I recall that Jacqueline Onassiss’s voice was described as “breathy” and “little girl,” as was Marilyn Monroe’s. That voice was described as a way to project vulnerability and entice the more powerful to protect them.

I would be interested in hearing a recording of Dr. Ford lecturing to see if her voice changes with the circumstances. As a psychologist, Dr. Ford is probably aware of how voice and body language influence the listener/observer. Whether she deliberately would manipulate them would be difficult to prove.

In the end it worked because Judge Kavanaugh rose to the occasion and presented what others have already said– an epic closing argument in his opening statement. He laid out the evidence that refuted the charges without attacking Mrs. Ford.

He did what the Democrats said he had to, he proved he didn’t do it. That left the Democrats playing their only option– delay the hearings again with incessant calls for a FBI investigation

It was a defense that you wanted to stand up and cheer for. Some might say the fact that he ripped up his prepared statement and wrote this statement was divinely inspired.

Nothing less would have saved his nomination, IMO.
* * *
Sadly, it hasn’t saved him yet — in fact, the failure to follow-up while the enemy is on the run will totally vitiate all of the momentum gained by his testimony and Graham’s last-minute cavalry charge.

If Judge Kavanaugh were to now tell the Committee that he was willing to fight, but not to be their sacrificial scapegoat, I would lament his decision but support it.

Stodgy old Christian conservative that he is, he probably would not flip them off as he said it, but if he did — stodgy old Christian conservative that I am — I would stand up, applaud, and yell

“damn straight.”

https://www.nap.edu/read/10420/chapter/2