Rhetorical Analysis Of Richard Nixon's Speech

“My Fellow Americans, I come before you tonight as a candidate for the Vice Presidency and as a man whose honesty and integrity has been questioned.” New York Post had printed an article condemning Richard Nixon of stealing money from his campaign for his own personal use of spendings. Luckily Dwight Eisenhower, Nixon’s fellow Presidential candidate, allowed and advised Nixon to explain himself to the American people who wanted to throw him off. Providing a speech on television, Nixon did something no one else had done before and he summarized the history of all the money he had spent and received since starting his career in politics. What Nixon had thought as an unsuccessful speech, triumphed and moved the American citizens knowing he spoke

complete truth. Throughout the speech, testimonies and records take up a majority of the speech’s conduct with some emotion and repetitive words, therefore resulting into a successful speech.

This speech consists of only pieces of emotion, but it has enough to draw people into the speech when he spoke from his heart.

Near the beginning of the speech, before Nixon explains his point, he reassuringly tells the public he believes the office of Vice Presidency consists in greatness and he explains his beliefs of integrity making sure people agreed with his views. After presenting all the history of his funds, Nixon admits he does not have many riches, but he uses the word, honestly to say everything they have belongs to them. Later on, he admits it as difficult to present all his finances to the entire public nationwide, and challenges other candidates to do the same. Nearing the end of the speech, Nixon speaks with more emotion and repetition using the words fight, Communists and prosperity. Nixon started off with little emotional persuasion to leave it for the end, making sure people would believe him first before he finally expresses his love for the country and why he created this

speech.

Facts filled up a majority of the speech because Nixon wanted to present every fact clearly without any extra flourishes. Starting off, he states he would only speak truth and begins by explaining his situation and the lie about his fraud, getting straight to the point. He continues on to how money is distributed to his workers and when traveling for political speeches no one pays for his trips except himself. Since his wife does not work for the government and he himself does not work as a lawyer while he is a candidate, he receives financial support from supporters in his hometown. Proving his honesty, Nixon also read a legal audit about his finances before going on to explain the history of his family’s income, amount of money they owe and what they own. When Nixon informs the people about the Communist danger, he gives facts about the losses to their country and also adds that other candidates should give their full financial statement as well because American people should know all the facts.

To explain his facts justly he did not start off with explaining everything with his own words, but he made sure to add some other sources like the administration who hold the records.

Adding on, he obtained a legal audit from multiple lawyers concluding he did not violate any laws and he used naysayers from the public to answer any additional questions which could arise. He also starts words such as “My fellow Americans” and “I believe we’ve had enough” connecting himself with the people. Acting with authority and responsibility, Nixon says how he would do nothing to harm Eisenhower of becoming president and how he himself will abide by the decision of the people if he should stay or not. But he will continue to fight against communism and he uses the word “we” when addressing about peace instead of

war.

Evaluating the effectiveness of the speech, it moved everyone and had an impact because of the honesty within the speech. Nixon presented facts about everything and used multiple naysayers to prove his point by understanding questions from the other side of the argument. More emotion could have added more to the speech earlier on, but the speech just needed the facts addressed. Especially near the end, the speech became powerful with repetitive words and again he used a short letter from a young lady who gave him ten dollars. It proved Nixon’s trust as a candidate and he became elected as the Vice president in 1952.