Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address

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 Friday, January 20, 1961, in the midst of physical cold and mental Cold War fears, John F. Kennedy gave his inaugural address to the citizens of America and the world, assuring his audience that peace will prevail, and that America, as a unified superpower, will lead the world once again into a new era of peace. His speech, infused with rhetorical appeals, has an anxious and discontent tone, calling for change and the implementation of his vision. To express his vision, Kennedy used various tools such as anaphoras, diction, and antithesis to form rhetorical appeals that effectively communicate his vision of peace.

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.

Politician and 35th President of the U.S, John F. Kennedy- more commonly known as JFK- in his inaugural address, encourages Americans to begin anew and prepare for change. Kennedy’s purpose is to fuse America in a united cause, and reassure them of their strength and power. This purpose is achieved through figurative language that aids the audience in visualizing Kennedy’s goals, and creates the desired optic emotion. He continues with feelings of patriotic pathos, and an inspiring tone to project to people of all status and origin, that unity is strength, and you can do anything when people help each other out. He focuses on the strength of individuals pooling together, to accumulate vigor as a whole.

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.

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

On a cold day in 1961, John F. Kennedy delivered an Inaugural speech to the citizens and peoples of both America and the world. After the end of a close and competitive election, he used this speech not to celebrate his victory as president, but to unite the audience. In this inaugural address, Kennedy connects Americans together as one country and humans together as one population with a call to duty that relies on a heavy appeal to the ethics and morals of himself and the audience. Additionally, the use of a structurally and logically sound argument with powerful imagery and emotions used throughout the speech allows this call to action to be so effective in uniting Americans and the human race together.

To begin with, JFK was the 35th president of the United States of America. He was the youngest president, which meant he had to build trust. One of the main characteristics in Kennedy’s “Inaugural Address” is his powerful use of imagery, when he describes “the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans” (JFK paragraph 4). Kennedy talks about change and a future to look further to. His statement creates an idea of toughness, placing strength in each individual, but also in the President and government. Kennedy paints a desolate picture of the world which creates imagery. He describes the evolving world as “struggling to break the bonds of mass misery” (JFK paragraph 9), and nuclear weapons as “dark powers of destruction” that might “engulf all humanity” (JFK paragraph 11). He creates a dark mood and describes strong visuals to keep the audience’s interest in what Kennedy has to say about possible solutions to create peace. The imagery used is strong as it draws on images that are easily understood by everybody. He believes that all Americans should work together to create the peace they desire. He wanted America to reach its fullest potential. He felt it was important to use the past as an example but to look to the future and be prepared for anything to come.

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.

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.

parallelism and juxtaposition, John F. Kennedy was able to capture the minds and hearts of the

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.

President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech, effectively uses rhetorical strategies to address audience members of global concerns, unify listeners, and persuade all to act with him for the promotion and preservation of peace. He gains the audience’s attention not only through the powerful, formal diction used such as forebears, asunder, invective, eradicate, tribulation, but additionally through emotional engagement, or pathos used throughout the speech in order to strengthen each of these points.