First Words as the President

As Americans are always struggling to feel a sense of unity, it would make sense to see a word linked with that topic used excessively. And, indeed, there is such a word: "Nation"

Only one inaugural address has ever been made without at least one meantion of the word "nation," and that was George Washington's second address. Washington used it in his first address, so it isn't that important that he left it out in his second, the nation already knew what to expect from him. I think it is interesting, though, that he didn't use the phrase "this great nation" or the equivilant. That would be accurate of his speaking and writing style.

This word is a good example of the type of speeches that are now given. John Adams and Harry Truman used the word nation the most. An interesting observation is that they both followed presidents that were loved by the American people. John Adams followed George Washington, and Harry Truman followed FDR. It makes sense that they would want to assure the nation that they still believed in the same values as the previous president, and although they may be different, if the nation pulls together, we can make it through.

The use of the word nation is increasing as general trend since Grover Cleveland. Sometimes it goes down again, but as a general trend, every president after Grover Cleveland has used nation more than the president before. Even Barack Obama used nation more than any other word in his 2009 speech.