By describing these responsibilities passed on to the new generation, Kennedy invokes the need for the people to continue to support the ideas of freedom that have made the country so successful. Doing so, he challenges Americans to “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe.” JFK presents the use of imperative sentences to help him command, implore, and entreat the Americans to do their part. This makes the nation ask themselves “what together [they] can do for
His history has become a part of America’s history. Dwight D. Eisenhower will live on in history as long as the world values its freedom fighters and great men. After researching and reading about David Dwight Eisenhower, I have learned a lot. I believe that Eisenhower was one of the greatest presidents we ever had. Eisenhower's greatest strength as a General was his ability to get all the other big leaders of the western allies to form a consensus.
For example, after “Let the word…passed to a new generation”, Clarke adds that his words actually appeared to be going forth into the exhilarating air. Thus allowing the reader to create a stronger image of the actual speech, and President Kennedy himself. Throughout his writing Clarke, intelligently, quotes Kennedy at least once on every other paragraph, not giving too many quotes but suffices to feed the reader with enough information on Kennedy’s manner of speech. To top it all off, Clarke also quotes other presidents that try to quote Kennedy in their own way. Bush’s translation of Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country”(Brooks 299) into “What you do is as important as anything government does.
Some of the techniques I noticed were syntax, repetition, logos, and finally, pathos. Eisenhower’s Inaugural Speech of 1953 was very successful in connecting to his listeners. He was able to get his penultimate purpose across, which was that the country needed to band together once more to stay strong against the flare up of communism, but I believe his ultimate purpose was to keep the country moral high, and keep the people together, so they could overcome anything, whether it be communism or aliens. The United States of America will forever be banded together after this
He lays everything down in front of them to see. This kind of honesty and sincerity that he shows to the people is a new form of persuasion. Nixon’s persuasion skills made this speech a successful one, which has stuck with people even today. He used his words effectively, and did the job of refuting most if not all of the questions presenting themselves because of the funds that were donated. His final thoughts that he leaves with the people reinforce his main points, and put his full support behind his decisions and his running mate Eisenhower.
Although, Kennedy gets his audience, Americans, engaged through antithesis, “Support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” Kennedy switched up the words in his speech to get the audience thinking positively about supporting those who want the help of the United States. Kennedy then goes to a different side of his plans; explaining that the countries that get our help will be the ones who side with the U.S. in our American ideals. Thus, supporting his purpose further by stating two opposite ideas in one antithesis statement. By Kennedy doing this, he creates a strong engagement with the U.S. citizens because his main purpose is to branch out to other countries, but at the same time he said he wouldn’t let other countries stand in the way of helping those who truly want the help. Another strong motive of Kennedy is his concern with improving America further.
General Washington could be classified with multiple leadership styles including leadership by example, a transformational leader or even a servant leader. He is considered by many to be one of the most influential leaders of all time and certainly was one of our greatest presidents. Looking first at his leadership style of leading by example, he knew that he had to set the way for the people of the United States to follow for years after his presidency and establish a norm for how the country should be governed. He has high expectations of the young country, and it was said that he “…carried a vision into his presidency and sought to ensure a well-ordered government based on both laws and reason. He believed that through using reason and being open to various viewpoints, citizens could arrive at proper laws and policies to ensure peace, prosperity, and happiness for the country (McNeilly, 168).” Washington was intelligent enough to know the importance of a strong leader in the early years of this new country.
President Kennedy opens his speech by establishing credibility, “For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.” He personalizes his speech in looking forward to the future while using the past as an example, adding that the same innovated views that our ancestors fought are still a concern around the globe and that our rights of man come from the hand of God, not the kindness of the state. Kennedy reminds his fellow Americans that we are the successors of the first revolt and that we must move forward as the new generation of Americans. The president emphasizes our human rights and encourages Americans to defend our freedom because it is a gift from God. Kennedy then exhorts, “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, 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.” (19) President Kennedy pledges to veteran allies
One such example is Martin Luther King, the road ahead will be long...we will get there where Obama creates the sense that it will be a tough, arduous journey ahead of America in undoing the damage done by past leadership. Its inclusion also acts to instil the hope in the eyes of the crowd, the very same hope that spurred on the crowd in several of Martin Luther’s orations. The repetition of yes we can, acts as a motive that nothing is impossible and America as a whole can overcome all obstacles. In the context of Obamas campaign of change, the repetition also emphasises that America has changed over the years through women’s rights, dealing with economic recessions and depressions and will continually change for the better under Obamas leadership. It also epitomises the American Dream that anyone can achieve with a positive, forward thinking and optimistic
President Obama started his speech with a catch by naming one of his heroes, the civil rights leader John Lewis. This created a satisfactory level of personalization that was strengthened when he linked the Selma Marches to his “way to the Oval Office.” Since Obama was addressing millions of Americans across the country, he tried to maintain a level of formality as president. He also achieved a good level of simplicity and directness that made his message easier to be understood by ordinary citizens from different backgrounds. In addition, he influenced a wide range of audience by using a narrative approach telling the story of America in general and Selma in particular. The speech’s significance is apparent in the good choice of place (Edmund Pettus Bridge) and time (50th anniversary).