On January 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy delivered his inaugural address to millions of hopeful Americans. In the midst of the Cold War and Civil Rights Movement, recently elected JFK is present with the task of handling a disgruntled and divided America. His speech is marked with a commanding tone that uses rhetorical devices to emphasize his ideals for the country. In his inaugural address, John F. Kennedy uses a variety of rhetorical devices to establish credibility, calls people to action, and unify America. JFK establishes his credibility using ethos in order to achieve the purpose of his inaugural address. JFK was the first Catholic president and the youngest, which in turn, concerned a lot of Americans. In order to settle their worries, JFK connects himself to past leaders. First, he addresses past leaders such as President Eisenhower and President Truman. Along with his introduction, he says, “I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.” (JFK p.1). JFK communicates that he took the same oath that all the previous …show more content…
By calling people to action, JFK expresses people should stand up for the rights and freedoms of others regardless if they are on their side or not. For example, he calls the American public to “bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend”, in order to preserve the “success of liberty” (JFK p.3). In the hortative statement, JFK promotes any action that sustains liberty. Because JFK uses a hortative sentence to call people to action, people are more likely to complete actions that protect liberty. Furthermore, JFK says Americans should “convert our good words into good deeds” (JFK p.4). He calls Americans to no only say positive things but to act on their words also. Kennedy uses the hortative statements to make people work towards a better
It was on January 20th 1961 that John F Kennedy gave his inaugural address after winning the presidential race and beating future president Richard Nixon. President, John F Kennedy in his speech, The Inaugural Address, he describes his plans for growth in America. Kennedy’s purpose is unite the people of the U.S. and bring everyone together for the good cause of promoting growth in the country. He creates a very inspirational tone in order to establish a connection with the U.S. people. In his speech Kennedy really used several rhetorical strategies of persuasion to motivate and persuade the U.S. people that they made the right choice in choosing him.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States. He graduated from Harvard, and joined the navy. He worked as a reporter before entering the political arena. He later wrote “profiles in courage” which won the Pulitzer Prize Award. Being that JFK was the youngest president to ever be in office there is no doubt that he encountered a lot of skepticism. This speech had many purposes but most importantly it gave him positive recognition. The inaugural address was written to encourage the American public to get actively involved with their country. It also reassured them that it was not a contest that he won but rather chance at a beginning. This speech reassured the voters that they made the right choice and informed a country that they were going to see some changes.
In a tradition dating back to George Washington, every newly-elected president gives an inaugural address at the time of his swearing into office. Many of these inaugural speeches have been given during times of war. Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address was given on March 4, 1865, near the end of the American Civil War, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Fourth Inaugural Address was given on January 20, 1945, in the last year of World War Two, and John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address was given on January 20, 1961, during the darkest years of the Cold War. Each in their own way, in their respective inaugural addresses, spoke words of reassurance and encouragement to a nation’s people troubled by war and anxious about peace.
In his prominent 1961 Inaugural Address, John F. Kennedy extensively employs pathos, parallelism, antithesis, and varied syntax to captivate millions of people, particularly to persuade them to stand together and attempt to further human rights for the “betterment” of the world. Kennedy’s effective use of various rhetorical styles succeeds in persuading his audience –the world and the U.S citizens—that his newly-seized position as the U.S. President will be worthwhile for all.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy delivered one of the most important American speeches after being sworn in as president on January 20, 1961. His inauguration speech was so influential that it seized the nation’s attention, and quotes from it are still clearly remembered by people today. It is considered one of the best speeches ever written and ever delivered. It presents a strong appeal to pathos, ethos, and logos and accomplishes what any speaker strives for – it speaks straight to the heart of the audience and inspires people.
After being elected the 35th President of the United States of America, President John F. Kennedy delivered his inaugural address on January 20, 1961. He spoke of his intentions of being the leader of the United States of America and stressed unity and the hope for a better future. The inaugural address is regarded as one of the most famous and well-written speeches in history; it was brief yet contained countless examples of beautifully executed literary devices. The concepts along with many quotes are often still valued and used in society today. In his inaugural address, John F. Kennedy’s use of metaphor and parallelism effectively motivated American’s to do their duty for their nation and the human race.
Kennedy used this to support his claim and put the nation as a whole to do things together and never be in doubt of their goals and have the common knowledge set in mind. So when you look over to the inaugural speech there is no doubt that the usage of ethos was on point. His morals about religion and doing stuff that led to the right way became very keen. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth and lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.” (Kennedy, 1961)
Since the main reason of his sermon is to inspire rather than educate, Kennedy rarely uses any logical pleads. Yet, Kennedy adequately uses passionate dialect to make the people sense their involvement in what all the President says. Kennedy composes the assignment to bring back tranquility and good-wealth as not only his aim, but of the public as well. With famed verses like, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” Kennedy makes the spectators feel inclined to make an impact in the world they live. Apart from infusing a sense of obligation in the crowd, Kennedy’s greatest element in his speech was the aptitude to arouse a feeling of esteem in the audience. Kennedy constantly uses phrases about freedom and sovereignty to remind the people they still are. “The heirs of that first revolution.” This dialect portrays America as a powerful and patriarch republic that possesses greater philanthropy of all the other nations around the world. Even though much of the address is fervent in tone, Kennedy devotes a large section of his topic to outline his ethos to all inhabitants of the world. JFK introduced the use of ethos at the inception of his address. Kennedy was very young when he came into office, but he was still obliged to act at the same status as former presidents. Attentive to this condition, Kennedy
By speaking often of the world-wide suffering, as well as the ever present threat of nuclear annihilation, which really brings out the feeling of fear. Although these emotions are brought out, Kennedy had advised his audience to be “unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which [we] are committed today at home and around the world.” In other words, Kennedy advised the people of America to never stop fighting for human rights, commit to being a good citizen, and have the morality and passion to keep the progress of human rights going. By this being said, a variety of different commands in being a good citizen are being provoked.
It is 11 June, 1963, and the Alabama National Guardsmen are called to the University of Alabama to ensure the safe admission of two black students. That same afternoon, John F. Kennedy addresses the nation in an attempt to sooth flared tempers on both sides of the debate. Despite the limited time for preparation, “… it was one of his best speeches–a heartfelt appeal in behalf of a moral cause that included several memorable lines calling upon the country to honor its finest traditions” (Dallek). Indeed, part of this heartfelt spirit is likely derived from the relative spontaneity of the speech. Nevertheless, Kennedy is well-recognized as skilled in his use of language (Renehan), and purposefully employs several methods to create his appeals.
Kennedy’s inaugural address speech was completely focused towards the American people which he was persuading. He used different techniques to present his speech so that the information being presented would be clear and concise. He used the rhetoric to persuade the audience, and in his speech he states “..Where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.” By using this statement in his speech he was able to convey to the audience something that would be easy to remember as well as keeping them interested in what he had to offer. The speech encouraged the use of ethos, pathos and logos. He describes and establishes his ethos as all of the speakers and other presidents who were present. He starts to persuade his audience that he is the right man for the job and that they did not make any mistake in electing him to lead the United States. Kennedy states in his speech that this isn’t just a victory for the Democratic Party. He goes to great lengths to show the American people that he is a president who will stand for the joining of the country as a whole and will not be bias towards the Republican
They are hoping to gain the deep emotions for the topic at hand, in order to have the audience or readers side with them on the issue. Thus, Kennedy reminds the audience of the linkage between our forefathers or “the first revolution” and the current generation “born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage.” He refers to the value of freedom and dedication America holds to fight for that value. The former president appeals to the emotions of those who have lost loved ones we he says, “The graces of young Americans who answered the call of service surround the globe.” He also inspires the nation to take a leap of action to defend their country and its
Atkinson, Max. "JFK's Inaugural Speech: Six Secrets of His Success." BBC News. BBC, 19 Jan. 2011. Web. 26 Nov. 2015.
Inaugural speeches are intended to reach into the minds of people and connect with their morality. United States’ presidents are symbolic leaders of a nation, and they must use rhetoric to express their ideas to the public. Elected at a critical time in United States’ history, John F. Kennedy’s (JFK) first inaugural speech was a call for action against “… the common enemies of man: tyranny… poverty… disease… and war itself” (Kennedy). He aspired for the American people to become united against these issues. Communism was spreading, countries were manufacturing powerful weapons of destruction, and Kennedy desperately needed to prove to the public that his term would hold change and hope. In his first inaugural address, Kennedy used emotional language to establish his ethos to his audience.
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This we pledge-and more.” (Kennedy, 1961)