Chapter 1: Inflating the Terror Threat Since 2001
Why Study Rhetoric?
Policy Selling and Agenda-Setting: The Power of Presidential Rhetoric
Policy Selling
Presidential Power and Weakness: The Need for Rhetoric
Congressional Partisanship
Presidential Popularity
The Role of the Media
Contending with George Edwards' On Deaf Ears
Going Public: How Rhetoric Succeeds and Fails
Terrorism and Going Public
Credibility Gaps: Where Rhetoric Fails
Methodology
A Note on Definition

Plan of the Book
Chapter 2: George W. Bush: Policy Selling and Agenda-Setting After 9/11
Chapter 3: Barack Obama: From an End to Terror to Drone Wars and ISIS
Chapter 4: Donald Trump, Twitter, and Islamophobia: The End of Dignity in Presidential Rhetoric About Terrorism
Chapter 5: How Can Presidents Properly Calibrate the Terror Threat?
Chapter 2: George W. Bush: Policy Selling and Agenda-Setting After 9/11
A Brief History of Presidential Terrorism Rhetoric
George W. Bush's Rhetoric Post 9/11: Emotion and Conflict
Bush, Terrorism, and Evil

Policy Selling: From 9/11 to War with Iraq to "Human Rights"
Conclusions
Chapter 3: Barack Obama: From an End to Terror to Drone Wars and ISIS
"No Drama" Obama: A Distinct Change in Terrorism Themes
Obama: From Anti-War Purism to Pragmatism
Obama and the Rhetoric of Fear
Obama, Drones, and Credibility
President Obama and Credibility Gaps: Benghazi, Syria, and ISIS
Conclusion: Obama as Bush Lite?
Chapter 4: Donald Trump, Twitter, and Islamophobia: The End of Dignity in Presidential Rhetoric About Terrorism
Trump and the End of Dignity

Trump and Going Public: A Tweetstorm Against Muslims and Immigrants
How Trump Employs Presidential Rhetoric: Islamophobia and Demagoguery
Islamophobic Actions
Rhetoric in Context: Comparing Trump to Obama and Bush
Conclusion: A More Overtly Prejudiced War on Terror
Chapter 5: How Can Presidents Properly Calibrate the Terror Threat?
Index