John F. Kennedy addressed the country as President for the first time on January 20, 1961, keeping the audience thinking about the future of the United States, but the future of other countries as well. In this Inaugural Address, Kennedy uses antithesis to set up a way of thinking that has to be broken down in order to fully understand what the point is, which is bettering our country as well as others. John F. Kennedy appeals the country through antithesis in his Inaugural Address by engaging the U.S. citizens to think about branching out to help other countries as well as improving the United States. Kennedy has many valid points on branching out of the United States to help those in other countries. 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.
His inauguration speech was so effective that it captured the entire nation’s attention by the use of rhetorical devises such as antithesis, anaphora and imperative sentences to help him strengthen his purpose of unity and reassure American’s that their freedom would be upheld. John F. Kennedy begins his inaugural speech by using antithesis to emphasize the importance of his success in the presidential race. Kennedy describes his victory as “symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning -- signifying renewal, as well as change.” This helps him create his purpose that he is going to take action but still hold onto the beliefs of our founding fathers. Kennedy Is reassuring America that even though they are going through tough times with the cold war, that they have to refer back to their roots for guidance. 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.
Draft 1 – Rhetorical Analysis on FDR’s First Inaugural Address During the time of President Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address in early 1933, the United States was still feeling the horrible shock brought about by the Great Depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt establishes his purpose as a leader of the country. He restores hope into the common people by giving them new confidence after such despair. He begins his introduction by saying, “This is preeminently time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly.” In this quote he explains to the American people that he is going to be open and honest with them, and this wins them over. As he continues to make his speech FDR makes it clear that he will be more involved with the people.
On January 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy delivers his inaugural speech at the White House. His speech was rather short and connects to his audience. 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. In Kennedy’s inaugural speech he encourages change amongst his fellow citizens. He creates an invitingly hopeful and powerfully encouraging tone that unifies his people with a fresh perspective of the nation.
John F. Kennedy’s purpose to his inauguration is to inspire the citizens of the United States, and to persuade his audience to merely participate in transferring his several goals into reality. It is clearly stated in Kennedy’s inauguration speech that help will be needed by the world if these goals will ever be achieved. In the act of persuading his audience Kennedy uses many rhetoric strategies to achieve the support from his audience that he is hoping for. In my analysis I can assert that Kennedy establishes his purpose in a persuasive way through his distinctive syntax and diction. Kennedy uses many complex formations of syntax and diction to persuade his audience.
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
A More Perfect Union Critique “We the people, in order to form a more perfect union.” These are the same words that were presented in the Constitution as well as used in Barack Obama’s speech, “A More Perfect Union” during his presidential primary campaign in 2008. His speech addresses the racism and inequality that still exist in America that is dividing American society instead of uniting it. Obama uses his own experiences to reach out to readers as well as using allusions from history and the patriotic meaning behind the history to incorporate pathos and ethos in his speech. Obama is successful in his writing because he is able to persuade the audience by appealing to their emotions, while using specific details to create more credibility
I chose this speech for its significance in history, as well as its influence on Nixon’s political standing at the time. He was a very powerful public speaker, as well as running mate and Vice President for Dwight Eisenhower. Nixon makes very powerful points though out his entire speech to show that he is in the right, and the charges against him and his party are being wrongfully made. Nixon’s greatest quality as a public speaker is his ability to sway the crowd with his charisma, and sincerity. His speech reached the people, and made them listen.
President elects Barack Obama uses a variety of techniques to address and unify his audience. Obamas use of second person, directly making reference of his audience, tonight is your answer...it belongs to you...it cannot happen without you, is cleverly employed to demonstrate the importance of the individual and how his victory and future effort to change America will rely on the efforts of the collective. In the mind of his audience, it is used to make people feel a sense of belonging, having their presence acknowledged. In his speech, Obama makes several intersexual references to inspirational orators of the past. 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.
Barack Obama portrays this by using various persuasive techniques to interest his audience and his famous quote, “Yes We Can.” He uses the unity words “We” and “You” repeatedly throughout the speech. The speech is intended to show that he is the leader of the team yet more importantly he is still a part of the team. The message of the speech is “Yes we can change, if you elect me.” Obama continually repeats this message as he wanted to drive it home to the audience. He includes the people and make them a sense of being participants. He shows authority and confidence in his speeches which in turn, makes the world more comfortable with him leading us.