Rhetorical Analysis Of Jfk Speech

Kennedy advocates greater civil rights for African Americans. Because of increasing violence and chaos between whites and blacks, Kennedy felt the need to address the nation concerning racism. In John F. Kennedy's speech, The Nation Faces a Moral Crisis in Regard to Race, Kennedy hoped his audience would consider and support equal rights for all men “I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents […] This nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds […] It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights

Robert F. Kennedy’s speech was intended to bring the nation together as a whole instead of being sepearated by race. Also, Kennedy used this speech to mention that one of his family members were killed by a white man, in order to empathize with everyone who was affected by the news of Dr. King’s assassination. His speech included:

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.

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.

I am bewildered by the fact that one of the greatest American speeches ever written is unknown to the majority of the American public. A speech so powerful that it prevented a major city from rioting. The words of Robert F. Kennedy on April 4th, 1968 in Indianapolis, Indiana still persists strong in the sight of his burial in Arlington Cemetery and in the minds and hearts of the individuals who got to witness this live. The speech was known to be so dynamic that some scholarly institutions like that of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Texas A&M regard the speech as the seventeenth greatest American speech of the twentieth century (Wisconsin-Madison & Texas A&M). Whether it is your first or fifteenth time reading or watching the speech, it is still fascinating to grasp how Robert F. Kennedy is able to convey his message of unity and peace in such an equivocal way in order to try to prevent the city of Indianapolis, Indiana from rioting in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. I believe Kennedy accomplishes this through the usages of rhetorical devices such as ethos, logos and pathos. To further understand this principle, the reader would have to understand the context which led up to the speech and how it affects the speech itself.

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

To start off John F. Kennedy was giving his speech during the inauguration, talking to the citizens of America. He was giving a very powerful speech that included metaphors, rhetoric devices, and SOAPS. I say that because he used that to capture the audience's attention. He starts off by talking about the war and those who fought for us, to be brave like them. That they were not looking for power like most of them were, that’s when he used a metaphor saying those who “sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside”. Saying that they were foolish to even think they can gain that power they don’t deserve, how they talk about doing good, instead of actually doing it. Kennedy was making a type of statement, on how we the americans should show more compassion to those who don’t have anything.

Kennedy utilizes an appeal to religion to connect with Americans. Kennedy alludes to God, “ let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own” to let Americans know that humans now hold the power and God is the helping hand. Kennedy is asking for “strength and sacrifice” of the people in order to make change in the world. JFK uses a quote from the Bible, “Isaiah--to ‘undo the heavy burdens…(and) let the oppressed go free’” to illustrate that by having unity we need to get rid of tyranny.

Martin Luther King Jr. once stated “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now”. King’s basis was racial equality for all Americans. King spoke in many places throughout the United States from 1963 until 1968 when he was assassinated. He fought for African Americans’ rights when no one else would. Ultimately, he enlisted the support of white Americans and eventually won rights for the African American people, but sadly it was not until the 1970’s, two years after King’s assassination, that black people were finally able to enjoy the rights King helped win with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These rights would not have been possible without King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” which he wrote in compliance to the white clergy calling his civil disobedience “untimely and unwise.” The civil disobedience the white clergy is talking about is the one that he and many other activists including children were arrested for protesting without a permit. Although King wields a plethora of appeals and devices, pathos and allusion are the most powerful because these play on the audience's guilt and reference related historical events that denounce the oppressors’ racist ways.

Throughout president John F Kennedy 's inaugural address speech he presents several emotional appeals to convey his feelings towards the American people. The purpose of Kennedy 's Inaugural Address speech was to inform the people of what his intentions were for the future of this country. Since this speech was based on his intentions for the future of his country, a sense of trust needed to be established between him and the people, he accomplished this by applying emotional appeals to his speech. President John F Kennedy charged up his speech by making sure he built bridges between him and the people. Through his speech, he capitalized on change, not only for America alone but for the globe itself. Since this time was not a time of peace, where war, inequality, racism was transpiring, President kennedy included numerous lines of hope, that could have potentially been used to persuade the audience to strongly believe in what he was communicating with them. He mentions “For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty…”(Kennedy para2) ,relating to all people of lower class, providing them a sense of hope in which they could look forward to. John F Kennedy then continues by summarizing that it is time for America to shape its own future and that the people as a whole can overcome any obstacle that is bestowed upon them. People at this time found these words very

In the speech “On the Death of Martin Luther King Jr.” Robert Kennedy must address the American people on the tragic death of King. This event proved to be a difficult subject for many Americans especially since King became a very influential figure. Robert Kennedy could easily relate to this death since his brother was recently killed just as King was. It did not make the topic any easier to address in front of the nation's eye but he could relate to everyone and step into their shoes as well. Kennedy establishes common ground to make an attempt at unifying the United States as well as inputting a direct reference to a greek poet and an empathic tone to convey his emotions.

This speech is very emotional as well… JFK is hoping that, through making the audience feel deeply about what he is speaking about, then the audience will side with him. And that is exactly what he achieves. He utilizes phrases like "born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by hard and bitter peace" (Kennedy 3) to bring up the topic of war… Now war can be an emotional thing and John F. Kennedy channels that emotion by recalling to the audience about the majority of the deaths that happened in war, the greater part of the torment that they experienced in. Alluding to how hard it has been to have tranquility once more, and to recuperate, it offers to individuals' troubles and feelings with respect to beating the tragedies of war. Along these lines, he utilizes feeling, an appeal to the audience’s feelings, hoping they will concur with him, sympathize, and be all the more ready to rally with what he is

Firstly, Kennedy uses many metaphors to place a meaningful emphasis on his words. When he speaks to members of the audience who have just become freed from tyranny, Kennedy uses a metaphor to describe why this will not occur in the United States when he states, “... we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom- and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside”. Kennedy speaks of dictators who attempted to overtake a country and ultimately were destroyed by this choice. The use of diction here promises that he understands the limits to his own power as president, and will not push such important boundaries. Another excellent metaphor appears when the president says, “.... we offer a special pledge… to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty”. Here, Kennedy stresses the idea that poverty prevents people from advancing in society. The chains are not physical nor visible, but can be felt heavily across the bodies of the less fortunate as they struggle to make enough money to survive. While both of these metaphors are compelling to readers, Kennedy also chooses to use the word “we” in each statement. This choice allows the listener to feel connected personally with the president, and creates a sense of a personal relationship as Kennedy continues.

Thirteen days was all it took to bring down a world power to its most vulnerable stages. Fear consumed John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, as he was notified on October 16, 1962, that the Intelligence Community had become convinced that Russia was placing missiles and atomic weapons in Cuba. According to a U-2 that had finished a photographic mission, these missiles were pointed to the United States and capable of striking most of the major cities in the Western Hemisphere. Not only was the peace and freedom of the American people compromised, but so was the rest of the world’s fate. And the decisions of one man could essentially save the people or result in a never ending ballistic war. President John F. Kennedy was not

Kennedy starts his speech to his fellow American citizens by suggesting that all of the American people must come together and unite in order to overcome the harsh times after the Cold War. Kennedy uses long sentences in order to add character and strength to his speech. John F. Kennedy uses words such as “freedom”, “renewal”, and “nation” in order to make the American people have a feeling of hope and unity. John uses his crafty diction and syntax to help him present himself as a true leader and add to his integrity. The very complex and patriotic syntax and diction display a supportive mood and reassurance to the audience. Throughout the speech the president uses many rhetorical devices.