Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
Part Three
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ENTER
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
Text Appreciation
I. Text Analysis
1. Theme
2. Structure
3. Further discussion
II.Writing Devices
1. Irony
2. Litotes
III.Sentence Paraphrase
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.
Text Analysis
Theme of the text
According to the author, their
President is best defined as a
corporate salesman, selling the
business ideology to the general
public both in and outside the
country. However his ideology is not
the only reason why he is elected
president. A more important reason
is the fact that without the support
of business, he cannot be the
President in the first place.
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The end of Theme.
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.
Text Analysis
Structure of the text
Part 1 (paras. 1—5 ): The President should be defined as a
corporate salesman, selling the business
ideology to the general public both home
and abroad.
Part 2 (paras. 6—8): Most presidents are millionaires when
campaigning and leaving. Their life style
is quite luxurious.
Part 3 (paras. 9—12):Presidents tend to trade favors for
campaign money, corrupt and operate
unlawfully.
Part 4 (paras.13—17):Presidents always serve those who control
the wealth and power of the country and
just make a show of serving the public.
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The end of Structure.
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.

Text Analysis
Question: According to the author, the
president of the United States plays an
important role—guardian and representative of
corporate America. How do you understand
“corporate America”?
Corporate America is an informal phrase describing
the business world of the United States.
Example:
Corporate America Pours in Millions to Fund
President Bush's Second Inauguration
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To be continued on the next page.
mentioned
in Para. 1
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.

Text Analysis
Every modern president has had occasion to
praise the “free-market system” and denounce
collectivist alternatives.
in Para. 2
For Reference
Question: What does the author imply when he
says “every modern president” instead of “every
president”?
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.
Text Analysis
 For reference: The author does not
mean to blame all the American
presidents. In paragraph three he
specifies those “White House
occupants from Kennedy to Clinton”.
The facts and examples the author
gives are also closely involved with
those presidents from Kennedy to
Clinton.
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.

Text Analysis
Question: List out the virtues generally thought of
as positive qualities of the corporate ideology.
self-reliant competition;
private initiative;
vigor;
resolve;
spiritual revival;
…
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.

Text Analysis
… the president tends to treat capitalist interests
as synonymous with the nation’s well-being.
Question: In so-called “nation’s well-being”,
who are ignored or sacrificed?
The ordinary people.
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in Para. 5
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.
Text Analysis
 Question: What
kind of people, we can learn
from paragraph 6, are likely to gain super
power in American political world?
Those who are millionaires with the support of
industry and banking.
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.

Text Analysis
Question: List the examples mentioned in the
text to illustrate the subtle interdependent
relationships between the president and big
corporations.
Nixon and ITT; Reagan and oil companies; Bush
and “Team 100”, etc. These examples prove their
mutual dependence. With the money of the
corporation, the presidents gain the power; with
the power, in return, the presidents protect the
corporations’ interest.
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.

Text Analysis
Thus, long before Bill Clinton thought of doing it,
at least six other presidents employed illegal FBI
wiretaps to gather incriminating information on
rival political figures.
Question: Is there any significance about the
figure “six”?
In fact, it is ironic that those who are supposed
great as President and loyal as Chief Legislator
actually turn out to be a law-breaker. Illegally
using FBI wiretaps is not a rare case.
Sarcastically the presidents involved are up to
seven.
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To be continued on the next page.
in Para. 11
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.

Text Analysis
Question: What are the “dual role” the president
plays?
He must satisfy the major interests of corporate
America and high finance and at the same time
make a show of serving the public. He presents
himself as a man of the people while quietly
serving those who control the wealth and power
of the country.
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To be continued on the next page.
in Para.
13
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.

Text Analysis
Question: For what did Kennedy do battle with
the steel industry?
In such a conflict, he had to give up the
individual company to protect the common
interest of other big industry and business.
But seemingly he was serving the public.
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.

Text Analysis
Question: What does the author mean when he
states “or, for that matter, any office” at the end
of the text?
The author suggests that any person, once he
takes an office, tends to abuse the power
endowed, be he the president or any officer.
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.
Text Analysis
Further discussion about the article
What is the role that American president plays that
is seldom mentioned?
Does the author agree that the U.S. is number one?
Does the President always tell his people the
unpleasant truth about their economy?
Why do the American presidents usually downplay
economic crises and emphasize outside dangers?
Who are considered the greatest threats to
corporate America?
How does the President usually weigh the balance
between the national well-being and the business
interests?
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
I.
Text Analysis
Further discussion about the article
Why do the presidents attach so much importance
to the overseas investment of big U.S. corporations?
What is the presidents’ life style once they are
elected into the White House?
How does the author describe the relationship
between the president and the business
community?
Does the presidency necessarily lend greatness to
its occupants?
How does the author explain the fact that
occasionally the presidents also fight against some
business interests?
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The end of Further Discussion.
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
II.
Writing Devices
Irony
It is said that the greatness of the presidential
office lends greatness to its occupant, so that
even persons of mediocre endowment grow
from handling presidential responsibilities and
powers. (11)
Irony:
a figure of speech that achieves emphasis
by saying the opposite of what is meant,
the intended meaning of the words being
the opposite of their usual sense
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What effect
do you think
it has here?
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
II.
Writing Devices
Irony
Irony is used when what we say or write
conveys the opposite of its literal meaning.
For example, "Mother will be happy to hear
what you have done now," when Mother will
not be at all happy.
Other examples: "Nice weather!" when it is
raining.
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More examples
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
II.
Writing Devices
Irony: more examples
• She was an hour late. “Good of you to arrive on
time.” George said.
• “This is my brilliant son, who failed out of college.”
• (Senators Gramm, Rudman and Hollings) Blessed
are the young, for they shall inherit the national
debt.
• “Every time we trusted Democrats,” says House
Republican Whip Newt Gingrich, “they cheated.”
• Such kindergarten compliments were happily
returned.
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The end of Irony.
Where does the
irony lie in the
following
sentences?
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
II.
Writing Devices
Litotes
Prosperity, our president tell us, is here or not
far off… (4)
Litotes:
a form of understatement which
uses the denied opposite of a word
to weaken or soften a message
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What effect
do you
think it has
here?
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
II.
Writing Devices
Litotes
… they see no reason why they shouldn’t be
allowed to exercise their rights like other
citizens and ask their friend, the president of the
United States, for a little help. (9)
Litotes:
the affirmative expressed by the
negation of its opposite
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What effect
do you
think it has
here?
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
II.
Writing Devices
Litotes
More examples
Examples:
•That's not bad. (instead of: That's
good/great.)
•Boats aren't easy to find in the dark.
(instead of: Boats are hard/difficult
to find in the dark.)
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
II.
Writing Devices
Litotes: more examples
• It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on
the brain.
—J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
• Running a marathon in under two hours is no
small accomplishment.
• The face wasn’t a bad one; it had what they called
charm.
• If he goes out of power, no tear is to be shed.
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The end of Litotes.
Where does the
litotes lie in the
following
sentences?
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 1
Seldom mentioned is this role as guardian and
representative of corporate American. (1)
inversion
This role is seldom mentioned as guardian
and representative of America of, for and
by corporations.
go to 2
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More examples
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase
Inversion of the verb after certain adverbs:
• Never before had I been asked to accept a
bribe.
• Not only do they rob you, they smash
everything too.
• Not until he got home did he realize that he
had lost it.
• On no account must this switch be touched.
• Only by shouting was he able to make
himself heard.
• She had no money, nor did she know anyone
she could borrow from.
back to 1
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 2
Presidents do their share to make the public
accept the corporate business ideology. (2)
do one’s part of
a job or duty
the theories of modern capitalism
Among Western academicians,
“ideology” often carries a derogatory
connotation, implying that it is
dogmatic, impractical, and visionary.
go to 3
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 3
Every modern president has had occasion to
praise the “free-market system” and
denounce collectivist alternatives. (2)
need to
generally considered
synonymous with capitalism
a term used to refer to
the socialist systems
Every modern president has needed to speak
highly of capitalist systems and badly of
socialist ones.
go to 4
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 4
… that our social problems and economic
difficulties can be solved with enough “vigor”
and “resolve”, or through “self-reliance” or a
“spiritual revival”, … (3)
strong
determination
to succeed One of the favorite expressions with
American political and religious leader.
Americans are often reminded of the
need to revive their pioneering spirit,
their sense of the “manifest destiny”,
their “American dream”.
go to 5
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 5
Prosperity, our presidents tell us, is here or not
far off—but so are the nation’s many wild-eyed
enemies, be they communists, revolutionaries,
or terrorists. (4)
having an
adverbial clause
insane, angry,
of concession
and distressed
expression in
Whether they are
communists, …
the eyes
Our presidents say that we are having or going to
have a prosperous society. Ironically, the way
also fits in with the so-called dangerous
enemies—communists, revolutionaries or
go to 6
terrorists as they call it.
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To be continued on the next page.
More examples
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase
1. Be matter gaseous, liquid or solid,
it is made of atoms.
2. All countries should be equal, be
they large or small.
back to 5
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 6
... a record trade deficit, and a runaway national
debt. (4)
More examples
the highest level that
has ever been reached
becoming
uncontrollable
… the highest trade deficit that has ever been
reached, and a national debt that is becoming
uncontrollable.
go to 7
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase
1. a record level of unemployment
2. Profits were at record levels.
3. She won the race in record time.
4. runaway success
5. runaway inflation
back to 6
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 7
Presidents usually downplay crises relating to the
economy and emphasize the ones needed to
justify U.S. interventionism abroad, huge military
budgets, and curbs on political dissent. (4)
antithesis:
make sth. seem
downplay
less important
vs
than it really is
emphasize
the belief that the
government has the
efforts to control and limit
duty to influence
political opinions different
what happens in
from the official views
foreign countries
go to 8
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 8
In fact, a president’s primary commitment abroad
is not to democracy as such but to the global
“free market”. (5)
in itself
the obligation that
comes before
everything else
In the first place, a president should get his
commitment abroad to the global “free market”
rather than to democracy as they call it.
go to 9
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 9
After leaving office they continue to feed
from the public trough. (8)
sarcastic metaphor
usually used to refer to animals
After they leave the White House they
continue to spend lots of public money.
go to 10
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 10
… they see no reason why they shouldn’t be
allowed to exercise their rights like other
citizens and ask their friend, the president of
the United States, for a little help. (9)
double negative
They have good
reasons to be
allowed…
understatement
Can the help really
be “little”?
Definitely not.
… of course, they would ask the president to
support them as the reward to the campaign
money they offered.
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go to 11
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 11
For their part, presidents seem as capable of
trading favors for campaign money as any
influence—peddling, special-interest
politician—only on a grander scale. (10)
politicians who try to
sell their political
larger
influence in return for
money and who serve
giving favors to big
special interests such
contributors in return for
money with which they can as the interests of oil
business or steel
conduct their presidential
business, etc.
campaign successfully
go to 12
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 12
It is said that the greatness of the presidential
office lends greatness to its occupant, so that
even persons of mediocre endowment grow
from handling presidential responsibilities and
powers. (11)
limited
irony
abilities
as a result of handling…
Why is the presidential office great? Because it
can make the president seemingly great. As a
result of being the president, even a person
with limited abilities grows “great”.
go to 13
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 13
… presidents have been just as readily
corrupted as ennobled by high office, inclined
toward self-righteous assertion, compelled to
demonstrate their military “toughness” against
weaker nations, and not above operating in
unlawful ways. (11)
antithesis
… presidents can be ennobled, yes; but they can
also be corrupted by capturing such a superior
power. They tend to speak or behave as if they
are always right. They have to threaten weaker
countries with force. And they are quite capable
of acting in illegal ways.
go to 14
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 14
… a shallowness of spirit and mind that the
majestic office could cloak but not transform.
(12)
deliberately hide facts,
feelings etc. so that people
do not see or understand
them
… the important and impressive office of the
president could hide the shallowness of the
presidents’ spirit and mind but could not
change it.
go to 15
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 15
To get to the top of the political power heap the
president must present himself as a “man of the
people” while quietly serving those who control
the wealth and power of the country… (13)
a lot of powerful
politicians
infinitive of
purpose
In order to climb to the top of all the politicians,
the president has to show himself as a loyal
servant to the public but in fact he is working
secretly for those who are powerful financially
and politically.
go to 16
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 16
In fact, he might better be described as
protecting the common interest of the special
interests. (15)
the business
community
oxymoron
In fact, we can say he is protecting the
common interest of the business community.
go to 17
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 17
Still for all the publicity, not all that much has
been done to stop that industry from
marketing its addictive and injurious products
to publics at home and abroad. (16)
sentence in spite of
adverb
the publicity
only a little
Still in spite of the publicity, only a little has
been done to stop the tobacco industry from
selling its addictive and unhealthy products to
publics at home and abroad.
go to 18
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Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase 18
… the president is… rather inaccessible to us
lesser mortals—unless we organize and raise
more hell. (17)
humorous
behave more
angrily and
threateningly
ordinary people, as compared
with people who are more
important or more powerful
… the president is… not easily available for us
ordinary people—unless we are organized and do
something to show our anger.
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More examples
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
III. Sentence Paraphrase
lesser/ordinary/mere mortals
• Of course, she dines in the executive suite,
while we lesser mortals use the staff
cafeteria.
back to 18
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The end of Sentence Paraphrase.
Lesson 15 – The President as Corporate Salesman
Part Three
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