Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's April 10th Speech

In 1962, America was involved in both a war and a money crisis. John F. Kennedy had been urging American companies to fix prices and wages to better fight inflation and further corrupt the economy. Despite his best effort to persuade the work industry to follow his requests, the nation’s largest steel industry had ignored him as they raised their prices. In Kennedy's April 10th speech he uses several rhetorical strategies to display his feelings for the blatant disregard to his request.
Early in the speech Kennedy attempts to connect with his audience. He asks how, “when we are asking Reservists to leave their homes and families for months on end, and servicemen to risk their lives—and four were killed in the last two days in Vietnam.” Kennedy reminds them of their brothers, neighbors and friends fight across seas, effectively emotionally involving all present. The diction which he uses to draw his audience in, makes you feel like he too is experiencing loved ones who are away and fighting or to have even died when he acknowledges the four recently fallen soldiers. He gives a certain friendly, caring tone and yet urgent tone as he leads into the main idea of his speech.

Kennedy questions the public as an equal when he brings up the demanding topic of the prices in the steel industry.

He states that, “American people will find it hard, as [Kennedy does], to accept a situation in which...a handful of steel executives whose pursuit of private power and profit exceeds their sense of public responsibility..for the interests of...Americans” He attempts to enlighten the general public on his views and concerns for the economy regarding, the disregard of Kennedy's request to companies, including the steel industry, to leave prices and wages where they were. In this quote Kennedy also uses alliteration and powerful words as he talks about “executives” in their “pursuit of private power and

profit”
Kennedy once again uses a personal approach. He states “If this rise in the cost of steel is imitated by the rest of the industry, instead of rescinded, it would increase the cost of homes, autos, appliances... for every American family... increase the cost of machinery and tools to every American businessman and farmer. ” He goes on to explain how the raise in steel prices and therefore everything on the market will damage the U.S. on a global stage as well as hurt the military before it came back to hurt Americans again through taxes. Kennady targets every American consumer by explaining why a raise in steel is so destructive to everyone, not just those purchasing steel. The impending threat of price increases, Kennedy, hopes will raise fear and anger in the steel companies for being so selfish. “The facts of the matter are that there is no justification for an increase in the steel prices.”
Kennedy is incredibly persuasive as to why it was unfair and unreasonable for the steel industry to raise prices solely for the purpose of being able to. He reaches out to each Amarican, making sure to be relatable to every person and give everyone a reason to be angry with the steel industries through rhetorical analysis strategies that stress not only his compassion for Americans, but his irritation and distaste in the choices of the steel industry.