Rhetorical Analysis Of Jfk Inaugural Address

“Rhetorical Analysis of President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address”
In 1960, John Fitzgerald Kennedy gained the nomination for the democratic party to run against Richard Nixon of the Republican party. Kennedy defeated Nixon in the 1960 election and become the 35 President of the United States. Kennedy was the youngest elected President of the United States history, he was 43 years old when he became President. On January 20, 1961; 55 years ago, President John F. Kennedy gave his Inaugural address in Washington D.C. This speech became one of the most famous speeches given by a president, up with the likes of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address, as well as Ronald Reagan's Brandenburg Gate Speech. Some of the reasons why President Kennedy’s

inaugural address became so famous was because of the fact that he used lots of well balanced and well-placed rhetoric. Throughout John Kennedy first speech as president, he used a good amount of antithesis, alliteration, ...
The first and probably the most recognized form of rhetoric in JFK’s Inaugural address is the use of antithesis. Antithesis is two contrasting ideas are put into the same sentence to achieve a contrasting effect. John F. Kennedy used antithesis three times within his first sentence of his Inaugural Address. “We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom, symbolizing an end as well as a beginning, signifying renewal as well as change” (Kennedy 1961). He Also uses antithesis saying, “United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do” (Kennedy 1961). Kennedy was very good at using antithesis in his speeches. The most famous quote of the entire speech, and maybe the most famous quote he has ever made was, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.” (Kennedy 1961). It is a very simple to understand, which is something that John F. Kennedy is very famous for.
President Kennedy was also very skillful with the use of alliteration. Alliteration is when you use multiple words that start with the same letter to give a rhyme sound or feel to the sentence. I very famous sentence of alliteration is, ‘Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper…’. In fact, he used alliteration within his inaugural address twenty-one times. some of these consist of, “man holds in his mortal hands… for which our forebears fought... high standards of strength and sacrifice” (Kennedy 1961). Alliteration is very famous with poetry because it easily makes words rhyme. Towards the end of the Speech, within the last paragraph, John F. Kennedy states, “ high standards of strength and sacrifice… Let us go forth to lead the land we love...” (Kennedy 1961).
John F. Kennedy was able to connect to the audience, not only because he was very young as a president, but also because he could connect to the masses with logic, emotion, as well as morals. “people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery” (Kennedy 1961). He is stating that people all around the world are struggling to survive. There is mass misery all around the world. He wants the citizens of the United States to care less about their first world problems and more about the problems of the world. "
When connecting with a large crowds, such as the entire United States, it is best to connect with all of the on a personal or emotional level.

He achieved just that within his inaugural address. “The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it--and the glow from that fire can truly light the world." (Kennedy 1961) President Kennedy was trying to get the citizens of America rallied up with the war against Russia. He is stating that if all of America was united with strong faith in our country, then we as a country will shine as a light for the rest of the world to follow our example and become united in the war against the communists. “In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.” (Kennedy 1961). In the beginning of this section, he is stating that not all of the country rests in his hands, but in fact in the hands of the people of America. He later goes on to state, that the graves of Americans that have fallen in previous wars for the freedom of America have not gone unnoticed. They have died for their great loyalty to a great country, which is the Untied States of

America.
"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility--I welcome it." (Kennedy 1961). The United States have come close to extinction only a few times within its history. One being during the revolutionary war against the British. The leaders of the 13 colonies did not run from battle and oppression, but instead stood their ground and fought for what was the greater good. Kennedy understands that that moment was the greatest moment in the history of the country. He also knows that the country could soon fall towards the point where the safety of the citizens of the United States could fall into jeopardy. He wants the people of this great nation not to fear, that he not deliver them to safety. He wants them to know that he will stay with them through all of the countries trials. He is not afraid of the danger, he welcomes it.