John F Kennedy Inaugural Address 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.

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.

In his inaugural address, Kennedy uses ethical appeal to establish credibility throughout his speech. He uses this appeal in his very first statement: “Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, reverend clergy, fellow citizens, we observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom – symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning – signifying renewal, as well as change” (Kennedy). By making this statement, Kennedy establishes himself as a president who values unity amongst the Democratic and Republican parties and the American people as a whole. Kennedy was inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s inaugural address, which followed an election similar to the election between Kennedy and Nixon, so he wanted to make sure to state that he does not want his victory to just be a victory for the Democratic Party. Later in the speech, Kennedy shows

Even though John F. Kennedy was well known as a man passionate about the United States, his family and friends recall the humanistic moments of Kennedy’s life, both of which are demonstrated repeatedly by the sources. One of the sources is Kennedys inauguration speech which showed is passion towards the United States and the feelings it evokes in the audience made it an important moment in history, the proud tone that Kennedy continues all the way through the speech also helps evokes emotion in the audience. Article two was a news article by Eleanor Cliff titled “50 years” that shows the memories from Kennedy’s family and friends 50 years later, the memories create a very nostalgic tone while also showing Kennedy passion and the importance of his inauguration at the same time. The photo of inauguration is comparable to the speech in a way that the photo shows the passion and the importance of the moment and the tone is dignified but also proud like the speech.

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.

John F. Kennedy delivered his Inaugural Address in 1961 to the entire nation. He establishes a conversational tone through the use of rhetorical devices. His use of metonymy and asyndeton elicits a feeling of solidarity and unity in the masses who listened to their new President. JFK’s catchy usage of chiasmus institutes compelling structure and an open, friendly attitude. These aspects of his speech were necessary for seeming like an approachable figure instead of the formal, far-away airs that are associated with the title President. Metonymy, asyndeton, and chiasmus were essential actions towards Kennedy’s goal of reaching his audience in a compelling and conversational way.

One of the most influential presidents in United States history, John F. Kennedy was a brilliant politician and public speaker. In his inaugural address, he sparked hope around the world by discussing the hardships faced by all of society in the present time and then leaving them with a message of freedom, power, and hope. This measure of impact is not achieved easily; Kennedy masterfully utilized the art of rhetoric to emphasize his message and win the hearts of his people. In the middle of the speech, he discusses the dangers of the modern world and his drive toward international peace and cooperation. These messages are stressed through his use of charismatic language to signify his vision of a new and better world.

On January 20,1961, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was inaugurated into office. According to many, like Representative Charles Buckley of New York, this was the most outstanding inauguration in history. Within the three documents: Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961 by John F. Kennedy, Inside Kennedy’s Inauguration, 50 Years On by Eleanor Clift, and Inauguration of John F. Kennedy by the United States Army Signal Corps, they show that day in diverse ways, but all hold a significant meaning. The styles of the three documents are widely contrasting. The contrast comes from the deviation in purpose, tone, and the effect that each gives to President Kennedy’s legacy.

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.

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

Syntax helped Kennedy achieve his purpose as well. He used short paragraphs to get his point across. For example “And, so my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” Think of how famous this quote has become! The short sentences make more of an impression. They express more emotion. Complex sentences are also used in this speech. They allow feelings to be built up in sentences. He uses opposites in this speech a lot. For instance, “Never let us negotiate out of fear. But let us ever fear to negotiate.” This shows he has considered all counterarguments and knows exactly what he wants to achieve while in office and that he is as qualified as any other politician to be the next president of the United States.

On Friday, January 20, 1961 John Fitzgerald Kennedy delivered his inaugural address in front of President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, and millions of American Citizens. Kennedy wanted to put a message out to America that gives an example of what he will accomplish during his years in office. In order to portray his message clearly, he uses many different rhetorical devices, including anaphora, chiasmus, and scesis onomaton. J.F.K’s Inaugural Address was full of rhetorical devices. He uses many devices throughout his Address, while maintaining a conversational structure to portray his message of what is to come.

The opposites employed by Kennedy in his speech suggest that as the youngest U.S. president, he doesn't not favor one race over the other. He wants unity during and after his term. This also reassures the audience members that despite his narrow margin of victory, he (Kennedy) is planning on becoming everyone’s president and is enforcing the law of equality that is established in the Constitution. 5. Dominance of declarative sentences in an inaugural speech reveals the authority of the president and also asserts Kennedy’s youthful and energetic tone.

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.

The American rhetoric of Presidents like Barack Hussein Obama and John F. Kennedy, who both served the United States of America are found in the corners of history. The inaugural speeches of Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy are given after reciting the oath of office as newly elected leaders of the country in the case of Kennedy and a second inauguration for the current commander-of-chief. The inaugural speeches of John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama are part of world history knowing that the United States of America is still the most powerful and influential nation in the world. Their voices in the inaugural addresses that they both delivered are very influential that even the younger generations could