Rhetorical Analysis Of Pearl Harbor Address To The Nation

Franklin D. Roosevelt was an influential figure in history and is known for his presidency. His speech, Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation, contributed to his success as a leader. He discussed the tragedy of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, which led him to order a state of war between the United States and the Japanese empire (Eidenmuller). Roosevelt achieved his goal by organizing an effective speech. His writing demonstrated Monroe’s motivated sequence, organization, and his argument. These aspects are required for speakers who intend to catch the attention of their audience. In addition, the speaker in Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation was Franklin D. Roosevelt. First person was present throughout his text. This was identified because he used words such as, I, us, and our. To add, Roosevelt argued from a question of policy perspective. Questions of policy are “about whether a specific course of action should or should not be taken” (Lucas 333). They deal with specific courses of action, facts, and values. Roosevelt’s

Ethos is “what modern students of communication refer to as credibility” (Lucas 353). Roosevelt illustrated ethos through the audience he named. In the beginning, he pointed out that he was speaking to “Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives” (Eidenmuller). Pathos appeals to emotions. His speech demonstrated feelings of sadness, pride, and confidence. An example of sadness was his announcement that “very many American lives had been lost” (Eidenmuller). Roosevelt promoted pride and confidence in his work by reminding his soldiers that they must maintain determination to gain the inevitable triumph they were waiting for. Logos refers to reasoning and judgment. Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation used logos when a state of war was declared. Ethos, pathos, and logos help create meaningful