specifically invited to an event. Today much of the news is read or heard on social media and to lesser extent talk radio.

I don't know about the 1850s, but today people expect the President to make speeches. However, while Lincoln spoke from his heart, today's politicians are more likely to say what they think the people want to hear. Also, Presidents today have speech writers.

Oh how I wish that was true now! I am not sure when or how it changed, but today we need some rules about political speechmaking now. It is difficult however to understand how voters knew the issues and where the candidates stood.

Today we expect our politicians at all levels of government to give speeches to let the public know where they stand on current issues. The World evolves more quickly now and the public expects to be updated by news media and social media. How do we know the true news when each news channel slants news to their own political views?