Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy 's Inaugural Address Essay

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.

On a cold January day America’s newly appointed president John F. Kennedy delivered his inauguration address that was incredibly important to America’s success during the Cold War. Kennedy uses his speech as a call to arms, but not only to America but the World and our allies as a whole. He uses his strong powerful voice to appeal to the ethics of the country in the beginning of his speech telling America about the promise we made when we were founded and that we must uphold it still today, telling America we must make a difference. Kennedy also uses ethics to explain that we the people are united no matter what your background or where you are from, he refers to the Americas as one place, because he wants for us to feel unified not divided. Furthermore Kennedy’s use of powerful imagery, logic and pathos allows for him to effectively call the people of the World together during this terrible time.

On January 20, 1961, Kennedy pledged as the 35th president of the United States(source 1). To prepare for his address, Kennedy carefully studied famous American speeches, such as the Gettysburg Address, and copied their style. It's content was almost specifically about matters of the world outside of the United States. He spoke about the issues that were on many American's minds: peace, national security, and creating a just and free world. One of the things he said in it was,

A global call for peace was made on January 20th, 1961. John F. Kennedy asked the world to find a well-known but hard concept -- world peace. Kennedy uses rhetoric, the art of speech or communication, to make their speeches less bland and more convincing, throughout his speech. At the time the U.S.A and the U.S.S.R were fighting in the Cold War, and the world was under constant threat of a nuclear war. In “JFK’s Inaugural Address,” Kennedy claims mankind should seek a global peace. He effectively builds this claim by using the following: ethical and emotional appeals, as well as tricolon and anaphora.

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.

It’s January 20, 1961. Inauguration day for president Kennedy. Entering his first term as president of the United States, he has to give the “Inaugural Address.” As president of the United States he needs to address his voters and the american people in person or through a television broadcast about his future goals and aspirations. During the transfer of power the US is going on there 14th year of the Cold War. The american people are fearful of a nuclear war and the other half wants to go to war. JFK wants diplomatic negotiations towards peace. JFK uses rhetorical devices in his “Inaugural Address” to influence the american people

In 1961, The United States of America was gridlocked with social injustice, inequalities, and intense racial tension, while combating the “red scare” of communism and protecting the population abroad from weapons of mass destruction and otherwise harbored by enemies both foreign and domestic. Terror and incertitude had seized the minds of the American people as the Cold War drew to its zenith. Desperate for a strong, reassuring leader, they turned to the young, former naval lieutenant and Presidential candidate, John Fitzgerald Kennedy who provided the reassurance the American populous yearned for as he charismatically and confidently addressed the nation. With critical rumination to the current national and international turmoil, Kennedy sought to ignite unity and esprit de corps in the American people in an endeavor to attain a lasting resolve. Kennedy’s inaugural address is imbued with rhetorical strategies to flatter and influence the emotions of the people through the use his strategic use of the rhetorical triangle without detracting from the truth and evidence expected from a national leader.

John F. Kennedy was elected during the Cold War which was fought between the United States and the Soviet Union. Citizens of the United States needed a leader while communism was spreading and dangerous weapons were being manufactured. Kennedy’s inaugural address was delivered on January 20th, 1961 in Washington, D.C. Kennedy envisioned bringing peace with other countries and uniting democratic countries to conquer communism. He dreams of bringing enemies together and creating a global alliance. Kennedy provides appeal to patriotism, appeal to religion, parallelism and antithesis to express unity and peace.

He was an expert on plain speaking and was able put to use emotional language effectively to engage his audience and make them feel included in his goals as the President. One of the most convincing aspects of his speech, is the fact that President Kennedy uses the word, “I” only four times in the 1,365 word address. With his famous line of “ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” (Kennedy, Paragraph 25), Kennedy is able to unify the people of America with the goal to promote and work to benefit the country. He stirred up pride and honor with his quote, “We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.” (Kennedy, Paragraph 3). His devotion for his people made the nation support him, no matter what party. John states, it was “not the victory of a party, but a celebration of freedom” (Kennedy, Paragraph 1). The President’s address, intentionally written simply, was also writing with purpose. It had been intended to demonstrate his dedication to help and defend his allies from any

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

“John F. Kennedy will always be remembered for two things- how his presidency started and how it ended.” As the thirty-fifth president, John F. Kennedy presented the citizens of the United States with an inaugural speech on January 20, 1961. His memorable speech consisted of goals Kennedy was determined to achieve in order to promote peace. Standing on the podium before his audience, Kennedy spoke with certainty and confidence. Because of his appeal to ethos, pathos, and logos, John F. Kennedy gained the people’s trust. The rhetorical devices of allusions, juxtaposition, antitheses, anaphora, and parallelism, emphasizes his primary goal of uniting the nation using strength and power, eventually leading to the establishment of a presence in the world abroad.

Today, I stand before you to deliver my analysis, regarding a speech of great magnitude. This speech is none other than the inaugural address of John F. Kennedy, commonly referred as JFK, the 35th President of the United States. On Friday, January 20th, 1961. In the United States Capitol of Washington, D.C. JFK, after narrowly defeating his opposition Richard Nixon, took the oath of office, and was sworn in as the new president of the United States, after his ascension to power, he gallantly accompanied such an event by delivering one of the most memorable, yet simplistic, speeches of all time. In his speech, he addresses the people, of the US, on his intentions as the newly appointed president, encompassing the major themes of his campaign, defining his time of presidency. Giving them hope and confidence in his new administration. Though it has been over 50 years since he has delivered his speech, it is still a remembered today, outlasting the life of its orator, and enduring the test of time. Its significance is accredited to its skilful use of rhetorical devices, its delivery, and the powerful messages contained within.

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.

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.