Rhetorical Analysis Of John F Kennedy Steel Prices

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President John F. Kennedy, in his commentary regarding the hike in steel prices (1962), argues that the recent rise in steel prices is un-American and effects not only the steel market but prices of products everywhere, causing economic distress and chaos for workers and citizens. Kennedy supports this by first using pathos to help the reader understand just how serious this situation is, then proceeding to use logic and strong evidence in addressing how the rise in prices could affect Americans, and furthermore a confronting tone at the end towards the creators of the situation, outlining his responsibility and theirs to America. He uses strong emotion and authority towards this situation in order to help the reader understand if these increases …show more content…

He gives several examples of how the raise could affect workers, servicemen, reservists, and citizens. "And asking union members to hold down their wage requests," he declares, "at a time when restraint and sacrifice are being asked of every citizen." Line 13-15: Kennedy helps the audience understand that this issue is bigger than you think, that this change is a threat to everyone. Using pathos so early in the commentary keeps the audience locked into his explanation of how it happened and how he intends to fix it. To follow, Kennedy steadily switches from using pathos, to using logos, and gives the audience the context they were looking for. He gets to the point that if the rise in the cost of steel continues, the rise in the cost of everything is at stake. He lays the matter straight out to the audience and does not hold back in warning them. He repeats the phrase "It would increase the cost..." (Line 23, 26). Addressing how many products we use every day would possibly be hard to come by in the future. Kennedy's logic is that America is not in a position to sacrifice their money and the

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