Introduction
John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, has become one of the most famous presidents in the nation's history due to his oratory skills and eloquence (Biane,2011). In this paper, we present an analysis the inaugural speech that he delivered in January 1961. Even though his Inaugural speech lasted less than fifteen minutes, the message that he saliently delivered was one that has continued to resonate in the very hearts of American citizens.
The analysis
An analysis of John F. Kennedy reveals a myriad of ideas that he had for the people of America. This is despite the rhetoric that was present in his speech; three dominant themes emerged from his Inaugural address. These are freedom, leadership and the use of rhetoric in addressing multitudes.
JF Kennedy's speech was parked with a youthful appeal. He had just won a highly contested campaign but he decided to steer away from the policies that placed him ahead of the pack. His goals were evident in his strong appeal to the emotions of the Amricans.he acheieved this by connecting with the average everyday Americans. He successfully personalized his speech to look forward to the future by means of the pasta s a very strong example.
He managed to present control and unity between two opposing forces. He talked about all he would deal with as a president as well as a global icon who was working hard for global peace. Towards the end of his speech, her noted that , "I do not shrink from this
President Kennedy always wanted above average and never wanted to settle for good, but for greatness. His inaugural address was his first step into greatness. He was a firm believer in unity and being together as one in this country. Throughout his short, but successful presidency, he shows how important togetherness is to make the country strong. January 1961, John F. Kennedy became the 35th president of the states and was giving his inaugural address. John F. Kennedy’s pathos, logos, and repetition in the speech allow the American people to be eager for his presidency and allow them to see the changes he foresees for the country during his term.
The speech that I decided to do is John F. Kennedy's Address to the Houston Ministerial Association. I will be using both external and internal criticism. With the external criticism I will be examining the time, the occasion, how the audience reacted, John F Kennedy's biographical factors and the effects of the speech. John F Kennedy came from a strong political family, was well educated, defended his country in WW II and received rewards for his courage and bravery, and along with his political career that lead him to the nomination for presidency in 1960. With in the internal criticism I will be looking at the invention, organization, style, and presentation. I will show how he used logical proof, ethical proof, and pathetic proof to
With the appropriate use of rhetoric, one can captivate the attention of millions, as well as uniting a divided country. This is evident in John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s inaugural address given on a cold January afternoon in 1961. Having to be the first Roman Catholic president, many were skeptical of Kennedy; however, he developed a form of credibility with his associations as a war hero in World War II, three terms in the House of Representatives, and less than two terms as the junior senator from Massachusetts (Nelson). To unite the United States and reassure Americans of his duty as the president, John F. Kennedy used the rhetorical strategies of allusion and alliteration.
On snowy, freezing cold January morning in 1961, five hundred thousand people lined Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. The temperature was only twenty-two degrees Fahrenheit and eight inches of snow blanketed the ground in the American capitol that morning, causing even more traffic than usual, but that didn’t stop these hundreds of thousands of people from attending John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s inauguration ceremony. Little did they know, they would be hearing one of the most famous and memorable speeches of all time. Out of all forty five presidents, the inaugural address that American citizens would remember more than all the rest was that of John F. Kennedy. But what made it so memorable? After all, each president has given at least one, sometimes even two or more, inaugural address. Kennedy’s speech was neither the most elaborate nor the longest; it had one thousand three hundred and sixty four words and took thirteen minutes and fifty five seconds to read and it used relatively simple language. The importance of the address laid not in the length or the intricacy, but in the theme and the rhetoric. With figurative language, themes of unity and freedom, and appeal to Ethos, Logos, and Pathos, Kennedy’s address became not only one of the most memorable inaugural addresses, but one of the most memorable speeches of all time.
John F. Kennedy was our 35th president and was elected in 1960. The words he chose in his inaugural address were very patriotic and inspiring then and now. Many things in his address leads to patriotic points and comparisons.His words are very inspiring and makes a person want to help their country out. H gives examples of ways we can approve the lifestyle of all americans.
Kennedy starts his speech to his fellow American citizens by suggesting that all of the American people must come together and unite in order to overcome the harsh times after the Cold War. Kennedy uses long sentences in order to add character and strength to his speech. John F. Kennedy uses words such as “freedom”, “renewal”, and “nation” in order to make the American people have a feeling of hope and unity. John uses his crafty diction and syntax to help him present himself as a true leader and add to his integrity. The very complex and patriotic syntax and diction display a supportive mood and reassurance to the audience. Throughout the speech the president uses many rhetorical devices.
John F. Kennedy, one of the most respected presidents in history, gave his inaugural address on January 20, 1961. The presidential election showed that he received a 75% approval rating from the American public the following day. This an indication of how powerful his words were and how the public was motivated by the advanced rhetoric he used. Kennedy also appealed to the public’s pathos, ethos, and logos by using different diction in his sentences, which made him relatable to the average US citizen.
In 1961, The United States of America was gridlocked with social injustice, inequalities, and intense racial tension, while combating the “red scare” of communism and protecting the population abroad from weapons of mass destruction and otherwise harbored by enemies both foreign and domestic. Terror and incertitude had seized the minds of the American people as the Cold War drew to its zenith. Desperate for a strong, reassuring leader, they turned to the young, former naval lieutenant and Presidential candidate, John Fitzgerald Kennedy who provided the reassurance the American populous yearned for as he charismatically and confidently addressed the nation. With critical rumination to the current national and international turmoil, Kennedy sought to ignite unity and esprit de corps in the American people in an endeavor to attain a lasting resolve. Kennedy’s inaugural address is imbued with rhetorical strategies to flatter and influence the emotions of the people through the use his strategic use of the rhetorical triangle without detracting from the truth and evidence expected from a national leader.
John F. Kennedy Inauguration speech uses a different style to portray the president 's legacy. Here we get to hear a first person account of what he hopes for the nation and what his objectives ultimately are. The prominent method of persuasion used is ethos while there is also a presence of other key rhetorical terms throughout the speech. The readers are compelled to listen and take in all of the words given by John F. Kennedy since there is that sense of trust or credibility in his statements. He has now become arguably
His use of repetition proves that he is serious about achieving peace and unity, emphasizing and reinforcing his objectives. By juxtaposing several ideas, he convinces America to believe in his position. Kennedy's goal with his inaugural address was to voice his intentions as president, and to get the American people on his side. Through this speech and his outstanding use of rhetoric, Kennedy undoubtedly achieved this goal. The late, great Kennedy gained respect from many people with this speech, and will certainly be remembered by
A leader’s legacy is portrayed in a multitude of ways: from the goals and dreams he sought for, from stories and memories of the people he’s touched, and from snapshots of his accomplishments. John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address of 1961, his most famous speech, “Inside Kennedy’s Inauguration, 50 Years On”, an article by Eleanor Clift that gives a detailed description of the president’s inauguration, and an image, “Inauguration of John F. Kennedy”, by the United States Army Corp, all convey the impact of John F. Kennedy in their own unique fashion. The legacy of John Fitzgerald Kennedy is expressed through a variety of similar and contrasting styles appealing to the same rhetorical appeals but further differentiated by their syntax and
His use of Pathos includes many uses of patriotic expressions and words to rally the country in unity. In chapter 3 of our book Introduction to the Speechmaking Process, it discusses knowing your audience. For example, JFK takes his audiences demographics into consideration before delivering his speech. This is because he wants his use of Pathos to work effectively so he must take his audiences gender, race, and religion into account. By doing this he can help his audience see what his ultimate values are and connect with his audience. His phrases such as “a celebration of freedom,” “cultural and spiritual origins,” “forge against these enemies” and “fruitful life” (Kennedy, 1961) are inspiring making the war sound like a moral duty rather than a political issue. However as well as these phrases depict an emotional portrait of civic duty nothing compares to the renowned quote: “Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country.” (Kennedy, 1961) This quote is so powerful because it uses one of the strongest objects of emotion, the United States, with moralistic responsibilities. It speaks to every person who lives in America on a personal level. It is the use of these expressions which JFK eloquently spoke in 1961 that made this speech so memorable, emotional, and
On January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy presented a world-famous inaugural speech. People all over the nation and world were overtaken with a feeling of new hope and inspiration. The three documents presented in this activity, John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech, Eleanor Clift’s “Inside Kennedy’s Inauguration, 50 Years On”, and the photo captured by the United States Army Signal Corps all convey the feelings felt during the moment of Kennedy’s inauguration. John Kennedy, Eleanor and the United States Army Corps all used different methods of style for influencing their audience, however they all had a similar purpose to draw out emotions from those reading and looking at their work.
"Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country," is a well-known quote among Americans that has so much meaning behind it. John F. Kennedy was a president for the United States and loved among many American citizens. His speeches were always thought out and used many rhetoric devices to reel his audience in. Therefore, making his speeches brilliant and known the citizens of America. By going over the main points of rhetoric JFK used in his innagural speech like antithesis, pathos, and the theme one can realize how deep the speech actually is.
On January 20th, 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy wrote his Inaugural speech given to the American populace in order to encourage confidence and provoke citizens to productivity. A photo from the United States Army Signal Corps was also taken on this same day. It shows Chief Justice Earl Warren administering the Oath of Office to Kennedy during the ceremony at the Capitol. In January of 2011, Eleanor Clift wrote “Inside Kennedy’s Inauguration, 50 Years On”. This article is composed of the many memories on the Inauguration proclaimed by the friends and family of JFk. All three of the documents convey the legacy and positivity of John F. Kennedy in multiple ways, while the style of each is both alike and dissimilar.