Rhetorical Analysis Of Robert Kennedy Speech

As well as, “signifies renewal as well as change….” for the same reasons as stated previously. This antithesis is used to band the new and the old breed together, and help them work together to achieve Kennedy’s ambition of creating the perfect nation, where his people would be united with brotherhood under one purpose, seeing themselves as equal beings, setting their differences aside and this would prepare them for the challenges the Americans would face in the future. All of this was done by his effective use of antithesis which is one of the reasons why this speech was so revered as one of the most powerful and patriotic speeches. Whether his cause was for the best is another story however. Now, we talk about his effective uses of the older methods of public speaking. More specifically, pathos and ethos. He uses ethos in the lines where he says “explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.”In Kennedy’s background, it was known that he was a zealous follower of Christianity and this is evident when he cites God and the Bible in some of his lines. This was done to fabricate an imagery of his personal character and that to show he was just as zealous of supporting the nation as he is zealous into following his

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.

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.

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.

“black people amongst blacks, and white amongst whites, filled with hatred toward another. [...] with an effort to understand, compassion, and love.” (Kennedy, 1968)

On April 4, 1968 Robert F. Kennedy began his political campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in Indiana. Before boarding his plane, Kennedy found out that Martin Luther King, Jr. had been shot in Memphis, Tennessee. At his arrival in Indianapolis, Kennedy was informed that Martin Luther King, Jr. had died from the incident. Kennedy was scheduled to speak to a large African-American audience, and was advised by the Indianapolis Police to not speak. The Chief of Police warned Kennedy that he would not be responsible for whatever may happen, making this speech even more dangerous. Kennedy chose to ignore the warning signs, went into the conference campaign, and spoke to the audience. Robert Kennedy, putting his political aspirations aside, advises the Indianapolis African-American audience not to retaliate to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination with violence, but with prayer, understanding, and love as Martin Luther King, Jr. taught. This is done through the use of motivational appeals, rhetorical devices, and expressing to the audience a purpose.

While talking about how the US can be bitter about MLK’s death, he says, “We can move in that direction as a country, in greater polarization -- black people amongst blacks and white amongst whites, filled with hatred towards one another.” America is at a crossroad- it can either continue discrimination and loathing, or, as he says later on, America can learn from this experience and move towards peace and equality. Using plain folks appeal and parallelism, Kennedy shows the need to act responsibly- the brighter future exists so long as the right steps are taken. After talking about MLK, Kennedy states that “we will have difficult times in the future. It is not the end of violence; it is not the end of lawlessness; and it’s not the end of disorder.” By using parallelism, plain folks appeal, and repetition, he shows his audience that the civil right leader’s death won’t be the last- the worst has yet to come. It’s not only them who this rule of life applies to, but him, and the entire country, as well. Later on in the speech, he encourages everyone to “... dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the lift of this world.” Kennedy, in his final statements, refers to the Greeks in a historical allusion while endorsing the idea of peacefully going about MLK’s death. America’s current situation is not a foreign one- people ages

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

On January 20, 1961, John Fitzgerald Kennedy became the youngest man to possess presidency in the United States of America. As a young, wealthy man Kennedy rapidly climbed the political ladder by initially representing a working class Boston district in the United States Congress, then continuing on to the House of Representatives, followed by the United States Senate, and ending with the victorious defeat of his presidential opponent, to become the 35th president of the United States. According to theatlantic.com, Kennedy was so admired by the public, that “in the eyes of the world, this reticent man became a charismatic leader who, in his life and in his death, served as a symbol of purpose and hope.” As a result of John F. Kennedy’s

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.

A leader’s legacy is portrayed in a multitude of ways: from the goals and dreams he sought for, from stories and memories of the people he’s touched, and from snapshots of his accomplishments. John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address of 1961, his most famous speech, “Inside Kennedy’s Inauguration, 50 Years On”, an article by Eleanor Clift that gives a detailed description of the president’s inauguration, and an image, “Inauguration of John F. Kennedy”, by the United States Army Corp, all convey the impact of John F. Kennedy in their own unique fashion. The legacy of John Fitzgerald Kennedy is expressed through a variety of similar and contrasting styles appealing to the same rhetorical appeals but further differentiated by their syntax and

Similarly, Robert Kennedy’s speech also concerns with the assassination of a great man – civil activist Martin Luther King. In his speech, Kennedy, as in Mark Antony’s eulogy, also uses repetition, especially anaphora, to augment and stress the purpose of his speech – that peace and solidarity, instead of anger and division, should be the response to such a devastating event. In his speech, he describes the appropriate course of action in response the recent assassination, “What we need in the United States is not division;” urges Kennedy, “what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and

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.

Despite the memorability of the end of John F. Kennedy's term, the beginning of the presidency, specifically the inaugural speech, will remain recognized globally. The first impression, the first address, and the first acknowledgement of John F. Kennedy’s presidency is encompassed in his inaugural speech. With the importance of the speech prominent, Kennedy and his advisors wished to inspire the nation and send a message of strength and hope to the world. Addressing the American citizens and the global population, the president expressed the importance of the survival of liberty and peace. In the first section of Kennedy’s speech, the topic of nuclear war and the contrasting views with communism create an ominous yet hopeful tone. Understanding the preeminence of the inaugural speech, Kennedy knew to use rhetorical methods to effectively communicate his idea. Metaphors, archaic diction, biblical language, and antithesis examples are demonstrated throughout John F. Kennedy’s speech to enhance rhetorical appeals and express the importance of liberty and peace for the future.

John F. Kennedy applies the rhetorical appeals in his speech to gain the respect, trust, and compassion of his audience. Kennedy uses pathos in order to appeal to the patriotism and emotional side of the American people. He does this when he says the people, “born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by hard and bitter peace” (Paragraph 4). Here he talks about a struggle all the Americans have faced, warfare and a lack of peace. He later