Celebrating 15 Years of the Bully Pulpit

On October 3rd, 2007, the College of Charleston started a brand new political communication lecture series called the Bully Pulpit Series. The goal was to have national politicians who were running for president come to the College and speak to students about politics and how they planned to communicate to the public if they were elected President of the United States. Over the last 15 years, 32 politicians have participated in the series. The events have ranged from very small, intimate gatherings to huge events attracting thousands of people. Some of the more memorable candidates include then Senator John McCain, former president Barack Obama, president Joe Biden and Stephen Colbert, who was the host of the Comedy Central program, The Colbert Report at the time, and his "ROCK ME LIKE A HERMAN CAIN" Primary Rally in Cistern Yard.


Featured on this Episode:
H. Gibbs Knotts was appointed the dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in October 2020. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences is comprised of the following academic departments: communication, English, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, religious studies and sociology and anthropology.

Before assuming the role of dean, Knotts served as the department chair of the College's Department of Political Science from 2012 to 2019. In the area of political science, he teaches undergraduate courses in American politics and graduate courses in the public administration program.

Knotts has published works on political participation, Southern politics, public administration and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Articles have appeared in a variety of outlets including the Journal of Politics, Public Administration Review, Political Research Quarterly, The American Review of Public Administration, State Politics and Policy Quarterly, PS: Political Science and Politics, Social Science Quarterly, Southern Cultures, Southeastern Geographer and Social Forces. He also co-edited The New Politics of North Carolina (University of North Carolina Press, 2008). He has two co-authored books: The Resilience of Southern Identity: Why the South Still Matters in the Minds of Its People (University of North Carolina Press, 2017) and First in the South: Why South Carolina’s Presidential Primary Matters (University of South Carolina Press, 2019). He received the College of Charleston’s Distinguished Research Award in 2017.

Amanda Ruth-McSwain is an associate professor of communication at the College of Charleston. Her teaching and research interests are in strategic communication placed in agricultural contexts. More specifically, her specializations are in leadership communication and organizational public relations. Since her 2005 start at the College of Charleston, Dr. Ruth-McSwain has taught over 12 different courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including Leadership Communication, Strategic Communication Campaigns, Public Relations Cases, Business Communication and Ethics in Leadership Communication.

Ruth Mc-Swain has served in a variety of leadership roles at the College. From 2011-2021, she served as the Director of the Bully Pulpit Series. She also served as the Interim Associate Dean for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences from 2019-2021, and as Director of the Master of Arts in Communication program from 2013-2019.

Resources from this Episode:
The Bully Pulpit Series
Stephen Colbert at the College “Rock Me Like A Herman Cain: South Cain-Olina Primary Rally”
 

Transcript

Mike Robertson: 0:05

Hello and Welcome to Speaking of College of Charleston. I'm Mike Robertson, Senior Director of Media Relations here at the college. Today we're going to take a look at the 50th anniversary of the College of Charleston signature Political Communication program. The bully pulpit series, my guest our communication Professor Amanda Ruth McSwain, and political science professor and dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Gibbs Knotts. Let's get started. On October 3 2007, the College of Charleston started a brand new political communication lecture series called the bully pulpit series. The goal was to have national politicians running for president come to the College of Charleston and speak to students about politics, and how they plan to communicate to the public if they are elected President of the United States. The first speaker on this series was Arizona senator John McCain. That day he spoke to the crowd of students about his ideas, his take on current events, and he also reminisced about his last visit to the College of Charleston several years earlier. And, by the way,

Unknown: 1:20

I mentioned the great rally we had here at the College of Charleston. After I lost in the primary to then Governor Bush. I slept like a baby. sleep two hours wake up and cry, sleep two hours, wake up and cry. And since

Mike Robertson: 1:33

then, the series has grown into a signature program for the College of Charleston. Over 32 presidential candidates have come to the College of Charleston to participate in this series over the past 15 years. It has become so popular that NPR is national political correspondent Don Ganya wrote that. If you're planning to campaign in South Carolina, there are three places you need to go. First, you need to visit a local church and speak to the congregation. Second, you need to visit a family restaurant called lizard's thicket, and the third one, you need to speak at the College of Charleston. Joining me to talk more about this 15th anniversary of the bully pulpit series are two people very instrumental in the success of this series. Amanda Ruth McSwain is a communication professor and served as the director of the bully pulpit series from 2011 till 2021. And Gibbs Knotts is a professor of political science and Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. He also serves as the moderator for the bully pulpit events. Gibbs, let's start with you. Why is this series so popular with politicians? Oh,

Unknown: 2:47

because of the South Carolina primary. I mean, basically, on the Republican side, if you have any want to have any chance of getting the nomination, you've got to win in South Carolina, the only time South Carolina voters have gotten it wrong is in 2012, when they went for Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney got the nomination. And so you got to come to South Carolina, and they know candidates know when they come to the College of Charleston, they're going to be treated fairly, we're going to have a good crowd. And they're going to get a chance to talk with young voters. And just like advertisers, advertisers want young people to buy their products, voters want young people to vote for them. Because you know, it can become a habit. And if they can, you know, get somebody to be on their side when they're younger. They can vote for them in subsequent elections, and then sort of, you know, stick with that party throughout their life. And so it's just a really attractive place for candidates to come. And we're extremely excited when they do come to our campus.

Mike Robertson: 3:38

Now, of course, politicians aren't the only ones benefiting from this. Amanda, you've worked with students college Charleston students tell me how they play into this.

Amanda: 3:46

So early on, I realized there was great opportunity for students to be involved behind the scenes. And so that's everything from campaign relations to event management to media relations work. And although it's evolved over the years, and how those students are included in the events, they've always been a really instrumental part in in each and every one of the bully pulpit series opportunities. Or like

Mike Robertson: 4:10

I said, 32 Politicians so far have participated in the bully pulpit series. The events have ranged from very small intimate gatherings to huge events, attracting 1000s of people. One of the most memorable programs have been on sistering yard when a senator from Illinois stopped by to participate in the series,

Unknown: 4:29

that we are one people. We are one nation, and together, we will begin the next great chapter in America story with three words that will ring from coast to coast from sea to shining sea. Yes, we can. Thank you. Thank you, South Carolina. Thank you, John Kerry.

Mike Robertson: 4:57

Amanda, you were there. Tell us about it. What happened oh,

Amanda: 5:00

Ah, the energy was incredible. I think it was a defining moment when I realized I couldn't get to my office because of Secret Service. They're like, I don't care who you are, I don't care where you're going. You're not You're not crossing this line. But later that afternoon when the event actually happened, I think, you know, it not only put the College of Charleston on the map in terms of who we are and how much we care about, not only kind of our local area, but the state and, you know, politics and how it impacts college campus. But it was also a moment that, you know, gave us such pride that, you know, this up and coming, you know, politician would come and spend time with us. And so it was it was pretty wild. I actually I was only in my third year at College of Charleston, but it was definitely such an honor to be part of it, even just as a participant. You

Mike Robertson: 5:52

know, politicians are not the only ones attracted to the bully pulpit series. Over the past 15 years a series has attracted a lot of media attention for the College of Charleston. This includes CNN when Erin Burnett and Anderson Cooper both hosted their programs live on campus, Fox News held a town hall meeting and utility theater. Politico had a forum on campus and NBC News had several reporters broadcasting live from system yard on various occasions. But when it comes to media coverage, one event stood out. And

Unknown: 6:25

on the eve of tomorrow's primary, the College of Charleston was the scene of a big political rally today. And the draw was not one of the candidates we've been hearing about. It was Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert. NPR is Don Gunn news. They're the crowd top 3000 Nearly all students in the outdoor square and right on time 1pm a marching band entered clearing a path for Stephen Colbert. On stage at gospel choir. pallbearers sang harmony by the dogs,

Mike Robertson: 6:51

Stephen Colbert was the host of the Comedy Central program, The Colbert Report, and he decided to run for president. Well, kind of

Unknown: 7:02

it's good to be back home. You can't go home again, did not have a friend with a private jet. It was easy. Again, I want to take a moment to thank everybody who made this a possible I want to call in sin? And how about those College of Charleston cheerleaders and the poor. Man and the postal Carolina marching band. It leads to bitter rivals share the same stage and hope that America can come together. Most importantly, ladies and gentlemen, I mean this sincerely. One of the things Stephen Colbert. Somebody had to say, and I'm the one on the

Mike Robertson: 7:59

mic. Now I remember I was sitting in the press stands during this event and about 50 different news organizations from all around the world covering this event. And at one time, a reporter who worked for a German newspaper came up to me and said, Who is Stephen Colbert? And why is he here? I couldn't come up with a good answer. couldn't come up with a good answer. Tell me tell me your thoughts. Oh, goodness.

Amanda: 8:24

I mean, I think that obviously the Colbert family has a long history in Charleston and obviously coming home was truly coming home for him. So that was exciting. But I to be honest with you where the idea came from, I'm not sure. But I will tell you as a quick idea, it was a Monday afternoon, I was leaving campus and picked up the phone. And it was Comedy Central. And somewhat some of his staff at Comedy Central calling to tell me what the idea was. And again, Monday afternoon, and at the end of the call, they said oh, by the way we're gonna do this Thursday. And I was I was like, I'm sorry, did you just say cheerleaders and a pep band and a gospel choir and a stage. And so it was a lot. What a lot of people don't remember is we were also working on a really big event with Ron Paul that same week. And so it was really kind of two very large, very different competing events to coordinate at one time. But it was, I mean, just I had goosebumps listening to that clip, because it was one of the most just enjoyable and I think satisfying, for lack of a better word Bowmans in the bully pulpit series for me of pulling something like that off where we were exposing students to a very different side of politics, right. But nonetheless, we were getting them involved in the conversation.

Mike Robertson: 9:38

You know, we had a lot of people come to the College of Charleston campaigns coming to the College of Charleston during that period of time. But everyone short compared to this, this rally by Stephen Colbert, does that surprise you that he would outshine some politicians?

Unknown: 9:54

I don't think so. I mean, just the sort of draw of celebrity in this day and age is insanely Public. And more so with social media and things like that, but you know, he's definitely a beloved Charlestonians and somebody that a lot of people get a big kick out of. And he's obviously, you know, gone on to even, you know, bigger and better things, hosting his own late night show kind of after his Comedy Central days. And so yeah, that's not surprising at all. But again, it's getting as Dr. Ruth McCain said, it's getting people in the conversations, having them think about politics, Johnson people in that may normally not listen to this stuff. That's a really important role that, that events like that can play. All right, storytime.

Mike Robertson: 10:35

15 years of the bully pulpit series, though, are bound to have some memories that you remember, Amanda, we'll start with you. There's

Amanda: 10:42

honestly so many, it's hard to every single event had something that was either eye opening or silly or unbelievable. I learned so much about each candidate by working with their staff, and, obviously their campaign so that behind the scenes glimpse was always enlightening. But, you know, I will have to say, I think it was that 2012 year, that was my first big season. And, you know, whether again, it was a Ron Paul event, or, you know, or obviously, the Colbert event and so many other smaller events that that year it was, it was just a learning experience. And I'm not necessarily one that would consider myself a political expert by any means. But I learned a lot about politics, and how important the landscape is in South Carolina in particular. So I would say, probably Colbert is up there with a favorite memory. But we also we do a lot of work with Ted Cruz one year, and there were some really interesting memories that come from that. But whether it was coal bear or an actual, you know, political campaign, or a media to, you know, again, a media event, there was something that I definitely walked away with each and that was, you know, whether I was kind of lugging carpets across campus to make sure we had the best carpet on stage for a broadcast or I was making sure you know, every green room was staffed, you know, with exactly the candidates needs, you know, there was again, always something new and different to learn. Now,

Mike Robertson: 12:14

chances are you've heard of these politicians before they came here, you've probably read up on them. And so you know about them, but were there without naming names. Were there some politicians where you finally met them? You said, Okay, this guy needs some work. And were there others that that you said, Oh my gosh, this guy is or this candidate is amazing.

Amanda: 12:34

Yes. I mean, I will not name names but there were there were so many I would have to say for whatever reason, I always felt like the underdog always pulled at my heartstrings. They were always so nice. so kind, so appreciative. Stay around to chat, got their guitars out to play on stage. You know, I mean, there were those real moments of like, this person belongs here in this community, right? They want to be here, they want to talk to us. And so I understand the difference between you know, the smaller campaigns that are a lot more nimble, flexible, and then there's large campaigns that travel with large staffs, and you have to be really careful about what you do and who's involved. But you know, there yes, there are definitely I feel like I could write a book about understanding the personality of the candidates just through those events,

Mike Robertson: 13:20

and gives you have the unique opportunity to talk to them prior to them going on stage since you're the moderator. Are there some politicians you've talked to that's that you've you know, same thing Wow, this this person is really good. This one or this one really needs a little bit more? I

Unknown: 13:36

want to name names. I mean, so you know, if you go out and on the internet and read about Senator Amy Klobuchar, there's some people say she can be hard to work with. You probably can find that article about any person in politics today. And so I wasn't really sure and she could not have been nicer. She brought me a gift bag with her book. She I think she bought president's shoe a gift bag, a t shirt, Amy for president that I still wear and people look at me like Amy who's Amy. Amy ran for president. But I got to sit on stage with her have a conversation with her. She was great. And as as Dr. Ruth McSwain said, it's a you know, she was a smaller operations. She wasn't one of the front runners. And so she had a lunch with a group of students afterwards, I believe, if I'm not mistaken. And so there just was a lot there were a lot more generous with their time than just coming in and kind of and kind of coming out. I mean, I think about the BETO or work event. Another thing that Amanda said was that, you know, you we would get an agreement with like the local person or the state person, and then all of a sudden the national people would show up and our plans would just get completely blown up and so we had all our signage up. We had our sound where it needed to be and then the national people get there and they decide he needs to stand on a on a on a on a pallet kind of very in the middle and do it in the round, which screwed everything up. We could barely hear him so he shows up. He always drove a minivan to I don't know why better Oh, was a minivan gowns, maybe that was his brand or something like that. So he shows up. And then we just scrambled to get the setup to look like what the BETO team wanted to do. It ended up being a fun event. It was in stern center garden behind the stern center. But yeah, just one of those ones where we, you never know what to expect it. And then you also just another key point is that we don't have a lot of lead time. I mean, these campaigns don't plan a long time in advance. And so if we have two weeks, we're lucky. But generally, it's and then as you get closer to the primary, it just gets more hectic as more and more candidates focus on South Carolina.

Mike Robertson: 15:36

Okay, let's do a quiz. Even though I think we already have the answer that what presidential candidate arrived at the bully pulpit event armed with a guitar and actually played a song. He

Unknown: 15:49

won something or not just hashtag Twitter. streams live on YouTube, but I bet Gangnam Style still. Alright,

Mike Robertson: 15:58

that's not a great recording. I get that. He moved to the edge of the stage. And I actually recorded that while I was working with the media on that one, and played it. So I think you guys need to

Amanda: 16:12

give Okay, yeah. I

Unknown: 16:14

think it's Martin O'Malley. But I could be wrong.

Mike Robertson: 16:16

Yes, Martin O'Malley have no idea what that song is. Yeah, it was one of that. He just, I guess sang it. Different events. While he it didn't

Unknown: 16:25

work. He? He didn't he didn't get a lot of votes. But But yeah, he did. He was the candidate with the guitar. His daughter went here, right? That's right.

Mike Robertson: 16:32

I believe so. Okay. Okay. Let's talk about the future of the bully pulpit series here. Gibbs we're seeing a lot of changes in campaigning, we're seeing candidates really just talking to prefer tight groups, people who are likely their supporters, is that going to hurt a series like the bully pulpit,

Unknown: 16:50

I'm a little concerned. I mean, we've invited as we do every year, we've sent invitations out to every presidential candidate running for every, you know, whether on the Democrat or Republican side, but I think there's some dynamics in the Democratic part of the Republican Party right now, that gives me a little bit of concern. Number one, Trump has such a big lead. And I think a lot of these candidates are feeling like if they don't somehow get to him in Iowa, then there's going to be no South Carolina. So people are spending a ton of time in Iowa, which is before us on the Republican side. But look, you hit the nail on the head, we have to get people who don't agree with candidates to don't agree with disagree on political issues in the same room talking to each other. Our our democracy depends on it. In some ways, our civilization depends on it. And so we can certainly play a big role. You know, we don't want you know, we don't want anybody to shout down a candidate. If we invite a candidate here, we want the candidate to be able to, you know, give his or her answers to questions. But we also want our students to ask really hard, challenging questions. And so, yeah, I think there's a long time. But if you're out there, if there's any Republican Republican candidates listening to this podcast, come to College of Charleston, you know, we've got we will make sure you have a full room. And we will make sure it's a great event.

Mike Robertson: 18:06

Amanda, same question, what do you think we can do? You

Amanda: 18:09

know, I think that we continue to be a really welcoming host, you know, and we recognize that not only hopefully, are we providing value to that candidate by putting them in front of an audience that's engaged and active and interested, but that it's also really beneficial for our students. And I think as long as we keep our eye on the reason why this series has been so valuable in the past, I'm hoping that that message kind of breaks through the clutter and is still convincing that, you know, this is a student audience that wants to hear from you because they're trying to make really informed decisions, right. I do think for the bully pulpit series in general, you know, just having to adapt and evolve with, you know, what we're seeing in terms of, of campaign events, you know, sometimes we don't have as much control as we would like, but still, again, keeping our our eye on the mission and what's important is is critical.

Mike Robertson: 19:01

Amanda Gibbs, thanks for the conversation.

Unknown: 19:04

Thank you. Thank you.

Mike Robertson: 19:11

Thank you for listening to this episode of speaking of College of Charleston, with today's guest, Amanda Ruth McSwain and Gibbs Knotts for shownotes and more episodes, you can visit the College Charleston's official news site, the college today@today.cfc.edu. You can also find more College of Charleston podcast episodes on all major podcast platforms. I'm Mike Robertson. Thank you for listening to speaking of College of Charleston.