Rhetorical Analysis Of Jfk Inaugural Address

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.

While the speech’s respectful eloquence is appropriate for the occasion of an inauguration, its youthful energy and look to the future make it distinctly John F. Kennedy’s. , The people of the United States desperately needed a boost in morale with ongoing tension of races, inequalities, the fight against communism and the cold war. The people were convinced that this war would be never ending, and believed in another inevitable war. From the beginning to the end of JFK’s speech, he uses a plethora of rhetorical devices to comfort the people and fill them with confidence.

On a cold January afternoon in 1961, John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address is directed at a generation of Americans that have the potential to achieve national and humanitarian goals. Kennedy’s inaugural speech joined the country in the determination upon a peaceful victory in the long cold war struggle with the Soviet Union. In addition, Kennedy wanted to gain more allies for the United States by stressing his concern for global poverty as well as his opposition to dictatorship. As a result, Kennedy’s purpose was to let the nation know that together, Americans and the administration, could effect change and achieve all of his goals intended to create a nation that set the tone for humanitarian efforts. Kennedy achieves this by using specific diction, impactful syntax, and effective organizational strategies.

Kennedy begins his speech expressing how “the world is very different” from what it used to be. He uses multiple rhetorical strategies that express and describe how he is going to lead their “very different” country by providing his audience with a sense of community. For example, Kennedy applies juxtaposition to his phrase, “United there is little we cannot do… Divided there is little we can do…” to compare what America can and can’t do when everyone is united. During the time when Kennedy was elected president, the Cold War was at peak of its period. He bravely announced that “we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty,” using the rhetorical strategy asyndeton. He uses this particular mechanism to attract his audience and give emphasis to the ideas he wants to communicate. He starts the phrase off with “we,” as he wishes to convey to his listeners that we are going to pay any price, that we are going to bear any burden, that

President John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address on January 1961, suggests that the United States must unify and act upon injustices in the country. He supports this claim by first calling out to countries around the world, then speaking to the citizens of America and asking them to take action, and finally by creating a sense of patriotism to help connect the people to their country. Because he is the youngest president, Kennedy adopts a tone of excitement and energy for his younger audience, but a tone of maturity and authority for his older audience members.

Kennedy has a very large job ahead of him in this very first speech as president. In one speech, he must convince the American public that he will be a hardy leader fit to guide the most powerful nation on earth, while avoiding a nuclear war with the second most powerful nation, the Soviet Union. He is steering for a peaceful solution, but lets other countries know it will be done with American interests first. Americans must know he will not cower. To emphasize both points, antimetaboles are scattered throughout the speech. To emphasize his unshaken stance on negotiation, he says “ Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.” Kennedy gives two opinions in two statements. He needs citizens to know that although

The speech, which was given on January 20, 1961, conveys his future legacy through both his words and tone. Kennedy says, “‘Now the trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms - not as a call to battle - but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle - a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.’” (22). His use of rhetorical style elements persuaded everyone listening, capturing the imagination of an entire country. JFK challenged the nation, and gave them hope for a better tomorrow. He asks, “‘Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?’” (23). His faith in the people of this nation and hope for the future shone through him and spread onto

John F.Kennedy was the 35th united states president from january 1967 until his assassination in 1963. He initiated some of the most remarkable events in the history of the united states; including the Cuban missile crisis, arms race, and space race. On January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy directed his inaugural address held at the United States capitol in Washington, D.C. He directs his inaugural address speech toward the general public in order to convince the citizens for a brighter future ahead and to earn the trust of the people. Through the uses of ethos, pathos and logos, Kennedy conveys his message to the American citizens to trust the President with the nation.

In early 1961, the United States of America was enduring racial tensions and inequalities on the home-front, as well as waging war against Communism and the Cold War internationally. Chaos and fear had penetrated the minds of the American people because the Cold War was near its pinnacle; the American people longed for a strong, reassuring leader. John F. Kennedy provided that reassurance in his Inaugural Address. Taking the current national and international turmoil into account, Kennedy sought to persuade the Nation’s people to join in his efforts and unify together in order to achieve peace. The inaugural address is saturated with rhetorical strategies seeking to flatter the American People and utilizes words of encouragement to evoke

Kennedy aims for his speech to be used as a call to duty to unite all of his listeners. There were many pressing issues─ threats to freedom and liberty, existence of poverty and misery, and lack of peace and civility─ that he felt should be rectified. He states that his inauguration should be a beginning of renewal and change, and goes on to connect Americans together. He appeals to the shared background of this proud and disciplined generation of “heirs of our first revolution” and asserts that this generation will prove their patriotic loyalty by leading America to join in the effort to assure the “survival and success of liberty.” All Americans, born here or not, are members of the great American ‘melting pot.’ While we may have different ethnic or racial backgrounds, all who live in this proud country are all people who believe in values such as liberty, freedom, and justice. We are all descendants or supporters of the brave patriots who fought in the revolutionary war to stand for these same principles, and by

In 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy delivered one of the most influential speeches in history. Throughout his speech, Kennedy employs many rhetorical devices that further his appeal for unification. Kennedy establishes his credibility as soon as he steps to the podium. “For I have sworn before you and Almighty God…” Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States of America, proved credible and true to the American people through his distinguished leadership. Kennedy discusses the trials and triumphs of the United States of America in what will go down in history as a great demonstration of unification. Throughout the text, he emphasizes the theme of patriotism and greatness as well as prosperity in order to unify the nation through confident eyes. His emotional yet logical appeal to America’s patriotism helps further his argument towards national unification. Kennedy’s use of rhetorical devices allows him to maintain a conversational tone yet a clear and compelling structure.

Taking the oath of office on the 20th of January 1961, John F. Kennedy Gave one of the most influential and impactful inaugural speeches of all time. Opening by a addressing an end and a new beginning, a renewal, as well as a change, Kennedy gave the american people optimism and the hope they need to pull through the times of the cold war. He addressed the nations who wished to befriend and the nations who sought to destroy us, that he will be willing to pay the price no matter the cost to uphold and ensure that liberty strives. Diving deeper into the Rhetoric, and logic as well as the charisma of one of the youngest presidents to hold office we wish to thoroughly analyze Kennedy’s inaugural speech from head to toe annotating Kennedys words of influence to conclude the intentions he hope to have as a President.

One strategy is the strict use of inclusive, plural pronouns such as we and us. Then, towards the middle of the speech Kennedy addresses his nation’s enemies by proposing methods of peace rather than conflict and emphasises this list by beginning each statement with: “Let both sides”. Kennedy then finalizes these statements with the suggestion that the pursuit for peace may never end, yet, he states a concise and poignant request: “But let us begin” This statement is also an effective lead into a call to action for all to

The American public, fearful of the cold war and the ominous nuclear warfare possibilities, were given hope and united by John F. Kennedy's memorable inaugural address. It is a tradition for the new president to give an inaugural address in hopes to unify, reassure and provide a future vision for the american citizens. Kennedy's address accomplished this and achieved for the speech to be considered the greatest speeches of the twentieth century (Mehltretter). Kennedy used several literary devices to make his speech memorable; however, two methods stand out his use of powerful imagery and allusion.

Moreover, President Kennedy throughout his speech gives the people a sense of power. He says, ALet us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessings and His help, but knowing that her on earth God=s work must truly be our own.@ By saying Awe@, it is portrayed that if the American citizens will stay united, together we can reconstruct our country during this time of crisis. With the Cold War imbedded in the minds of all citizens, a sense of urgency was on everyone=s mind. The people wanted their national leader to assure them that he will do everything in his power to keep the American people