Rhetorical Analysis Of Lyndon Baines Johnson's Speech

In the 1960’s during the era of the Civil Rights movement, America had been divided by the voting rights that were not given to the African Americans. Although, a decade ago the African Americans had been freed from slavery, but they were still not considered “equal” because they weren't able to vote. The discrimination in the area even had political leaders affected, therefore many of those political leaders during that time attempted to put an end to the several agonizing events going on. Lyndon B Johnson, a white persistent president speaks out to the lawmakers using compassionate encouraging appeals about voting for Civil Rights, in order to unify the nation “to build a new community”. President Johnson utilizes many devices in his speech such as anaphora, emotional appeals, and

John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, leaving his Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson, in charge of a hopeless and disbanded country. Shortly after he was sworn in, Johnson attempted to ease those emotions in his speech, "Let Us Continue." In his speech, "Let Us Continue," Johnson's purpose is to persuade his audience that the country needs to be united again in order to move on and to ease the hopelessness and emotional tension after Kennedy's assassination.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was in office through one of the most challenging times in American history; the great depression. This was a time when jobs were lessening and the country was in need of a boost. Being our president, many people look up and rely on the actions of him. In this specific time, President Roosevelt needed to put himself in the position of a fellow American citizen as well as remain his leadership role as president. To give the country the little boost of positivity, President Roosevelt constructed his broadcast that aired on October 22, 1933. Within this broadcast, the president used rhetorical techniques such as reminding his audience that he will help the country overcome this difficult time, and by using metaphors and repetition to convey his uplifting message to his audience.

On December 9, 1948, as the United States was approaching a proposal towards the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which seemed unfair and uncompromised, first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt displayed a motivational and moving speech to allow the citizens of America to come together as one to make the best of the situation that was proposed in front of them.The analysis of the tingling speech on the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, will explore the deep rhetorical devices used to compel the audience and America, including the true purpose and background of this particular eye-opening speech.

In President Roosevelt’s speech, there are multiple rhetorical devices that can get a point across. Using these rhetorical devices, the audience may be able to become swayed by the main message being expressed. The goal of a speech is to catch the audience’s attention greatly and persuade them to gain similar beliefs on whatever is being spoken of. In Roosevelt’s speech, the mood expresses a ray of hope yet a feel of strictness.

Growing up, we have all heard the many stories of George Washington. While many recognize him as one of the most important figures in U.S history, others only recognize him by one of his multiple accomplishments; he was the 1st president of the United States. With presidency comes the variety of duties and responsibilities, the main being a president 's inaugural adress. In George Washington 's very 1st inaugural, he uses three rhetorical strategies: personification, amplification, and last but not least, repitition to convey what he truly wants for the States and why a successful Constitution should be in order.

Eleanor Roosevelt spoke at the 1936 District of Columbia Library Association Dinner on April 1st, and she gave her speech, “What Libraries Mean to the Nation”. Roosevelt’s speech emphasized the need of public access to books and libraries across the nation. She used her position as the President’s wife, and her passion for education and books to appeal to the primary audience at the Library Association dinner. However, she addresses her secondary audience, rural and urban America, multiple times throughout the text. Roosevelt relied heavily on pathos, which was influenced by her use of syntax and diction, to persuade the audience that books and libraries are needed for the success of the nation. Roosevelt’s speech is rhetorically effective because of the use of fallacies geared to the primary audience, and the appeals used addressed poverty and the consequences that could occur without the presence of libraries.

As President Kennedy enters office he gives an speech on the celebration of freedom; symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning of a new nation. Kennedy rises for the opportunity for persuasion after his inauguration has been addressed and he scarcely beats nixon.President Kennedy uses his authority for persuasion to bring the american people together under his power. The president uses the experience of war,poverty,and the desire for peace to develop an emotional appeal between the U.S and the world population. In this speech Kennedy uses ethos,pathos,logos,as well as other rhetorical devices to convince the audience.

The first Rhetorical Device Ronald Reagan used in his Inaugural speech was the use of Pathos. Throughout his speech, Ronald Reagan uses the ‘ingredients of persuasion’ to focus on the emotions of everyone listening, “Now I have used the words ‘they’ and ‘their’ in speaking of these heroes. I could say ‘you’ and ‘your’ because I’m addressing the heroes of whom I speak -- you, the citizens of this blessed land”.

Americans have lost their lives for centuries in exchange for our nation’s freedom, but is every citizen really free? President Lyndon B. Johnson addressed congress following a police beat down during a peaceful protest in Selma, Alabama. The protest led by Martin Luther King became a turning point in American history; attacks on African American’s at Selma sparked reason in the eyes of many. Johnson used his address to Congress as a call to action, his goal was to ensure freedom and equality for all citizens; they shall not face persecution for the color of their skin. “We Shall Overcome” suggests that the text focuses on the constitutionality of the police beat down in Selma, Alabama and the concern of how our nation will overcome the issues of racism. However,

On Friday, January of 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy delivered a speech to the citizens of the United States of America and the world. Kennedy made a speech that he knew would be remembered for many years to come even after his presidential term. 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.

5. Identify an example of logos in the speech. Explain why it fits the parameters of logos.

¨Even when our heart aches, we summon the strength that maybe we didn't even know we had, and we carry on; we finish the race. ¨ Boston was devastated when the bombing occurred during the Boston Marathon. Obama´s speech conveys the message that Boston is strong, brave, determined and not to let terrorism destroy our city and people. In the speech the message portrayed to the country is not to be afraid and how as a country we can pull together after a heartbreaking occurrence is conveyed through a variety of literary strategies. Literary devices are used in everything we read and the speech given after the Boston marathon bombing by the President of the United States concentrates on colloquial and dialogue.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Junior’s, speech at his inaugural address in 1961 is undeniably a masterpiece of the persuasive arts. Although the speech is short as such speeches go, and although its main persuasive device is pathos alone, the masterful skill with which Kennedy’s speech is written makes it one of the most moving and effective political speeches to date. Kennedy’s vivid use of diction and metaphor, as well as his extremely memorable syntax, are particularly strong and successful.

Audience: The audience of this document was the citizens of the United States; specifically minorities and southerners. This audience would be a diverse group of ethnicities, political parties, genders, and social class; majority would be above the age of fifteen. Johnson used vocabulary that alleviated tensions and unified the United States. Similarly, he evokes God, history, liberty, and nationalism to influence the country. Johnson primarily alluded to the Civil War and the other battles America has faced.