Jfk Speech Rhetorical Analysis

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.

Kennedy, it is clear that the audience to his speech feel empathy for Martin Luther King Jr and all of the people who his death affected. He states, “ I have some very sad news for all of you, and, I think, sad news for all of our fellow citizens, and people who love peace all over the world; and that is that Martin Luther King was shot and was killed tonight in Memphis, Tennessee.” (RFK’s speech) Kennedy’s statement breaks the news of Martin Luther King’s death to many people of the USA and makes them feel empathy for Martin Luther King. This inspires people to take action in the world because it helps them realize that things need to be changed and that Martin Luther King shouldn’t die for nothing. Also toward the beginning of the speech, Kennedy inspires the audience to take action. He explains, “Martin Luther King dedicated his life to love and to justice between fellow human beings. He died in the cause of that effort. In this difficult day, in this difficult time for the United States, it's perhaps well to ask what kind of a nation we are and what direction we want to move in.” (RFK’s speech) These examples support the argument because they show how Kennedy’s words inspire the world to take action.

As a person who was known for his ability to speak publicly, and communicate comprehensible meanings while inspiring the people of his nation, President John F. Kennedy (JFK) gave his inaugural address on January 20th, 1961 in Washington D.C.. JFK was widely distinguished for his ability to use rhetoric in front of the masses, and in mass media. Like many authors and penman, President Kennedy implemented huge doses of rhetorical strategies in his speech, focusing on the appeals of Aristotle: ethos, logos and pathos. Ethos is used to convince the audience of the author’s credibility, logos is an appeal through the use of logic and reasoning, while pathos is an emotional appeal (Gayle et al). JFK applied all these rhetorical appeals

In conclusion, Robert. F Kennedy’s speech was successful because of his use of empathy, contrasting forms, as well as anaphora. He moved the nation in the direction Martin Luther would have; full of peace and unity. In a short amount of time he constructed a speech that was forever on the minds of many American citizens and went down in history as one of the most famous and moving speeches of all

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, arguably one of our greater presidents in our nation’s history, was assassinated on a Friday in the early stages of winter in 1963; however, he had accomplished much more than a man with lesser courage could have in his services to our country. One of President Kennedy’s most memorable actions while in office, actually took place very early on in his presidency; his Inaugural Speech in January of 1961. When attempting to motivate our citizens, Kennedy speaks of our citizens being “tempered by war,” and “proud of our ancient heritage,” he very successfully appeals to the emotions of his audience. Furthermore, his use of ethos quite effective when he speaks of

President Kennedy utilizes rhetorical appeals and a variety of figurative language to formally express his beliefs and goals in a strong and eloquent manner.

If a writer wanted to appeal to the audience, what would he have to do? He is going to have to utilize some rhetorical devices of course! Rhetorical devices are key in writing persuasion papers and just any paper that is meant to be read to an audience. In the Inauguration Speech of 1961 given by President John F. Kennedy, he was able to really connect with his audience that day by using lots of different rhetorical devices. By using chiasmus, anaphoras, and metaphors, JFK was able to effectively reach and persuade people to have faith in him despite his age and religion.

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.

In his speech, Kennedy uses various rhetorical strategies to connect on an emotional level with the audience, and to strengthen the message of his speech.

When one hears the name Kennedy, what comes to mind? Many families have multiple icons in the American political scene; the Kennedys are no exception. Many think of President John F. Kennedy and his assassination. Others reflect on Jacqueline Kennedy and her elegance, style, and grace. Still others think of Ted Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, or Rose Kennedy. Others remember yet another Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, New York Senator and brother of President John F. Kennedy, who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968. On April 4, 1968, he spent the entire day campaigning in Indiana. First going to the University of Notre Dame then proceeding to Ball State University and finally finishing in the capitol, Indianapolis, he thought the day successful. Having heard the news of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, he decided to deliver a speech at the rally to break the news to the mostly African-American audience. While telling of the tragic loss, Kennedy incites the audience to believe that America can overcome King’s assassination by utilizing the rhetorical strategies of pathos, allusion, and anaphoras.

Similarly, Robert Kennedy’s speech also concerns with the assassination of a great man – civil activist Martin Luther King. In his speech, Kennedy, as in Mark Antony’s eulogy, also uses repetition, especially anaphora, to augment and stress the purpose of his speech – that peace and solidarity, instead of anger and division, should be the response to such a devastating event. In his speech, he describes the appropriate course of action in response the recent assassination, “What we need in the United States is not division;” urges Kennedy, “what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and

Kennedy’s address upon swearing into the presidency of the United States effectively unites the people of America through his utilization of persuasive rhetoric. Kennedy’s strength in rhetoric lies with his ability to seek a commonplace with the audience. He repeatedly addresses his speech “to those” living in every type of situation both in America, and in the world as a whole. Kennedy brings “both sides” together at a middle ground where they both can agree. In his speech he unites the people of America to comply with him no matter their party affiliation. Kennedy’s productive anaphoras left no stone unturned when appealing to the masses. When he urges his audience to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your

On November 22 of 1963 at 1:00 P.M., John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, died after being shot thirty minutes earlier while riding in a parade in Dallas, Texas. The nation mourned for their slain president. Many parents and grandparents still remember the day of the assassination and the days that followed as the country was left grieving and in a period of bereavement. In the time immediately following his death, the nation remembered his moving inaugural address which gave hope to the ongoing and future aspirations of the country. Given after he was sworn into office, Kennedy aimed his speech toward his Cabinet and his fellow American citizens. Purposefully, Kennedy used rhetorical features to project the ideas of

Kennedy begins his address by indicating that his victory represents changing times and that the United States will do anything to ensure liberty, just as the Founding Fathers did. He utilizes anthesis, stating that his victory is “symbolizing an end as well as a beginning-signifying renewal as well as change” (Kennedy). He uses repetition to describe the sacrifices Americans are willing to make to defend freedom. He makes several references to the Founding Fathers, heroes to the American audience, as an appeal to pathos because he is comparing the audience to highly respected leaders of the country. He includes these rhetorical strategies in order to emphasize the focus of the first section of his speech, which is to demonstrate the heroism of the American people and call these people to defend the beliefs of the country. This word choice inspires hope for the audience and instills courage into the hearts of the audience.

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.