Rhetorical Analysis Of President Obama's Inaugural Address

1044 Words3 Pages

On January 20th 2009, Obama gave his Inaugural Address in Washington D.C. The speech was given significant interest worldwide. When Obama delivered the Inaugural Address his intention was to persuade the public of his beliefs. He addressed a huge audience, which consisted of the American people as well as shareholders nationally and internationally. In order for him to successfully communicate with the public, both rational and emotional appeal had to be incorporated into the speech. “Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.” Obama is a man who represents hope and change for our nation during these hard times. On January 20th, 2009, a new era began for our country. This paper will examine many of the rhetorical …show more content…

He said, “And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.” Essentially, Obama wanted America to know that financial plans would no longer be kept hidden from the public and in turn, build the bridge of trust between him and the country. Informing the public assists his credibility because they can trust a man that doesn’t keep secrets. People were excited to break the color barrier on presidency, so his ethnic background helped his campaign. He was the underdog in the election and people supported him because he had a good reputation. His appeal to ethos is enhanced by his usage of rhetorical devices. President Obama has a drastically different perspective on racism in America

Open Document