Trump needs a colossal inauguration pivot: Column

Immediately after he is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump will launch his presidency before a worldwide audience of tens of millions. If he follows tradition, he will lay out his governing philosophy and short-term policy agenda, and try to unite a country that remains bitterly divided.

The circumstances surrounding Trump's victory and transition period significantly raise the stakes and degree of difficulty for his inaugural address. Many of his listeners will be nervous and skeptical. Trump's electoral-vote margin was one of the narrowest in the last 100 years, plus he lost the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million. He will begin office with a historically low favorable rating of 37%. By contrast, President Obama began his first term with nearly twice that level of support and exits the White House with an approval rating of 55%.

Instead of reaching out to Democrats after the election and incorporating some of them in his cabinet, Trump conducted a national victory tour in front of partisan crowds and assembled the most conservative administration to date. Numerous controversies swirl around his transition, including questions about Russian influence and business conflicts of interest. While Republicans continue to coalesce around the president-elect, just 15% of Democrats approve of Trump

Given these challenges, Trump’s inaugural address should be as different as possible from his Republican National Convention acceptance speech in July. He infamously rambled on for an hour and 15 minutes, which hadn't been done since 1972. In addition to the excess length and scattered organization, the tone of the speech was ominous and dark. Trump portrayed a bleak image of America in decline, filled with crime-ridden streets and dire threats posed by terrorists and immigrants. He took a page from Richard Nixon's playbook and talked about restoring "law and order" in the country.

Rather than stressing collaboration and teamwork, Trump said “I alone can fix” serious problems that plague the country. His speech was filled with campaign rhetoric and divisive themes that enabled him to defeat 16 other primary opponents. The inaugural address will require a colossal pivot and reset before a much broader audience.

Trump and his aides are acutely aware of the widespread criticism associated with the convention speech. He's tapped incoming senior White House adviser Stephen Miller to help craft the inaugural address. Having written the convention speech and most of Trump's other high profile efforts, Miller is the appropriate choice and well-seasoned for the task. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Trump has pledged to be more hands-on during the process this time.

A sharper and more succinct inaugural address would be a wise choice. Trump's long-winded presentation at the RNC was reminiscent of William Henry Harrison's roughly two-hour inaugural address in 1841. At the other extreme, George Washington spoke only 135 words in his 1793 address. Trump is planning a relatively short speech, cognizant of the weather and audience’s comfort. He recently discussed seeking inspiration for the speech from Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy, an excellent duo and an indication that Trump could be on the right track.

Kennedy and Reagan delivered two of the best inaugural addresses of the last half-century and Trump would be smart to use them as his models. Kennedy's speech was extremely ambitious and recognized the need for a new generation of political leaders. It heavily focused on foreign policy and even called for a fresh start between the U.S. and Soviet Union. He asked Americans to dream big, but called attention to necessary sacrifices that were required for the good of the country.

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Twenty years later, Reagan stressed optimism and a new vision for the country in the opposite ideological direction of the New Deal. His confidence and media background enabled him to forcefully connect with the audience. Trump has frequently compared himself to Reagan and they do share several similarities, including media experience, evolution on political positions and age at which they took office. Reagan railed against the interference of government in the economy and excessive regulations. Trump's Cabinet appointments strongly mirror this philosophy, and he should draw the parallel in his address.

The stakes for Trump couldn't be higher. Distancing himself from the RNC acceptance speech and emulating the best received speeches in recent memory is a positive start. Trump must close the deal by delivering an inclusive address. He must trade campaign rhetoric and ideology for a compelling message that can unite and motivate the entire country.

Trump has thrived on being underestimated since first entering the presidential race. There is no doubt he has the talent and background to give a memorable inaugural address. Whether he delivers on that could be a barometer to the ultimate success of his presidency.

Aaron Kall, Director of Debate at the University of Michigan, is editor of and a contributor to "I Do Solemnly Swear: Presidential Inaugural Addresses of the Last Forty Years.”Follow him on Twitter: @michigandebate

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