Word Cloud Analysis of Obama's Inaugural Speech Compared to Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Lincoln's
Barack Obama was just sworn in as President of the US and though he stumbled in repeating his oath, the speech that followed was delivered flawlessly and was widely praised around the web. (Several readers have told us that it wasn't Obama that stumbled, it was Justice Roberts.) There were quite a few concepts discussed that we suspect haven't been a part of past inaugural speeches. What words were used most often? We ran the full text of the speech through tag cloud generator Wordle.net for one view of the event, and just for the sake of historical context we ran George W. Bush's second inaugural speech through as well. Update: After one reader suggested it, we've also added word clouds from Bill Clinton's second inaugural speech and Reagan's first below. Second update: By reader request, we've added Lincoln's first and second inaugural speeches as well.
The most common words in the Obama and Bush speeches were dramatically different.
Obama's Speech
If you want to search inside Obama's speech to see how he used these words, try using the video player below, courtesy of Delve Networks.
Bush's Speech 2005
Bill Clinton's Second Inauguration Speech
Ronald Reagan's First Inaugural Speech
Lincoln's First
Lincoln's Second
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See also our post from last night 7 Online Things You Can Do to Help Obama Restore America. Check out the new WhiteHouse.gov, where the face of Presidential technology has changed dramatically as well.
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Can you pls. use the same background for both? Makes it easier to compare. Thx.
Both tag clouds are pretty much the same... I was expecting a humorous approach.
The humor lies in the shape of the clouds. Obama's looks like a brain. Bush's looks like a golf club.
You guys are really starting to reach. Wow, Obama's team managed to change a style sheet.
Obama did not stumble during the swearing in process. He chuckled, and correctly spoke the oath. Chief Justice Roberts is the one who stumbled by stating the oath incorrectly.
He stumbled because Chief Justice Roberts quoted the Constitutional swearing in text incorrectly.
Good to see the two wordles. As was pretty obvious from his speech, Obama used a higher level language and fuller sentences.
I don't think Obama stumbled on the oath, but rather he waited while the gentleman who said the phrases before him corrected himself.
Great idea, thank you! It is interesting to see freedom and liberty used most in the Bush speech, but I feel he is the one who took the most freedom and liberty away!
So what are you saying, Obama cared less about freedom?
Kick him when hes up. Kick while hes down. Kick him as he leaves town.
What will the media fret about without Bush?
Very interesting to see the comparison. Great idea!
Just a quick comment (or clarification) based on some comments above... it is what it is. Wordle.net automatically makes the more heavily used words bigger. According to this article, they just placed the text from each speech into the program. The resulting word cloud was generated automatically from the content in each speech.
Notice that the word in exact center in Bush cloud is "TYRANNY". At the same place, in Obama's, is "force". Both are used to influence Others. The second one just denote more power and rectitude.
Interesting, that both Reagan and Bush's speeches hinge just one central word: government and freedom. Those words also underscore the irony in each.
Additionnal comment about the word in center
Clinton: strong
Reagan : dreams
The choice of font has a subtle psychological effect as well, so they should all use the same font. (Imagine if Bush's used Wingdings!)
I'm amused by Reagan and the big government. Never seen that one before :-)
The strong words of Obama's are very similar to the strong words in the Bill Clinton's Second Inauguration Speech
Can you post real data instead of "clouds"? How about ordered lists with number of mentions, arranged by most frequent?
Interesting! But today's speech against Bush's FIRST inaugural would be a better comparison.
Posted by: Dawn
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January 20, 2009 11:30 AM
So - I noticed that too. Wondered how much of this can be explained by partisanship + time.
ok ok, you're probably right!
Posted by: Marshall Kirkpatrick
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January 20, 2009 11:31 AM
I think it's interesting that both Obama and Clinton (and Reagan, to a lesser extent) used the word "nation", but not "country", whereas Bush used "country", but doesn't appear to have used "nation": when words like that are used it usually reflects a subtle shift in emphasis from "the land" to "the people", perhaps.
doesn't make any sense at all. inaugurals are shows, don't forget.
Can you run the same program on Lincoln's second inaugural address, which many commentators today mentioned as one of the most memorable presidential speeches of all time? It's at http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres32.html . Thanks.
I wonder if the far left will beat up on President Obama's speaking problem like they did President Bush?
Note this:
Both democrats talk a lot about "new". Obama is all about "new" and "nation". Clinton repeats "new" and "century" more often. That's normal when you have to emphasize the need of "change".
But this FREEDOM on Bush's speech seems unproportionaly large.
Great post, Marshall. MSNBC notes that it was indeed Justice Roberts who bobbled the 35-word oath that he provided to President Obama. BTW, love your tag cloud on the inaugural speech. :-)
Here's the tag cloud of title="Wordle: Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address">Lincoln's second inaugural address, from text copied from bartleby.com.
How do you bobble repeating someone?
This speech analysis is all crap people. As of tomorrow politics in this Country will revert to the same old stuff.
Look forward to higher taxes, a lowered US dollar and a lot of media bullshit.
I agree - the speechs all have the same main words - "Americans, people, nation... etc."
We should be worried about Obama and Biden going into the basement and warming up the presses to print more money at willy-nilly. The middle class tax cut won't be worth paper it's printed on once they devalue the american dollar.
Would be great to see all in one cloud with different colors for the words of each pres. Is that possible?
Would love to get a larger image of the Obama picture to use as a background.
I find Obama's word cloud to be the most inspiring. Bush's reminds me of Lincoln's world cloud.
Posted by: Corvida
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January 20, 2009 1:43 PM
Obama's should have words like TAX, EVIL, BIG GOVERNMENT, COMPLY, AFFIRMATIVE, LIBERAL, HOMOSEXUAL, LESBIAN, SAME SEX, HOMELESS, ABORTION, PROTEST, STARBUCKS, ETC.
@Josh:
Are you OK? Not a single positive comment. What about everything Obama/Biden have said so far makes you think they will be "in the basement printing money"? Also, your last comment is all over the map. Sounds like the ramblings of a disturbed mind, if you ask me. Abortion and starbucks??? Seriously?
Thanks for the wordle, just heard the Obama speech in Australia and admire how a few choice words inspire people to think beyond themselves, be uplifted to create a different world. He spoke about the obscure people - us - who just do our daily business trying to be a citizen, ordinary people managing the day-to-day challenges with fortitude. I like that!
You guys are living in this weird fantasy world. Like this guy is gonna somehow make the world a paradise to live in. You're in for a surprise if you think their stimulus package is good for this country. You watch and see how they Tax the job creaters and pump in money we don't have by bailing out industies and forcing health care programs. I'd say the Obama followers are the truly disturbed ones. Stop with this candyass retoric about inaugural words and clouds. Start thinking about what this 116 IQ idiot will do to our country with his agenda. Seriously!
Really cool and very interesting to see.
Oh, by the way, Obama didn't even write this speech. Jon Favreau was the author of those fine words. He wrote them at Obama's thinkank(Starbucks). Obama couldn't order a Happy Meal without it being written down for him.
Josh,
You sound like a disturbed, angry, old, bigot.
Actually I'm young(34) and very happy. I have a good business and lots friends and family. I just don't sugarcoat my words like the libs that's all. You called me a bigot but I didn't vote for Obama based on his color. Did you? Nothing I said mentioned a thing about his race.
Bigot? I didn't say anything about his race...you did. You voted for a man based on his race? You're the Bigot!
Josh,
I actually meant bigot based on sexuality. You tried to attack him for standing up for ALL Americans. I didn't imply his race. I'm actually a Clinton supporter, I was to the very end, and I still believe that he won it due to his race. Its actually a fact mathematically, considering the percentage of them who voted for him.
Any way, in the end it was about being a Democrat, so I grudgingly supported him. I do know one thing however: I would have given McCain a chance, and wouldn't be demonizing him, even if I didn't support him. Whereas you people are intent on simply trashing him five minutes into getting into office?
The standards for Obama are indeed high. And no matter what you say, having an African American president is historical. That is hardly the reason he was elected however--especially by such a wide margin. You can continue to claim conspiracy theories, but they are completely insane.
I'm PROUD to be a Liberal! America is the most conservative country on earth, we need some liberals in office!
Wait, I know. You're upset about the Obama's 116 IQ comment aren't you? So did you think because he's not that smart, that equated him with being Black? Tsk tsk.
Funny that people mention "Government" in Bush's speech but not the "Government" in Lincoln's, though they're equally large in display size.
I think this is a case of selective vision.
Andrew didn't mention race, Josh. He said you were a bigot: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bigot
Andrew, America is certainly not the "most conservative country on earth". Please take into consideration the continent of Asia, the Middle East and all the countries therein.
If I'm a Bigot because I'm intolerant of sexuality, then aren't Liberals Bigots because they're intolerant of Christians or conservatives. Works both ways my friend.
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