Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU Peer Reviewed Articles School of Communications 2010 From Electioneering to Governing: Obama’s Transition as Legitimation Ritual Danielle Wiese Leek Grand Valley State University,
[email protected] Bruce E. Gronbeck University of Iowa Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/com_articles ScholarWorks Citation Wiese Leek, Danielle and Gronbeck, Bruce E., "From Electioneering to Governing: Obama’s Transition as Legitimation Ritual" (2010). Peer Reviewed Articles. 8. https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/com_articles/8 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Communications at ScholarWorks@GVSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Peer Reviewed Articles by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@GVSU. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. 6ABS38171ABS Article American Behavioral Scientist 54(4) 436 –462 From Electioneering to © 2010 SAGE Publications Reprints and permission: http://www. Governing: Obama’s sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0002764210381716 Transition as http://abs.sagepub.com Legitimation Ritual Danielle Wiese Leek1 and Bruce E. Gronbeck2 Abstract This essay reviews Barack Obama’s 2008-2009 transition from president-elect to president. Not only must the new and old presidents coordinate practical, bureaucratic matters, but in the United States, the president-elect is put through an 11-week legitimation ritual. As his status is transformed from campaigner to president, his words and actions in various situations are viewed as tests of strengths, weaknesses, vision, prudence, negotiative skill, humanity, fiber, and resolve. Not only is he tested but his words and actions are read by the press, commentators, and bloggers as signs of good or bad fortune for the country, just as the augurs of old read natural signs before momentous events.