Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address

By 1961 the United States faced deep rooted social and political turmoil. Racial tensions brought by social inequality, international antagonism towards communism, and an obligation to protect the public from the weapons of mass destruction of adversaries abroad characterized the United States during said period. As the cold war approached its peak, worry and uncertainty seeped into the minds of the American people. A formidable, influential, and reassuring leader was needed. The newly elected 35th President John F. Kennedy provided such desired attributes in his inaugural address. Kennedy sought for lasting peace and unity in the hearts of all Americans and non-Americans alike facilitated by his effective rhetoric. Kennedy strategically employs

rhetorical questions , prideful allusions, inclusive anaphora, and chiasmus in order to advance his cause in such a memorable speech.
Firstly, rhetorical questions further strengthen and support Kennedy’s main purpose of placidity and unity. Approaching the end of the speech in the fifth to last paragraph, Kennedy builds general consensus by posing “can we forge against our enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind?” Kennedy’s urgence for peace clearly would yield benefits of “a more fruitful life for all mankind” dissolving any opposition towards his goal. By doing so, the audience reaches unanimity on the subject of peace of all nations. Then, immediately afterwards, Kennedy brings all his listeners to join his irrefutable cause by asking “will you join in that historic effort?” Now, Kennedy urges his audience to not just agree to his proposed plan, but also take part in the road towards achieving such a plan by “join[ing] that historic effort.” Thus, the audience experiences an obligation to work as one identity in order to carry out Kennedy’s - and now everyone’s - desired unanimous peace. Also to add, Kennedy’s rhetorical question implies that he requires the aid of the public. Through the usage of the second person pronoun “you,” Kennedy establishes a personal connection to his listeners and demands of them their own help and how such help is crucial to his effort. Therefore, every individual that makes up Kennedy's audience experiences a sense of significance and holds the key to successfully enact Kennedy’s vision of peace and unity.
Secondly, Kennedy awakens the audience’s sense of pride through specific allusions in order to awaken such pride. Right in the first paragraph, Kennedy builds up his character in the eyes of the public by divulging “for i have sworn before you and almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.” An allusion of America’s birth is noted by the reference of “[the] oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three ago.” Kennedy also sworns to the identical oath referenced previously thereby associating Kennedy to America’s proudest moment. Hence, the audience basks in the pride of American independence and naturally Kennedy receives such pride as well by association. Two paragraphs later, Kennedy speaks regarding the passing of duties by “let[ting] the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans…” He alludes to Olympic torch passing which is associated with the passing of responsibilities whereas the duties being passed come with such responsibilities. Ideologically, Kennedy implies that the responsibilities passed towards the public retain the same properties and values ever since the nation’s origin, the difference however is the presence of a different holder. Therefore, it is imperative to preserve and embrace such duties for the next generations of Americans. Thus, the audience faces identical responsibilities as the forefathers giving rise to a sense of patriotic dignity regarding each and every endeavor the audience partakes in.
Next, Kennedy seamlessly and frequently employs repetitive phrases at the start of certain paragraphs to elucidate inclusivity. Paragraphs six to eleven start with similar phrases beginning with “to” such as “to those old allies,” “to those new States,” “to those peoples,” “to our sister republics,” “to that world assembly,” and finally “to those nations with weakness.” Kennedy neither forgets nor disgraces any country or people; instead, Kennedy specifically targets a plethora of such as his audience portraying that Kennedy’s message was not only directed at the national level, but at the international level as well. The great variety of countries and peoples Kennedy presents elicits a sense of care and sympathy towards such nations and people; therefore, the audience is emotionally compelled to assist those countries and peoples Kennedy mentions. Paragraphs fifteen to eighteen depict furthermore Kennedy’s intentions of peace and integration by restating “let both sides” at the beginning of the four paragraphs. Kennedy’s emphasis of unity carries on into the global level as well where he urges both opposing sides to “...formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms -,” “...invoke the wonders of science…” and “...unite to heed in all corners of the earth…” Thus, the mutual cooperation of both sides would inevitably yield great accomplishments for both sides. Such upbeat notions of unity propel the audience to yield a sense of buoyancy towards Kennedy, entrusting him to successfully guide to country towards greatness and composure.
Lastly, Kennedy’s astute usage of Chiasmus truly engraves into the minds of his listeners a sense of completion.

In the fourteenth paragraph, Kennedy illustrates his policy regarding negotiations by “let[ting] us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” The chiasmus of the two sentences put into inverse the idea of fear and negotiation where negotiations should not be forced but should not be an intimidating process altogether as well. By doing so, Kennedy accounts for the entirety of both arguments soliciting an impression of completion towards the listener. Nearing the end, in the third to last paragraph, Kennedy deploys his most memorable line in the entire address where he pleads to “...ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.” Kennedy exhorts for mass public service and bravery by questioning “what you can do for you country” as opposed to “what your country can do.” The chiasmatic line not only naturally facilitates memorability, but also presents a counter argument to refute the notion of questioning “what your country can do” proving the latter statement to be more favorable. Kennedy’s argument evaluates all plausible tenants yielding finality to his argument and in turn provides the same effect to the entirety of his inaugural

address.
All in all, John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address successfully captures and cultivates the capabilities of rhetorical strategies for his own advantage. Rhetorical questions function to uplift Kennedy’s argument even further. Patriotic allusions appeal to the audience’s sense of honor and dignity shared by all Americans. Like-phrases during the beginning of paragraphs emit a message of amiability and inclusion to all nations of the world. Chiasmatic sentences give the unforgettable quotes and fulfillment needed for a truly influential piece of american history. Thus, Kennedy’s coalescence of such devices yields a level of national and international significance rarely surpassed by any other piece of persuasive oratory.