bully pulpit
Prominent speaker's position
A bully pulpit is a position of authority that provides an opportunity to speak out and be widely heard.
The term originated with Theodore Roosevelt describing the U.S. presidency—"bully" here meaning excellent or first-rate, not intimidating.
The governor used his office as a bully pulpit for education reform.
Any prominent platform can serve as one: She turned her celebrity into a bully pulpit for environmental causes.
- presidencyChief executive's office
- executive powerGovernment's enforcement capacity
- soapboxPlatform for haranguing
- platformRaised flat structure
- speechesFormal spoken presentations
State of the Union · presidential address · media spotlight · public speaking · advocacy · influence · megaphone · agenda-setting · Teddy Roosevelt · big stick · authority · leadership · jawboning · communication · politics · oratory · public office · lobby
- presidencyOval Office, president, Washington, executive branch, veto
- political jargonfilibuster, gerrymandering, caucus, pork barrel, lame duck
- Political Quotesall men are created equal, Gettysburg Address, Declaration of Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, nothing to fear
- rhetoricrhetoric, persuasion, oratory, argumentation, debate
- gubernatorial powersveto power, executive orders, clemency, pardons, pardon power
- presidential powersexecutive order, executive power, executive orders, vetoes, pardon
bully pulpitobscurity
State of being unknown
anonymity · powerlessness · voicelessness · backbench · irrelevance
bully pulpitsilence
Total lack of sound
reticence · quiet diplomacy · soft power · whisper campaign · discretion
bully, bullying, bullied, bullies, pulpit, bullyboy, bullyboys