Rhetorical Analysis Of Jfk Speech
On January 20, 1961, the world turned on their television to see how the newly elected American President, J. F. Kennedy, would address the issues of proliferating weapons and the propagating “iron tyranny” (7). Kennedy delivers a speech that aims to ameliorate their many fears and also establish himself as a capable president –one that would take a strong stance for democracy in a war against communism. By employing well-crafted syntax, specific diction, and explicit tone, Kennedy is able to eloquently present his purpose and unify his audience under a shared sense of purpose.
The first obstacle that Kennedy tackles is the apparent distrust from the American people. Kennedy was an atypical president at the time because he was Catholic …show more content…
As one of the superpowers during the Cold War, America needed a leader that would adopt a strong foreign policy that would focus in defending democracy. Kennedy embodies this need when he proclaims that he would “pay any price…in order to assure the survival and success of liberty” (4). His specific focus combating “those nations who would make themselves our adversary” further aids in establishing his presidential ethos (11). Kennedy is clearly very confident on America’s ability to help “those old allies…those new states…those peoples in the huts and villages…and those sister republics south of [America’s] border” (6, 7, 8, 9). This confidence is shown especially when he continuously denounces communism in an explicit manner. With the metaphor, “those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger and ended up inside”, Kennedy clearly states that all dictatorships are forever doomed to fail (7). He also refers to communist nations and “hostile powers” that practice “aggression” and “subversion” (9). This outright disdain is one that pleases the American public because they are reassured that the president will protect them. The anger that is continuously used when referring to communist countries creates a hostile and imposing tone. Kennedy is apt in using less commanding tones such as “let ever other power know” instead of
The first obstacle that Kennedy tackles is the apparent distrust from the American people. Kennedy was an atypical president at the time because he was Catholic …show more content…
As one of the superpowers during the Cold War, America needed a leader that would adopt a strong foreign policy that would focus in defending democracy. Kennedy embodies this need when he proclaims that he would “pay any price…in order to assure the survival and success of liberty” (4). His specific focus combating “those nations who would make themselves our adversary” further aids in establishing his presidential ethos (11). Kennedy is clearly very confident on America’s ability to help “those old allies…those new states…those peoples in the huts and villages…and those sister republics south of [America’s] border” (6, 7, 8, 9). This confidence is shown especially when he continuously denounces communism in an explicit manner. With the metaphor, “those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger and ended up inside”, Kennedy clearly states that all dictatorships are forever doomed to fail (7). He also refers to communist nations and “hostile powers” that practice “aggression” and “subversion” (9). This outright disdain is one that pleases the American public because they are reassured that the president will protect them. The anger that is continuously used when referring to communist countries creates a hostile and imposing tone. Kennedy is apt in using less commanding tones such as “let ever other power know” instead of