Jfk Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis

John F. Kennedy will always be remembered for two things; his triumphant inauguration and his tragic assassination. After being sworn in, Kennedy gave the traditional inaugural speech. He addressed America, as well as the rest of the world, to inform them what his intentions were during his presidency. By referencing current events such as the Cold War, he was able to identify dilemmas in need of a remedy. Kennedy's overall message was meant to inspire his nation and convey strength and hope to the world abroad. At the beginning of his speech, Kennedy condensed his message. He stated the problems in need of fixing during his presidency while also proposing solutions for them. By doing this, Kennedy was able to evoke confidence from Americans that he will follow through with his claims. Kennedy used anaphora, allusions, and emotional appeal to create an effective argument in the first half of his inaugural speech.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy delivered one of the most important American speeches after being sworn in as president on January 20, 1961. His inauguration speech was so influential that it seized the nation’s attention, and quotes from it are still clearly remembered by people today. It is considered one of the best speeches ever written and ever delivered. It presents a strong appeal to pathos, ethos, and logos and accomplishes what any speaker strives for – it speaks straight to the heart of the audience and inspires people.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States of America, serving from 1961 until he was assassinated in 1963. He was the only president to have won a Pulitzer Prize. During the Cold War, hope amongst Americans was shaken in fear of nuclear warfare. Kennedy wanted to raise hope in America and wanted Americans to have faith in him as president. John F. Kennedy successfully uses the rhetorical devices ethos, logos, pathos, and Kairos in his inaugural address to bring out patriotism amongst the American people during the peak of the Cold War.

In John F Kennedy’s “Inaugural address”, he tries to bring the nation together by speaking confidently and powerful. Kennedy’s vigorous use of rhetorical devices including Antithesis, Reasoning, Emotional Appeal, Allusion, and Anaphora that contribute to the success of his speech. JFK uses these rhetorical devices to convey his ambitions and hopes for america as a nation in a whole. Also hoping for a pledge of peace; that we do not show weakness. In his hopes of coming together our acts individually would make us look and be stronger. Kennedy used his speech as a way to draw all of the audience in by pulling us together.

This previous knowledge and image of JFK builds up his ethos before the address was even given. The speech has many quotes that are still well remembered and hold a deep impact in many American lives today. Most notably was the qoute, “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”(JFK Library). This quote is a prime example of how JFK bridges appeals, pathos and logos, it creates a middle ground and commonality between JFK and the citizens. Also the sense of patriotism brought from this quote is a great example of pathos.

Kennedy provided the American people the hope and motivation that they originally lacked during a time of international chaos through one of the most inspiration speeches in American history. With an excellent use of ethos, pathos, and logos throughout his speech, Kennedy not only inspired just the American public, but also people of other nations around the world. Without the use of such strategies, the American people would have lacked the amount of motivation and hope they required in order to make the fight to change

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.

Today, I stand before you to deliver my analysis, regarding a speech of great magnitude. This speech is none other than the inaugural address of John F. Kennedy, commonly referred as JFK, the 35th President of the United States. On Friday, January 20th, 1961. In the United States Capitol of Washington, D.C. JFK, after narrowly defeating his opposition Richard Nixon, took the oath of office, and was sworn in as the new president of the United States, after his ascension to power, he gallantly accompanied such an event by delivering one of the most memorable, yet simplistic, speeches of all time. In his speech, he addresses the people, of the US, on his intentions as the newly appointed president, encompassing the major themes of his campaign, defining his time of presidency. Giving them hope and confidence in his new administration. Though it has been over 50 years since he has delivered his speech, it is still a remembered today, outlasting the life of its orator, and enduring the test of time. Its significance is accredited to its skilful use of rhetorical devices, its delivery, and the powerful messages contained within.

On Friday, January 20, 1961 John F. Kennedy delivered a speech to millions of Americans. This speech was not only in honor of his victory during the presidential election, but it was his way of uniting his audience into a conversation that included his beliefs and wants. In order to unite his listeners JFK successfully used several rhetorical devices, as well as emotional and personal appeals that helped him maintain a conversational tone as well as a clear and compelling structure.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth president of the United States, was inaugurated on January 20, 1961 and had a powerful speech. In his speech, describes how us Americans should never give up and keep on fighting any hardships. He gives this speech at this time because of the recent problems (The war in Vietnam and the fight for equality). These problems were driving Americans apart, thus damaging the “United” States. When rhetorical devices are used correctly in any form of writing, it can impact the message drastically.

In the introduction of his speech, JFK acknowledges the changing times by juxtaposing current events with those of the simpler past. This man was inaugurated in the midst of the Cold War, one of the most significant conflicts in American history that was successful in generating fear amongst the masses due to the looming possibility of worldwide destruction (Zubok). As America’s vulnerability was exposed, the people were in desperate need of a reliable leader who could reintegrate hope into their daily lives; this was easily achieved through their exposure to the president’s truthfully optimistic tone. Kennedy does not remain oblivious to the issues that have dictated foreign relations for years, acknowledging the fact that, “… man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life” (Kennedy). This personal integration of a reflective and solemn tone that is further exemplified through emotionally charged diction is successful in establishing the foundation of his speech, for it informs the nation of the impending threats. However, he counteracts the negativity by conveying to the people that his tactical approach will focus on the “survival and success of liberty” (Kennedy). These quotes are directly related to the speech’s appeal due to the fact that Kennedy presents himself as a well-informed individual who is

And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission. ”(Kennedy). Said John F. Kennedy, President of the United States during his visit to the commencement address at the American University in 1963. John F. Kennedy was a great speaker for 3 main reasons. First, we will examine how he implemented a masculine style, imposing, demanding and creating a hierarchy with his speech.

As the presidential election of 1960 came closer, John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, and Richard Nixon, a Republican and Vice President at the time, emerged as the two leading candidates for the Presidency: Kennedy went on to win one of the closest elections in history. With the Cold and Vietnam Wars in full swing and with the Civil Rights movement picking up momentum, John F. Kennedy became the thirty-fifth President of the United States on a cold, chilly Friday, January 20th, 1961. With his breath visible in the air, President Kennedy gave his inaugural address and challenged American and world citizens alike to "struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself" (par. 22). It is crucial in this speech for Kennedy to convince the American people that his win in the election is "not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom" and that the American people must become invested in their community, nation, world, and ultimately something higher than the individual (par. 1). In John F. Kennedy's speech, one that many Americans remember, he succeeds in persuading his audience by identifying with his audience, utilizing parallel structure and chiasmus (antimetabole), describing the world through metaphors and analogies, and using specific words to evoke an emotional response.

When John F. Kennedy delivered his Inaugural Speech in January of 1961, it had been a large accomplishment. His speech reached a worldwide audience. Kennedy sought to inspire the nation and to send a message to it, signaling the challenges of the old times and his hope for a newfound peace. In order to display his purpose of coming together, Kennedy used many different rhetorical devices throughout his speech. Kennedy used anaphoras, chiasmus and metaphors to display his purpose in a conversational tone, yet he also used a clear and compelling structure, that the country, as a whole, needed to emerge from its previous challenges and come together as one strong country.

Kennedy filled almost every second of his inaugural speech with rhetorical devices. As a result, he made the audience think about what he was saying and then relate back to it. An aspect Kennedy stressed the most was the willingness to fight for our country and respect those who do. His point was emotionally made speaking of the “graves of young Americans” (21) who fought for our country and made the ultimate sacrifice. He made the point with the help of pathos, arousing the audience to feel for the young men and women who died protecting their freedom, and to think of the families affected by the casualties. Kennedy also used pathos to evoke fear of our common enemies including “tyranny, poverty, disease, and war” (22). While his statement alarmed many, the fact that these fears are shared by Americans unites the country in a