THE CHANGING IMAGE OF THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION (1979-1980): A DRAMATISTIC ANALYSIS. Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors SAMRA, RISE JANE. Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 01/10/2021 22:49:59 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/187966 INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this document, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. 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Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI48106 8515183 Samra, Rise Jane THE CHANGING IMAGE OF THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION (1979·1980): A DRAMATISTIC ANALYSIS The University of Arizona PH.D. 1985 University Microfilms International 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI48106 THE CHANGING IMAGE OF THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION (1979-1980): A DRAMATISTIC ANALYSIS by Rise Jane Samra A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF SPEECH COMMUNICATION In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1 985 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by ____~R~i~s~e~J~a~n~e~S~a~m~r~a~ ______________________ entitled ____T_h~e __ C~h~a~n~g~i~n~g~I~m~a~g~e~o~f~~t~h~e~C~h~r~y~s~l~e~r~~C~o~r~p~o~r~a~t~i~o~n~ ______ (1979-1983): A Dramatistic Analysis and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of _____D_o_c_t_o __ r __ o_f ___ P~h~i~l~o~s~o~p~h~y __________________________ ___ Date ~J<, /,tff I~ ) '\ Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. Disser tion Dit~t0~ STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief ~ quotations from this dissertation are allow­ able without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manu­ script in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his or her judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. SIGNED: if!~ ~o. J~ Dedication To my family Dad, Mom, and Mike for their fervent prayers, unconditional love, and abiding faith in me. iii In Memory of Jay William Allen iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to acknowledge and thank the members of my dissertation committee: Co-chairmen, Andre,... A. King and Henry L. Ewbank, whose friendship I shall always cherish. These men not only imparted knowledge, but have given of their time and directed ~e toward the appropriate scholarly resources, enabling me to complete my task. My gratitude goes out to the other members of my committee, \Villiam E. Bailey, F. David Nott, and David A. Williams, whose classroom instruction sti~ulated and provoked me into other ways of thinking. Another committee member, Patricia D. Van Metre, warmly encouraged me to explore my communication capabilities not only in the university setting, but in the Tucson community as well. I wish to thank my beautiful friends and colleagues who stood beside me uncondi tionally as they supported me through this process, Joyce B. Allen, Martha B. Beal, Jeanne E. Clark, Margaret A. Douglas, Roger o. Douglas, Barbara H. Ewbank, Nora S. Kalliel, Cassandra V. Kelso, Barbara A. MacDonald, Patricia M. McNulty, Wanda A. Miller, Lillian H. Montague, and Jane M. Scott. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES......................................... ix ABSTRACT. .. • . • . • . • . x CHAPTER 1. PROBLEM, METHOD, AND MATERIALS .•............... 1 Background and Justification............... 1 The Problem................................ 4 Hethod. • . • . • . • . • . • . 5 Haterials.................................. 6 Previous Research.......................... 7 2. THE RHETORICAL SITUATION: ORIGIN AND DEVELOPHENT OF THE PROBLEM .•................... 8 The Founding and Rise of Chrysler.......... 8 The Coming of Iacocca ..•....•.............. 16 Aftermath.................................. 30 3. THE PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN: AUDIENCES, MEDIA, AND OPPORTUNITIES ....................... 35 Events .....•..•.....•..•..........•........ 35 Demographics: The Key Audiences........... 35 Characteristics of Paid Media and Unpaid Hedia Messages ...............•.... 38 Theoretical Perspectives ................... 40 Unpaid Media............................... 41 The Violation of the Free Market ........... 45 Expressions of Expert or Informed Opposi tion. • . 46 Expressions of Political Views of Administration Officials ................. 47 Letters to the Editors: Expressions of Popular Opposition and Support ........... 48 The Meaning of Precedence: A Recurrent Theme. • . • . 50 Conclusion. 61 vi vii TABLE OF CONTENTS -- Continued Page 4. METHODOLOGY AND APPLICATION.................... 62 Nature of the Pentad and Its Parts ••.•..... 62 Human Moti va tion. • . • . • . • . • • . 63 Ratio of the Parts......................... 64 Ratio Illustrations •...•.•.•.....••..•.•... 66 Scene-Act Ratio •...••.....•..•.•..•..•..... 71 Adapta tion. • . • . • . • . • • . • . • . • . 72 Portrayal of Chrysler as a Victim of Changing Times........................... 80 Associa tion wi th the Japanese.............. 81 Act-Agent Ratio............................ 83 Burke's Agent Pattern ...•....•...•...•.•..• 84 Iacocca's Ethos............................ 84 Independence Characteristic: Real Americans 'Don't' Take Charity: They Are Self-Reliant .•........•......... 85 Dynamism.... ..• ..•....•... .......• . ... •... 86 Confidence................................. 88 Television Advertisement: Iacocca On-Camera. • . • . • . • . .. 89 Plain Speaking............................. 89 The Mystique of Faith .•.•...•....•.....•••• 92 Personalities' Endorsements of Chrysler's Cars..................................... 92 Act-Purpose Ratio.......................... 94 American Appeal............................ 99 Dissociation from Japanese Products .••...•• 100 Appeal to Hierarchy or Excellence ••..•..... 101 Act-Agency Ratio •....•...•.•..••.......•... 103 Consequences for Buying a Chrysler .......•. 108 Rebates •.•••....•.•..•..•.•...•..........•. 108 Money-Back Guarantees ..••.........•........ III Featuring of Gas-Mileage Ratings ..•.•...•.• 112 5. RHETORICAL EVALUATION ....•...••...•..•......... 114 6. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH ..•............ 121 APPENDIX: ADVERTISEMENTS FOR CHRySLER ..•..•.....•... 125 viii TABLE OF CONTENTS -- Continued Page REFERENCES .• , ....•.•••••.•.••••••••••.•••••••..•• , ••.•• 156 LIST OF TABLES Table Page l. Chronology of events........................... 36 2. Hierarchy of arguments before and after loan ... 115 ix ABSTRACT The economic analysts on Wall Street had all but signed Chrysler's death certificate when Lee Iacocca took the reins of a floundering corporate giant in 1979. At this writing (1985) Chrysler's $1.2 billion