The Use Of Gestures By U.S. Presidential Candidates

Call it the body politic. How you say something matters as much as what you say.

President Bush winks and smiles and is known for sidelong glances. Sen. John Kerry clenches his fists and points his index finger. Sen. John Edwards does the arms-stretched-to-the side, two-thumbs-up move. And Vice President Dick Cheney, well, body language experts agree he could use a little more motion.

Salutes, waves, clasped hands, pumped fists . . . where would presidential candidates be without them?

"If someone is not gesturing, it signals that there is something wrong," said Elissa Foster, who teaches interpersonal communication at the University of Texas in San Antonio."It's natural, instinctive, for a human being to use gestures."

Much of a politician's gesturing is coached, of course, and therefore, often the timing is off and the"whole thing looks fake," said Atlanta body language expert Patti Wood, who trains business executives in the fine art of nonverbal communication.

"Words go to the rational part of the brain," Wood said."The delivery, the emotional content goes to a more primitive part of the brain. Words only win when that's all you see. The success of 75 to 85 percent of speeches depends on delivery."

A WINK AND A SMILE

President Bush's winks and warm smiles go a long way in connecting with audiences even when his words are not completely on target, said Atlanta body language expert Patti Wood. Bush's gestures and demeanor at the GOP convention revealed a man in total control, a man"who owned the stage," Wood said.

GOOD HUGS, BAD HUGS . . .

When Sen. John Kerry appeared with Sen. John Edwards at a rally in July, they could not stop hugging each other. The media tore into the duo's frequent hugfests, calling them awkward and staged.

It was like watching two boys on a playground, Wood said. At first, the hugs were competitive."You could see Kerry being very controlling by wrapping his arm all the way around Edwards and Edwards patting him on the back as if to say, 'Don't do that.'"

But now, Woods thinks, the two men convey unity, teamwork and that they"know each other really well."

.. . . OR NO HUGS

At the Republican convention, Bush said he was honored to have Vice President Dick Cheney at his side, but there were no hugs. They rarely appear side by side, much less hug, Wood said.

THUMBS UP

While he was campaigning for the Democratic nomination, Edwards used a two-thumbs-up gesture at the end of every stump speech. It became such a big part of his image that the media learned to anticipate it."Here it comes," they would say before Edwards' arms went flying up.

After he became Kerry's running mate, Edwards switched to a single thumbs-up. Wood interpreted that as a way of showing the audience that he was no longer the star of the show.

All candidates could take pointers from Edwards, Wood said. Many of his techniques --- eye contact, hand motions and movements on stage --- were honed during years of addressing courtroom juries.

IS THAT TOM CRUISE?

Kerry's fist-clenching and finger-pointing served him well in his nomination acceptance speech, Wood said. He also has a distinctive wave; he's so tall that it almost becomes a hail. He puts his arms way up high, a la Tom Cruise, Wood said."It's almost a high-five gesture," she said.

HISTORICALLY GESTURING

Gestures are often what is most remembered about a politician's speech."Just as certain words are remembered, certain gestures can be associated with particular candidates," Colgate University professor Spencer Kelly said."They can even become signature moves."

Remember Richard Nixon's double V-for-victory sign? He used it for all occasions, from accepting the nomination to bidding farewell as he entered the plane that carried him off after his resignation.

Or John Kennedy's wagging of the forefinger as he admonished the nation:"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."