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Argues that distinctions which relegate rhetoric to social, explicit, or contingent knowledge incorrectly restrict the view of the rhetoric-epistemic relationship. Suggests another perspective. (PD)

The article discusses how intentionality and first-person perspective of phenomenology can affect the persuasive impact of a criticism. The author cites the difficulty in pre-judging the positive and negative impact of a phenomenological orientation to rhetorical criticism. He adds that a phenomenological thinking engages the critic to move the spotlight to the bigger picture.

The article presents the Watergate affair as a widespread perversion of the constitutional form of government experienced by the U.S. It cites the essays by Mary Kahl, Carole Blair and Dennis Gouran which discusses several types of communication associated with Watergate including the autobiographical apoligia written in book form and an analysis on the Nixon White House tapes.