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.

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.

Politician and 35th President of the U.S, John F. Kennedy- more commonly known as JFK- in his inaugural address, encourages Americans to begin anew and prepare for change. Kennedy’s purpose is to fuse America in a united cause, and reassure them of their strength and power. This purpose is achieved through figurative language that aids the audience in visualizing Kennedy’s goals, and creates the desired optic emotion. He continues with feelings of patriotic pathos, and an inspiring tone to project to people of all status and origin, that unity is strength, and you can do anything when people help each other out. He focuses on the strength of individuals pooling together, to accumulate vigor as a whole.

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.

President John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address speech, claims that America will unify and assert peace, in and out of the country with the help of citizens who fight for liberty and protect their country. Kennedy supports his claims by applying rhetorical devices to create a good sense of optimism and community. The author’s purpose is to encourage his listeners to stand up and help others so that America can become a better, stronger nation.

“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy said this famous quote in his inauguration speech on January 20, 1961. In his speech and during his campaign, he ensured the country that he would create stellar polices. His youthfulness brought hope to the country for a new age. This created confidence in his leadership and direction for the country. With this support behind him, he came into the presidency ready to influence change, in order for the country to thrive. In fact, the domestic policies he instilled did just this and if he had more time to gain knowledge on the Presidency, he could have made his foreign policies into great ones.

JFK’s, Inaugural address states President Kennedy’s vision and mission for his term in office. Kennedy discusses important topics such as human rights and foreign affairs, voicing the common belief of hope shared by his audience.

A president’s inaugural address is perhaps one of the most defining aspects of their entire career due to the inclusion of carefully woven emotional appeals and blandishments that encourage the citizens to become more politically active. The enticing nature of these empty promises infiltrates virtually every American’s mind, signifying a beginning to a promising era that results in feelings of patriotic optimism. The charismatic and youthful president John F. Kennedy successfully assuaged the nation’s anxiety and utilized his powerful platform to promote worldwide cooperation and unity that could uplift America. Through the use of his firm yet optimistic tone, Kennedy conveys the importance of compromise in a world where malignance remains prevalent and utter obliteration is potentially seconds away.

On January 20, 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy gave his inaugural address in front of thousands of anticipating Americans. Fear and uncertainty was imbedded in the minds of all Americans as the Cold War neared its climax. The United States were also struggling with racial tensions and social inequalities, leading into the presidential election of 1961. With severe consideration for the ongoing national and international turmoil, President Kennedy sought to invoke a sense of unity in the American people. Furthermore, Kennedy=s inaugural address uses pathos to flatter and influence the emotions of the people, without distracting from the truth and evidence expected from a national leader.

During John F. Kennedys speech, he used his platform to connect with countless individuals and to create alliances. In the solid statements of John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, it implies in which the country can work together to build a strong and peaceful nation. John F. Kennedy calls forward all citizens of the nation and asks citizens of the world to partake as one to better the lives of many. He supports a bold claim which suggests: even though Gods blessing is needed, it is the people including himself which need to collaborate to not only make this country triumphant but also the world. He reaches out to the American people and extends an open invitation of unity to the world for equality.

On January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy became the 35th president of the United States and captivated the nation with his eagerness to tackle the numerous problems that had surfaced in the previous years before his election into office. Unwilling to back down from these issues, he delivered his inaugural address with confidence and embedded a new sense of hope in the American people. Despite below freezing weather conditions, over twenty-thousand people gathered near the Capitol to witness the words that would shape a nation no longer with injustice, inequality, and inaction.

John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address was a signal for the winds of change that were going to transpire. Kennedy was ready to not only change the face of the United States, but to also change the face of the world with his inaugural address. As a youthful face entering America, Kennedy was faced with the task of captivating millions of Americans in his first inaugural address on national television. From Abraham Lincoln to Franklin D. Roosevelt, speeches have been a vital part to the political success of a president of the United States of America. In John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, he ethos, pathos, logos, and repetition in his speech to convey a feeling of change to the people hearing the speech in America and around the world and also

John Kennedy was one of the most skillful orators among all the presidents of United States of America. His speeches were always persuasive, motivating and inspiring. One of his best speeches is “Inaugural Address”, which he addressed to Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice president Nixon, President Truman, Reverend Clergy, and, of course, his fellow citizens. His speech was divided into four major parts, and all the parts were highly inspiring, especially for the ordinary citizens of America. At the beginning of the speech he talks about the founders of USA, and the great respect to them. After that Kennedy tells about the progress of the nation in comparison to the past, after that he ends with couple of pledges. In the third part he tells about the main strategy, the United States should follow, while taking all the possible options into account. Kennedy ends the whole speech expressing his confidence in the people of America.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s inaugural speech was addressed to not only to America, but the world. Kennedy was charismatic, confident and intelligent. He spoke saying we and together, talking about everyone in the world working together rather than what he wanted to do for our country. Even though Kennedy wanted to eagerly benefit our country, signify renewal, as well as change, and uplift us, it was always up to the people and still is. His plan was to “begin anew”- “where the strong are just, and the weak secure, and the peace preserved.” Knowing it wouldn’t be achieved soon, he wanted to start as soon as possible. America was divided by economical and social issues, but Kennedy looks past that as stated, “Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of blabbering those problems which divide us.” Citizens had different opinions, America was fighting the cold war, and there was a hope for desegregation. Issues of mankind included: “Tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself”.

John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Speech remains timeless throughout history and can be considered one of the best speeches within the 20th century. This is due to Kennedy’s usage of literary techniques and the relentless way he appeals to his audience. As this can be considered at the height of the Cold War, Kennedy facilitates the people by portraying the vision that he is someone to be trusted, that he is one with the people. Standing upon that podium, he looks in which a president should with a crisp suit and high posture but continues to maintain the idea that he is not only a leader but a “fellow citizen…” Afterwards, Kennedy pushes for the common values of the American people in this harrowing time as he wishes to better “our” country using