NPR

Trump Puts A Twist On The Meaning Of 'Bully Pulpit'

For Teddy Roosevelt, it was a way of saying the presidency was a matchless opportunity to raise consciousness, to lecture if you will — relying on independent media to convey the president's ideas.

More than a century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt had a habit of inviting journalists to the White House to share some of his thoughts. In one such chat he coined a phrase that has been part of our political language ever since.

"Half a dozen of us were with the President in his library," recalled one participant. "He was sitting at his desk reading to us his forthcoming message. He had just finished reading a paragraph of a distinctly ethical character when he suddenly stopped, swung round in his swivel chair and

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