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Rhetorical Analysis of President Woodrow Wilsons War Message
Analysis of Woodrow Wilson's presidency
Analysis of Woodrow Wilson's presidency
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In our survey of the "top 100" speeches of the twentieth century, Woodrow Wilson's “War Message” ranked 19th and his “Final Address for the League of Nations” (the Pueblo speech) ranked 72nd. Why do you think these speeches are regarded as two of the "top 100" of the century? One is ranked much higher than the other. Do you agree with this ordering? Why or why not? Be sure to engage with strengths and weaknesses of each. As Hogan noted in his essay on the Pueblo speech, Wilson studied the great orators of British and American history and published a number of works on oratory and debate in American politics. How would you describe the ideal "orator-statesman," as envisioned by Wilson? What, by Wilson's own standards, would constitute a "great"
In his inaugural speech of 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke one of the most famous pieces of rhetoric to date, saying that we have “nothing to fear, but fear itself.” In reality, everyone had very much to fear. For one thing, their trusted leader lied straight to their faces every time he made a public appearance. The possibility of war and loss, in terms of love, life, and money, were constantly on the mind of Americans during Roosevelt’s presidency – all four terms. President Roosevelt utilized the tactics of deception and rhetoric to gain the trust of Americans, and was betrayed by the country of Japan. While he was deceptive, Roosevelt’s decisions did, in fact, “justify the means.”
“Yesterday December 7th, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy” (Roosevelt). The attack on Pearl Harbor was an event that many Americans will never forget. The day after the attack, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a speech to address the public and Congress. His speech started by discussing how Japan had deceived America into thinking that they could create peace between the nations. He spent three paragraphs on how the attack was planned and deliberate and how America was completely unaware of Japan’s intentions. Roosevelt spent only a little time on paying respects to the lost lives of the soldiers. After that, Roosevelt talked about how many other nations Japan has attacked. Then Roosevelt started the “pep talk” portion of his speech. He talked about the strength of the nation and how America will defend themselves against evil forces. He ends his speech with a call for war and asked Congress to declare war against Japan. The goal of his speech was to persuade Congress to declare war on Japan, as well as to get the American people to support him in his endeavors. Roosevelt gave his speech in front of Congress, but the American people all over the nation tuned into the radio to hear his speech. Roosevelt uses many rhetorical devices to get American to unite against Japan. His speech uses the rhetorical devices logos, ethos, and pathos to argue his side. He uses
Under the new ratified constitutional amendments of the United States, George Washington was the first elected president by state electors. The people of the United States wanted a stronger Government but also to preserve its citizen’s civil liberties with proper representation. The Newly created executive branch under the 2nd article of the constitution placed the president as the head of government and is responsible to enforce the laws of congress and command the armed forces. As the first elected president, George Washington’s first inaugural address defines the presidency as a very difficult and challenging task that will be his responsibility to grow the ideals of the new government, preserve the civil liberties of it citizens and
Born on December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Virgina, Thomas Woodruff Wilson would grow up to become an accomplished man in the world of politics. Growing up in the south he witnessing the Civil War in action and it's aftermath, as a son of a Presbyterian family. Woodruff earn several degrees from being a hardworking scholar and passionate orator, all before persuing his university career. Caught in the fast rising politics, he was elected governor of New Jershey for two years and did not finish the last two, so he could become the 28th President of the United States of America for two-terms. During WWI he navigated through hardships as he crafted the Versailles Treaty and introduced a League of Nations, an idea of world peace to the United Nations. After suffering a second stroke in his last year of presidency he died three years laters after leaving office, sweeping reforms for middle class, womens voting rights, and dreams of world peace was all he left as a legacy.
Wilson, W. (9/27/1912). Campaign speech in Boston. In The Political Thought of Woodrow Wilson, ed. E.D. Cronon. New York: Bobbs-Merrill Company.
Price, Matthew C. The Wilsonian Persuasion in American Foreign Policy. Youngstown, NY: Cambria, 2007. Print.
Woodrow Wilson is regarded by historians as one of the best statesman and President of the 20th century in the United States history. His brilliance was evident in his academics, having been a college professor before joining politics and later ending up being as the only president with a PHD. Born in 1856 his best attributes were his level of confidence which won him over his admirers and critics alike. Later in life Woodrow would serve as a Governor for New Jersey and two years later become head of the highest office in the land, the presidency. During his tenure, imperial competitions amongst the Europe monarchies escalated as all forms of dirty tricks were implored in pursuit of larger territories. Europe plunged into war in summertime 1914 and Wilson being an advocate for peace asked his fellow Americans to be impartial in mind and actions . Wilson having witnessed the civil war as a boy was quite aware of the devastating effects the war brought. His second term as president was met with increased pressure from the allies and sympathizers to join the war. He, however, stood his ground for a while and surprisingly sought to arbitrate the matter to bring an end to the war. Woodrow’s peace efforts were fruitless as Germany turned on the U.S.A and propagated ways of attacking them.
On the brink of two different wars, two United States’ Presidents rose up to the challenge of calming the American people and fighting for the belief of justice. A day after devastation on December 7, 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt gives his “Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation”. At the beginning of a terrorist crisis in 2001, George W. Bush announces a “‘War on Terror’ Declaration”. Both Presidents have many similarities in common, yet their differences set them apart with uniqueness. These two speeches, separate by nearly sixty years, weave an outright and assertive tone into their diction and detail.
On December 8th, 1941 President Roosevelt presented a speech discussing the events which inflicted many American lives, the Pearl Harbor bombing. On this day, he prepared an extemporaneously speech, which he delivered with appetizing perfection. Throughout the entire speech he was able to grasp the attention of his audience by organizing his speech, giving eye contact and lastly by focusing on his overall point. Although this video clip did not have a great conclusion piece I can tell he finished off effectively.
Wilson uses emotion and logic to back up his spin on American credibility. He uses logic of peace to create a merciful, heroic power in the war, and uses emotion to credit the cause of joining. He not only tries to increase the credibility of the country, but of himself by proving he still endorses peace. With the lens of ethos, Wilson’s speech is highly successful. He managed to create an image in the American mind of a land that heals and saves. The people he addressed believed in the war and came out victorious. However, Wilson’s fourteen points were all but ignored by European countries. He asked to end colonial claims, yet the Ottoman Empire was split to England and France (Don 103). He wanted the European countries to be merciful to the losing opponents and let them heal, but Germany ended in 35 billion dollars of debt (Don 103).The League of Nations was formed, but it was overall ineffective in times to come. Woodrow Wilson was correct, however, in his points – if the European nations had decided to follow them, they may have been capable of staying out of the next conflict: World War
President Wilson was determined to achieve peace. He based his peacemaking efforts in the academic argument Fourteen Points. Ideas of freedom of the seas, internationalism and justice for all were embedded in his idealistic approach, in an attempt to making long lasting peace.
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the twenty-eighth President of the United States and served in this position from 1913 to 1921. During this time it was difficult to be a President, Ambassador, or Dictator. It was the beginning of World War I and all the countries involved wanted to test their new weapons on people and to increase the area in which they ran supreme. Germany was a major power and utilized U-Boats to sink every ship approaching either the Great Britain or Ireland ports to gain even more power in the war. This was a turning point for the United States, a moment in which it was inevitable they would enter the war. Wilson went to Congress to give a speech declaring war on the Imperial German Government, a speech now known as “War Message.”
Eidenmuller, Michael E. Great Speeches for Better Speaking: Listen and Learn From America’s Most Memorable Speeches. New York: Mcgraw Hill, 2008. Google Books. Web. 4 September 2010.
On November 19 1865, at the height of the U.S. Civil War, I delivered a short address at a battlefield in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (“LINCOLN'S WORDS”). My address was stated after the four years of fighting that took place between the Union and the Confederacy from 1861-1865. I reassured that my address laid stress on freedom and equality (“LINCOLN’S WORDS”). I also recalled the fighting in Gettysburg, which took tens of thousands of lives of the Union and Confederate soldiers (“LINCOLN’S WORDS”). I was completely blindsided that not only would my address at Gettysburg would be noted by the world, but also become one of the most important in history.
Woodrow Wilson’s purpose in writing “The Study of Administration” is to bring awareness that the government systems in place need to be re-evaluated and improved. Wilson encourages we need to examine the history of administration set forth by others in determining certain needs to be accomplished in effective ways and methods. Wilson’s desirable outcomes for research within the public administration field are for government systems to become more productive and organized.