This phrase, used by Theodore Roosevelt, refers to the office of presidency. A pulpit is a place to preach from and "bully" is an older adjective meaning excellent.
Therefore a bully pulpit is a great place to make speeches from . Roosevelt appreciated the fact that people listened to him when he spoke as the President.
The term "bully pulpit" had nothing to do with bullying as we know the term. Back when Theodore Roosevelt was president, the term bully meant "wonderful," and Roosevelt was saying that the post of president was an "ideal" position to use for promoting an agenda. A related phrase from that era which survives to this day is "bully for you." That actually means "good for you."
a bully pulpit or petition
I believe Teddy Roosevelt coined the term "bully pulpit." Does that count?
Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt
That phase is associated with Theodore Roosevelt who loved the opportunity that the presidency gave him to speak out on issues of the day. A pulpit is a place to preach from and bully meant excellent .
Roosevelt use the bully pulpit pulpit to promote the Square Deal by using the technique in The coal strike of 1902, where he intervened in the strike to protect the interests of the workers and the public. He used Square Deal as his campaign slogan, and the framework for his entire presidency.
The term "bully pulpit" was first used by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. He employed it to describe the White House as a platform from which he could advocate for his policies and influence public opinion. Roosevelt believed that the presidency provided a unique opportunity to promote progressive reforms and engage with the American people. The phrase has since come to refer to any position of authority that allows for advocacy and persuasion.
Theodore Roosevelt was the president who called the office of President (the position, that is, not the Oval Office room specifically) of President a "bully pulpit". Lots of Presidents have "used it effectively" (Lincoln, FDR, and JFK definitely used their Presidencies to promote their own ideals, for example), but it was Theodore Roosevelt who came up with the term.
Good for you. It is a stupid slang term. And Scott M...Bully for you retard!! :)
What he meant was that being President made people listen to what he had to say. The presidency was like a pulpit- he could figuratively stand up and preach to his congregation, the American people, and his words carried authority. "bully" here means excellent or splendid.
The phrase was associated with Theodore Roosevelt. ( Bully!) had a different connotation in those days. It could even mean ( Great stuff, or way to go) did not always mean intimidation or violence. I have heard the phrase in recent years. It refers to politicians sounding off ( usually with a captive audience) on social problems that in the final analysis have little to do with politicsl. As pulpit has a religious connotation, it is somewhat a contradiction as we have separation of Church and state.