| Why can't current leaders be quotable and notable too?... |
In addition to Sput's response, I see a few other factors.
1. I venture to say that very few of today's politicians and leaders have the command of language held by those 'ancient' statesman. The de-emphasis of language arts at every level of the curriculum in our schools has resulted in smaller vocabularies and poorer mechanics in terms of grammar, spelling, and rhetoric. Even those who do have sufficient command of the language are advised and assisted to lower the level of vocabulary and reduce the complexity of the rhetoric in order to appeal to a lower common denominator.
2. Public speeches and documents now are often further simplified in order to make sure they will translate properly into other languages, many of which are not as rich in vocabulary, so subtleties and nuances are not only lost, they are actively avoided.
3. The immediacy of modern media has also had an adverse impact in terms of the richness and precise use of language. Sput mentioned sound-bites, referring, I think, to short, concise, often terse comments which can be played in a short amount of airtime. Often those sound-bite comments are scripted, not necessarily to clearly and concisely capture the author's thoughts on the issue as to give the appearance of so doing. If the response has the proper rhythm and is delivered in an effective manner, appears to respond to the issue without being either too precise or too vague, then considerations of accuracy and relevance be damned.
4. Statesmen of the past were often forced by constraints of time and travel to communicate solely in writing, and knew as they crafted the document that their message must be clear, concise, and persuasive. The opportunity to correct misunderstandings, clarify points of contention, or strengthen a message might not come for a very long time after the initial document was received, if ever. Thus a great deal more thought and attention was given to the composition. Modern spin control has taken away the need for that kind of effort.
With each passing year, I become more disappointed at the state of literacy in general, and the deterioration of the rhetorical art, which is why I make a point personally of trying to discipline myself to use appropriate language and to use it as precisely and correctly as possible. On occasion, I will even attempt to assist others who appear in need of a reminder.
