Rhetorical Analysis Of John F Kennedy Inaugural Speech

There are many things that a speech must contain to make it a well written and spoken speech. John F. Kennedy 's speech he gave on September 12th 1962, titled “Address at Rice University on the Nation 's Space Efforts”, better known as “We Choose to go to the Moon” contains many of the important factors of a successful speech. Kennedy used rhetorical strategies and skills to help him influence the American people to help accomplish the major goal of reaching the moon. Kennedy did not only want to reach the moon, but he wanted to be the first country to do so. President Kennedy effectively told the objective he found important by using ethos, pathos and kairos throughout his speech to help get the support of the people. By using these three rhetorical strategies Kennedy gave a moving 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.

Kennedy rarely implements statistics or numbers to build ethos. Instead, he uses his fame and affirming words to build credibility. Having been elected into office, it is a safe assumption that he was already widely accepted as a credible source. He also establishes ethos in the way he portrays himself. Ethos is not built from only a title, but from the verbiage that JFK used admirably. He was well aware of the fact that not everyone supported him or the party he was associated with, and by opening his speech with “We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom…”(JFK Library), JFK is able to discard any hostility toward his political opponents, appealing ethically to the opposing viewers. He then goes on to address these opponents by stating, “We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them

On April 11, 1962, President John F. Kennedy held a news conference to discuss the 3.5% increase on steel prices across the country. With the country at war, and struggling to emerge from a recession, increasing the price of steel would have a negative impact. After his administration had taken steps to aid the steel companies to reach a non-inflationary steel workers union contract, the decision to increase steel prices was deemed to be a betrayal of the President and the American people. The speech was directed towards the “common man” in opposition to big steel companies. He speaks for the purpose of not only persuading the companies to lower their prices, but also to convince the public that he is looking out for their best interest. Kennedy employs a disapproving tone and strong diction in an effort to clearly achieve his goal in influencing the steel

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 20th of 1961 John F Kennedy gave his famous speech titled the “Inaugural Address”, which cemented his position as commander and chief of the United States. President Kennedy’s inaugural speech detailed promises he made to the American people, and also what he hopes to accomplish in office. Throughout the speech, Kennedy utilizes many rhetorical devices such as Ethos and Pathos in order to convince his audience, which is the American people, that change will come about. Kennedy’s legacy still remains influential as it was when the speech was given, due to his persuasive comments on world peace. The legacy Kennedy created in the speech hopes to achieve peace in the world. The legacy of peace Kennedy has created is presented to the reader through the utilization of ethos and pathos in order to persuade the reader that world peace is a possibility under his administration,

Peace is a state of mind that is pleasing to everyone. When John F. Kennedy gave his inaugural speech, his main focus was bettering the lives of all. He wanted everyone to be peaceful with one another so that the world can be filled with altruism. Kennedy uses rhetorics, which is the art of well-developed speech, in his inaugural address. In “JFK’s Inaugural Speech,” Kennedy claims that peace needs to be achieved worldwide using logical appeal, ethical appeal, and word choice.

Kennedy continues his appeal to emotion with a weaker, yet still successful attempt. Around election time, seemingly all American’s reveal their inner-patriot, understanding this Kennedy speaks to that inner patriot. Speaking of foreign affairs, he says, “…let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.”(3) This appeal is successful, as speaking of the Hemisphere as a whole represents unity, and also reaches out to the pride within the audience, stating that Americans shall remain in power of all they have worked so hard to obtain.

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.

The distinctive voices, inherent in any text, are intended to have an impact on the audience. Significant voices are influenced by the values and beliefs of the composer, as well as cultural, political and historical content. Composers use a range of language tools and features to successfully covey messages to their audience. John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, Severn Cullis-Suzuki’s Address to the Plenary Session, Earth Summit and Charlie Chaplin’s Let us all unite, all provide excellent examples of a distinctive voice. Each of these distinctive voices is formed through the use of emotive language, tone, repetition and rhetorical devices.

Inauguration is a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a major public leader's term of office. John. F Kennedy elected as the thirty-fifth president of the United States. And as the America’s youngest president ever elected to date, Kennedy needed to establish his integrity as a leader, and prove to the world that his term would be one of change and hope. On January 20, 1961 President John F. Kennedy delivered arguably one of the most memorable and quoted inaugural addresses.

Kennedy establishes pathos by appealing to Americans’ Patriotism, an important concept during the Cold War. He refers to American’s “forebears” and reminds Americans “that we are the heirs of that first revolution”. Perhaps his most important emotional appeal is the famous, “And so my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country”. He makes his “fellow Americans” feel like they have an important part in their country, encouraging strong Patriotism and public service. Kennedy begins and ends his speech mentioning God. With this Kennedy appeals to not only American Catholics but to all Christians. He stated, “…For I have sworn

John F. Kennedy presented his inaugural address on the date of January 20, 1961 having secured the nomination and subsequent victory running against Richard Nixon who was the Vice President of the United States under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In the era of the 1950s through the late 1960’s, the uprising of social and political agendas that included the Civil Rights Movement in which conduction of protests was occurring. The Vietnam War and the Cold War where American citizens grew more and more divided politically throughout the nation because of the variable actions of the government. Additionally, the fight for equal pay for the sexes was finally adjourned when the Equal Pay Act was enacted after unions for women were formed, fighting for equal pay. The Baby Boomer generation and it’s subcultures had to endure these issues and create a voice to express themselves due to the government policies and social prejudices occurring in which many views from the Presidents; John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon were opposing to one another. Though, John F. Kennedy provided a powerful sentiment when he delivered his inaugural address to express the, “call to action.” He was motivated to unify the nation and remind citizens of their civic and moral obligations to solve these issues. John F. Kennedy utilizes an array of rhetorical devices such as ethos, pathos, logos, as well as antimetabole, and diction and syntax to reflect cadance in an attempt to unify a

During the 1960s, John F. Kennedy gave a speech to America that the world would never forget. At the end of a highly competitive election, Kennedy used this very speech to commemorate his presidential election. He lectured the audience with his speech which would be reminisced for centuries to come. The speech is so renowned for its since of duty and how powerful it is. He uses a strong appeal to not only his own ethics, but the whole country’s ethics united. Kennedy uses emotional argument to persuade the listeners to take a defensive stand and change their country. Furthermore, he appeals to the whole world when he refers to different areas of the globe while also uniting all human beings as one population. Throughout the inaugural address, Kennedy joins the American people as a country demonstrates how they can become one population. He relates them with their call to duty that relies on the ethics and morals of himself and the audience. Kennedy uses logical argument with incredible imagery and emotions throughout the speech which allows his call to action to be even greater in bonding America as one.