Question

Read the excerpt from a speech made by President George W. Bush in September of 2008. Good evening. This is an extraordinary period for America’s economy. Over the past few weeks, many Americans have felt anxiety about their finances and their future. I understand their worry and their frustration. We’ve seen triple-digit swings in the stock market. Major financial institutions have teetered on the edge of collapse, and some have failed. As uncertainty has grown, many banks have restricted lending. Credit markets have frozen. And families and businesses have found it harder to borrow money. We’re in the midst of a serious financial crisis, and the federal government is responding with decisive action. We’ve boosted confidence in money market mutual funds and acted to prevent major investors from intentionally driving down stocks for their own personal gain . . . Our economy is facing a moment of great challenge. But we’ve overcome tough challenges before—and we will overcome this one. I know that Americans sometimes get discouraged by the tone in Washington, and the seemingly endless partisan struggles. Yet history has shown that in times of real trial, elected officials rise to the occasion. And, together, we will show the world once again what kind of country America is—a nation that tackles problems head on, where leaders come together to meet great tests, and where people of every background can work hard, develop their talents, and realize their dreams. Which statement about the sourcing of this primary source best evaluates its validity? The speaker has credentials and experience in the issues discussed. The speaker uses imagery and dramatic language to persuade the reader. The speaker cites experts and data to support his claim. The speaker provides a variety of sources to support his claim.

Answer 1

In the speech by President George W. Bush during the 2008 financial crisis, he has credentials and experience, but the speech lacks direct citation of experts or data and does not provide a variety of sources to support his claims. It is more of a reassurance to the public rather than an analytical breakdown of the situation with empirical backing.

Step-by-step explanation:

When evaluating the validity of the primary source which is the speech made by President George W. Bush in September of 2008, one can ascertain that the speaker, as the President of the United States, has credentials and experience in the issues discussed. President Bush's speech came during a pivotal moment in American financial history, characterized by the 2008 financial crisis, where major institutions failed, and stock market volatility signaled deep economic troubles.

However, this particular excerpt from Bush's speech does not cite experts or data to support the claims, nor does it provide a variety of sources for support. Instead, it seeks to reassure the nation by expressing that the federal government is taking decisive action and has a history of overcoming such challenges.

In this context, it is clear that the President is utilizing his position and the authority it commands to assert a perspective.

This differs from other events in history, such as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's fireside chats during the Great Depression, where confidence-building and explicit detailing of policy were crucial. Similarly, President Bill Clinton's communication with the public during economic hardship centered around addressing the immediate concerns of average Americans and proposing clear policy initiatives.

Hence, President Bush's speech can be seen as more of a reassurance effort, without the empirical backing that might come from citing expert data or presenting a variety of sources.