A Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's Speech

In John F. Kennedy’s speech, he voices his tremendously strong opinion on steel companies, and why the steel prices should be drastically lowered. It is evident through his literary strategies that he is outraged at the steel companies. Kennedy is so distraught due to the fact that he has inquired about stable prices constantly, yet the steel companies still decided to raise steel prices by 3.5 percent. This price raise is extremely unnecessary, especially since it would be detrimental to American citizens which JFK acknowledges through his speech. John F. Kennedy employs various strategies that strongly appeal to the ethics, logic, and patriotism of the American citizens.
To begin, Kennedy appeals to patriotism to address America, and to show

he is on their side. This appeal is evident in this quote: “…When we are devoting our energies to economic recovery and stability, when we are asking Reservists to leave their homes and families for months on end, and servicemen to risk their lives, and asking union members to hold down their wage requests, at a time when restraint and sacrifice are being asked of every citizen, the American people, as I do, to accept a situation in which a tiny handful of steel executives whose pursuit of private power and profit exceeds their sense of public responsibility.” (10-20) In this quote, John F. Kennedy appeals to the patriotism of American citizens by showing how Americans are hurting, and how this steel price raise will be even more detrimental to the American citizens. At this time in America, war is waging in their country, and adding this steel price raise will only make things much worse. This shows Americans that the President is on their side for this crisis, which appeals to their patriotism.
Subsequently, Kennedy uses ethical appeal to show endorsement from important government departments. The ethical appeal Kennedy utilizes is conspicuous in this quote: “The Department of Defense and other agencies are reviewing its impact on their policies of procurement, and I am informed that steps are underway by those Members of the Congress who plan appropriate inquiries into how these price decisions are so quickly made, and reached, and what legislative safeguards may be needed to protect the public interest.” (91 – 99) John F. Kennedy uses this ethical appeal to show citizens that the issue is more important than it seems. Since government officials are involved with the steel price raise, more citizens will most likely listen and be concerned about the steel companies, and their gratuitous steel price raise.
To conclude, John F. Kennedy utilizes a logical appeal to emphasize that a rise in steel prices is completely unnecessary. The logical appeal John F. Kennedy uses is noticeable through this quote: “The industry’s cash dividends have exceeded 600 million dollars in each of the last five years, and earnings in the first quarter of this year were estimated in the February 28th Wall Street Journal to be among the highest in history.” (Lines 70-74) This quote demonstrates one of the many reasons Kennedy is so infuriated over the steel companies. With the steel industry performing so well, it is odd that the steel prices would be raised. In this quote, he is not only trying to display to the steel companies, but also to the American citizens, why the steel prices should be lowered drastically.
In conclusion, the use of rhetorical strategies by John F. Kennedy in his speech assist in displaying the major issues of the steel price raise, and why they should be lowered. First, Kennedy utilizes emotional appeal to favor to the American citizens, and their patriotism. Next, he uses ethical appeal by mentioning government officials, which shows how important the issue really is. Lastly, Kennedy demonstrates logical appeal by speaking of the steel industry’s earnings. John F. Kennedy provides various examples of rhetoric strategies to emphasize how outraged he is at the steel companies, and why they should lower their prices for the American citizens.