Kennedy John F Kennedy was one of the most influential presidents in the USA’s history, he led the US through great turmoil and was known for his public speaking and leadership abilities. His actions and voice directly impacted many aspects of American life, and he was seen as a voice of reason and power. He gave many speeches and wrote many letters. However, his national addresses on April 11, 1962, regarding the raised steel prices is a masterclass in how a speaker can use rhetorical devices to elevate and detail their message. For example, Kennedy uses a friendly human tone during his speech that instill a sense of sameness and understanding with the citizens, this is elevated by his simpler word choice that comes across as a true message
At the start of the recession steel prices increased by almost 6 dollars a ton. President Kennedy addressed the issue on April 11th, 1962 at a news conference. During this conference President Kennedy stated on line 5 that this was “wholly unjustifiable and irresponsible defiance of the public interest”. Throughout the conference President Kennedy uses many rhetorical techniques such as using an ethical appeal through shared values, diction through a somber tone and word choice, and an emotional appeal to illuminate the issues that increased steel prices have caused. President Kennedy also uses intelligent, formal fiction through this speech regarding the increase in steel prices.
In the 1960s America had just gotten out of a war and Rising tensions with the Soviets we expected to get into another one, along with that John F. Kennedy just got elected, this is what he has to say. It was 1961 when Kennedy gave his inaugural speech, it was practically oozing with rhetorical strategies. Kennedy new kind of state Country was in, so with this speech he needed to comfort the people of America, he does this by using rhetorical strategies ethos, pathos, logos. First we will evaluate the ethos / logos.
Kyle Seager Dr. Restivo AP English Language and Composition 4 November 2014 JFK Rhetorical Analysis President Kennedy inspires the American populace through his figurative language and uplifting tone. President Kennedy employs a wide array of rhetorical techniques to inspire the American population. Kennedy wastes no time in building up to these techniques; on the contrary his first actual sentence of the speech employs antithesis in the line "symbolizing an end as well as a beginning- signifying renewal as well as a change. "
Throughout an economic time of distress, an increase of the price of steel was implemented. This time period was 1962, Kennedy has banned all trade with Cuba excluding food & drugs. He also put a blockade on Cuba. April 11, 1962, John F. Kennedy gave a speech explaining his disbelief and anger of the steel price increase. Kennedy's purpose in mind was to have steel companies inverse the increase.
In the speech made by John F Kennedy in Jan 20th 1961, he announced his presidency and addressed his agenda for the future of America, and more over, of the world -- the pursuit of peace and liberty inside and outside America. His audiences were his fellow citizens who were Americans and those around the globe, and he surely implied his points powerfully by arguing with a serious tone and meaningful yet powerful diction. The first aspect that makes the speech effective and incisive is the tone of it -- lofty and formal. For example: “Let every nation know...
He wants to let the audience and the reader know that aggression or subversion will be opposed anywhere in the Americas and will remain “master of its own house.” The people is what represents “Hemisphere,” without the people we are nothing and with the people we are unstoppable. The United States of America is full of different races and cultures, and with these different factors united we will overcome anything. That is why “United” is part of our country’s name. Our arms and the incredibly amount of courage is what forges the U.S., without it we will be
In the early 1960s, America was faced with turmoil and controversy regarding many issues especially the battle against communism. In the wake of a new presidential election, the U.S.A needed a strong and reassuring leader to take the reigns of the nation and guide it to safety. With a very close margin, that responsibility fell upon the 35th president, John F. Kennedy, who was labeled as too young and not ready. In his Inaugural Speech as president, JFK uses many rhetorical strategies in order to to convey his purpose and persuade the audience. His sharp-witted use of diction such as abstract words, figures of speech, and archaic language, along with syntax made up of short passages with hortative and imperative sentences allow him to achieve
Rhetorical Analysis of President Kennedy Speech: Quentin Holbert In his speech, "A Price Portage Of Steel," President Kennedy denounces the unjustifiable and unnecessary price hikes of steel by the powerful steel industry leaders, whom he refers to as the "Red Barons" of American society. Kennedy employs pathos to appeal to the American people, framing the situation as a threat to their own economy and against the public interest. Furthermore, Kennedy employs historical allusions and a carefully chosen tone to emphasize the gravity of the situation and to appeal to the American people's sense of civic responsibility.
John F. Kennedy’s was known as a very patriotic person, and that would raise the question why. Well, the answer can simply be found in his inauguration speech. He gave the speech to bolster the fighting spirit and act as an inspiration for the Americans. How he does this is interestingly simple by smart actually. He used a plethora of stylistic devices extensively in his speech.
On April 10, 1962, steel companies raised the prices by 3.5 percent of their products. President John F. Kennedy had tried to maintain steel prices at a stable rate. President John F. Kennedy, known for his diligence and persuasion, held a news conference about the hikes in steel prices. President John F. Kennedy, in his speech, uses rhetorical strategies such as diction, emotional appeals, and a persuasive tone to convince Americans that steel companies are declining the standards to maintain stable prices. Kennedy states that the steel companies are a national problem due to the increase of steel prices.
By using we, us and our he includes everyone and unifies the citizens of the United States and the world. Kennedy says “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the 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, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed...” He is saying that the old generation had passed their ideas on to the new generation who are willing to sacrifice so that their rights are not taken from them. By saying “friend and foe alike” he is bringing everyone together and not letting them be different just because they are a friend or a foe. Additionally by describing traits of all the Americans, he unifies the citizens of America because all were tempered by war and proud of their heritage so it allows citizens to bond of common history.
John F. Kennedy, a former president of the United States, delivered his “Cuban Missile Crisis” speech on October 22, 1962, to the United States citizens and captives in Cuba. Those people were terrified of a nuclear missile attack during the Cold War time period. Due to the primary use of logos in Kennedy’s “Cuban Missile Crisis” speech, he informs his audience about the type of missiles in Cuba and the steps to be taken to respond to the Soviet Union’s placement of missiles in Cuba. This would hopefully alleviate some of the fear of the citizens of the United States. He shows pathos by continuing to ease the citizens’ fear of a missile attack by showing compassion towards the people.
In fact, Kennedy accomplished his goal and is still remembered today, as the best speech ever written and delivered. Kennedy presents his speech with strong Aristotelian appeals of ethos, pathos and the stylistic devices of alliteration and antithesis. Kennedy accomplished what every speaker strives for and surpassed it by capturing the hearts of the audience and inspiring the people’s trust. Ethos is a very important rhetorical device in speeches because it establishes a sense of credibility and trustworthiness with the audience. Ethos permits the audience to feel a sense of trust that is missing in some people’s speeches.
It was the “official” start of the era of new technology. Ethos is showed when JFK is looked at by the audience as one of the best liked U.S. presidents. He could handle many situations in the past, like the Cuban Missile Crisis. John F. Kennedy was trying to introduce new technologies to the United States and that speech delivered just what he wanted. President John F Kennedy was addressing the public from Rice University to get funding for NASA and the space program.