Speech : An Analysis Of Richard Nixon's Speech

In "The Checkers Speech," Richard Nixon responds to criticism regarding an alleged "secret fund." At this time, 1952, Nixon was running for vice president with presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower was enjoying enormous popularity when the rumor surfaced one month before the election. Nixon was accused of accepting a supplemental salary of $18,000 dollars, contributed by a group of supporters back in his home state of California. There were also rumors that Eisenhower would drop Nixon from the ticket. So Nixon was forced to come up with a remedy for the untimely situation. Not only did he have to convince the American people he was

Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, was born on January 9th, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California. Nixon was a Republican congressman who served as vice president under Dwight D. Eisenhower. He ran for president in 1960 but lost to charismatic Massachusetts senator John F. Kennedy. Eight years later, Richard Nixon returned to the race and won the White House by a solid margin (Networks). After successfully ending American fighting in Vietnam and improving international relations with the U.S.S.R. and China, he became the only President to ever resign the office, as a result of the Watergate scandal (White House). On August 8th, 1974, Richard Nixon decided to resign from office because he felt that he no longer had a “strong enough political base in the Congress". In order to leave off a good impression of himself, outline the positive changes that he had made during his presidency, and inform the reason behind his resignation, he delivered a speech. In his speech “Resignation Address to the Nation”, Nixon speaks directly to the citizens of the United States and at the same time tries to indirectly get his message across to the rest of the world. I think Richard Nixon’s speech was effective because he used tools such as rhetorical devices to make his audience realize that he was resigning for their greater good.

To start off the summary of the movie Nixon, does not apologize for Nixon, and holds him accountable for the

Tricky Dick -- after a string of flops and vicious scandals -- emerges victorious, giving dual peace signs. The exoneration was full. The emotion was rampant. The Nixon Halloween mask looked phenomenal. Toward the left of the photograph, you’ll see Lee the eternal. Bruce was among the most dense of peachicks, with tough abs that wouldn’t behave. He was also a nonsense catapultist -- a real deal Republican: A lover of money, greed, and wealth beyond the Asian system of measurement. He was there to support Nichard Dixon, the vilified. It was a such a cool day. I remember when my daddy saw this on Tee Vee, he wept -- wept like a man. And then he flushed his troubles clean -- rinsed ‘em clean -- with the golden saver, the unreal batter of Coors

Nixon used several logical fallacies in his 1952 Checkers Speech when addressing the issue of funding and how it was received. He attempted to use distraction (Red Herring fallacy) when discussing communism. This was an obvious attempt to capitalize on the fear of communist parties of that time and provided distraction from the illegal funding he had received.

Richard Nixon successfully used Pathos throughout his “Checkers Speech” to appeal to the emotions of the American people. Nixon, more commonly known for being one of the most hated presidents that the United States has endured, is exceptionally brilliant. He used technology to help him plead his innocence, as he televised his big “Checkers Speech” for the entire United States to hear.

Ronald Reagan is known as “The great communicator” and it shows in his speech, he is able connect to the audience and this works very well for him, his speech “Address to the national challenger” it is a drastically emotional and important speech for the American people at the time it became one of Reagan’s great speeches and it was crucial to the American’s as they were all in such pain due to the accident which was the Challenger disaster. Instead of doing his report on the state union, he talks about the disaster and honors the members who had passed on board and he wishes that the United States will not stop its space exploration due to this. When listening to the speech is it distinguishable that is the speech is not something to joke about and the tone had an emotional and solemn feel with great respect to all involved being felt.

One event he is most famous for during his Vice-Presidency is the “kitchen debate” with Khrushchev at the United States exhibition in Moscow (Small 47). This particular debate argued capitalism verses communism and it just so happened to take place in a kitchen (Small 49). He was the first American official to address the Soviets in a live television broadcast. Over the next eight years, Nixon continued to elevate the office of vice president to a new level. With his youthful and vigorous attitude, he made sure he would be the most active vice president in any previous administration.

During the 1960 presidential election, the candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy made history by partaking in the first televised debate. The two men both gave their opinions on a multitude of issues and both argued their positions well, but the true argument was among the people who listened to the debate on the radio and the people who watched the debate on television. For those who listened to the debate, Richard Nixon was the clear winner; but, for those who watched the debate, Richard Nixon’s sweaty face appeared uncomfortable in comparison to Kennedy’s calm and collected appearance. This begs the question when is sweat “good/acceptable/attractive” and when is sweat “bad/unacceptable/unattractive”? With the assistance of a simple

In 1974, President Richard Nixon announced his resignation. In response to this Vice President Gerald Ford spoke of his opinion on the situation. Nixon’s letter of resignation is a direct effect of the Watergate scandal, The purpose of these speeches is to make Ford look more trustworthy.

Nixon was one of the few presidents who have had a second term. Therefore, Nixon had two inaugural speeches. Nixon’s second speech was very similar to the first speech. Instead, of focusing on how to be at peace, Nixon assured, the country, that everything was serene and we needed to

the purpose of the “Checkers Speech” was to reaffirm Nixon’s status as a reputable politician the public

Ronald Reagan, in his speech, (“Berlin Wall”, 1987), the former governor and President of the United States and at the time of the Cold War, “ the most magnetic public figure in the nation”(encyclopedia.com) elucidates to his audience the consequences of residing under the influence of the Soviet Union. Reagan supports his assertion through the use of various rhetorical devices to generate logos, ethos, and pathos. His purpose is to incite a feeling of an injustice done to the people of Berlin and Soviet Allies and to bring down the Berlin Wall as “the most visible symbol of the decades-long Cold War”(History.com) between the Americans and the Soviets during the Cold War. Reagan writes in perfervid tone generated toward the people of Berlin and other Soviet allies in hopes of bringing the Cold War to an end and it is reported by CBS News that he successfully “bolstered the morale of the pro-democracy movement in East Germany”(Brinkley).

On July 15, 1979, President Jimmy Carter delivered a speech name A Crisis of Confidence, in this speech he did fittingly address the nation about a two pressing issues. The first was the reason for the abuts cancellation of his speech 10 days earlier and him retreating to Camp David for those ten days. Secondly, and more important how him and the rest of the nation was going to handle the energy crisis that was crippling the countries oil supply. Coming into this speech President Carter had cancelled a speech ten days earlier concerning the energy crisis that was made out to be one of his most important speeches thus far in his presidency. After unexpectedly cancelling his speech, as shown in this Washington Post, “President Carter late yesterday abruptly canceled tonight's scheduled speech to the nation, which White House officials had billed as his most important address on energy since his "oral equivalent of war" speech two years ago.”

In his speech, Eisenhower expresses a concern about the relationship between technological advancement and the government. As a major source of funding, the United States government provides money to numerous research teams. Eventually, the government becomes an important influence on what people should study. Eisenhower fears that the influential power would potentially restrain scientific advancement. His fear, unfortunately, is reflected in today’s society. President Trump’s 2018 budget proposal involves a massive cut in medical research and disease prevention programs. The reduction of funding directly affects many institutions, such as the National Cancer Institute and the National Science Foundation. These institutions are working hard