Jefferson's understanding of democratic energy requires a president who will use declarations to articulate the principles of his administration in order to direct national aspirations, present a standard by which administration can be judged, and, most important, bring the opinions of citizens together under a single head. Because the president's unique electoral position places the presidency closest to the national will, it is the president's job to bring public opinion to a set of declared principles; by declaring these principles, the president not only strengthens his ability to act in agency of the will of the nation but also lays down the principles by which this agency would be governed. Jefferson transformed presidential speech in order to energize the presidency, and Jefferson transformed the presidency in order to bring energy to declarations.

This is not to say that Jefferson ushered in the rhetorical presidency long before Woodrow Wilson or that Jefferson relied on popular leadership, rather than reputation among elites, as the primary resource of power. Jefferson's most well-known rhetorical act as president, after all, was sending his state of the union addresses to Congress in writing rather than delivering them in person, a precedent that other premodern presidents followed until Wilson brought democracy to the presidency. Like his simple attire, this practice was part of his larger attempt to divest the office of its kingly forms. And, like other early presidents, Jefferson avoided appealing over the heads of Congress to the people in order to achieve his policy objectives.