Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address

John F. Kennedy was the eloquent speaker that inaugurated his presidency with an excellent, well-developed speech that presented his initiative for his presidential term and introduced his motivation to make a positive change for the future of America. The speech was communicated on January 20th, 1961, from a platform erected at the east front of the capital (John F. Kennedy, “Inaugural Address”). This powerful speech can be best examined and evaluated by analyzing in depth the speaker’s personal characteristics, directed audience, central message, and occasion.
John F. Kennedy had diverse personal characteristics that enhanced his speech and allowed him to make a connection with the audience and correctly deliver his message. It is evident

Kennedy, “Inaugural Address”). To construct this objective, the speaker used numerous appeals of ethos, logos, and pathos. The strongest use of ethos that ensured trustworthiness and credibility was Kennedy’s statement reassuring his total devotion and commitment to the country: “For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago…” (John F. Kennedy, “Inaugural Address”). Among the different examples of logos, one important logical analysis made by the speaker was the realistic view that the intended goals and changes were not going to happen in a short time period rather they were going to take great efforts and commitment in the future years: “This will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin...” (John F. Kennedy, “Inaugural Address”). Additionally, one effectively use of pathos was made at the closing of the speech to implement in the audience a final, dominant emotional sense of

Kennedy where he expressed the mark of a new beginning and change, there were also numerous historical events that influenced the content of the speech. As an example: “We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution…torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans--born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage ….To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny…”(John F. Kennedy, “Inaugural Address”). Kennedy referred to the history of America to set a common ground and send a message of encouragement for improvement and further