Preview

Aristotelian Criticism of Jimmy Carter's Speech for Gerald Ford's Eulogy

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
962 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Aristotelian Criticism of Jimmy Carter's Speech for Gerald Ford's Eulogy
1976 was the first time in the United States history where presidential candidates would debate head to head, sharing the stage and increasing competition. Gerald Ford was expected to come ahead, but his opponent Jimmy Carter was perceived as confident and a fierce contender. Many argue that Gerald Ford’s downfall was due to the pardon of President Nixon, while others thought he faltered during the live broadcasted debate in San Francisco, with his response to his “international policy leadership.” (CNN Time) Nevertheless, come election day, Jimmy Carter was the new Commander in Chief. Although their rivalry was aggressive, the two stayed friends and worked closely on many national matters, such as “the Panama Canal treaties, nuclear armaments control with the Soviet Union and the Camp David accords.” (Carter) President Carter spoke at Ford’s funeral and Carter’s speech is a great example of how a speaker can convey condolence and affection for a worth adversary and friend. A Neo-Aristotelian Criticism, created in 1925, by Hervert A. Wichlen is an analysis that condones the use of the five cannons; invention, organization, style, memory and delivery. To begin with invention, one must describe the external proofs, meaning the context of the speech and background of the speaker and occasion and internal proofs, the affected audience and specific appeals used. Ethos appeal to ethics and morals, pathos, targeting emotions and logos, to engaging facts and logistics. The second foundation is organization, or the structure and arrangement of said artifact. This is looking at why and what manner the rhetor organized context. The third cannon is style, meaning the stylistic device the speaker chose to weave into his speech, such as alliteration, metaphors or allegories or just the style of language the rhetor uses. Next is memory. Has the rhetor memorized some, part or all of his speech? The final cannon is delivery, the actual presentation of the artifact. Examples are


Bibliography: Foss, Sonja K. Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration & Practice. 4th ed. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland, 1989. Print. Carter, Jimmy. "Carter Center Editorials and Speeches - Jimmy Carter Eulogy for Gerald R. Ford." Carter Center Editorials and Speeches - Jimmy Carter Eulogy for Gerald R. Ford. The Carter Center, 3 Jan. 2007. Web. 09 Sept. 2012. . "1976 Presidential Debates." AllPolitics. Ed. Unknown. CNN.com, 1996. Web. 09 Sept. 2012. . Goodrigde, Elisabeth. "Gerald Ford v. Jimmy Carter: "There Is No Soviet Domination of Eastern Europe"" U.S. News and World Report. U.S. News and World Report, 17 Jan. 2008. Web. 9 Sept. 2012. .

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    From the start, Ford establishes a connection with his audience by addressing them as “my dear friends, my fellow Americans.” With this level of intimacy, he appeals to his audience by initiating a bond of friendship rather than a formal relationship between a leader and subjects. For instance, Ford creates a connection by saying, “I feel it is my first duty to make an unprecedented compact with my countrymen. Not an inaugural address, not a fireside chat, not a campaign speech -- just a little straight talk among friends.” He wishes the audience will accept his speech as words from a man…

    • 645 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This address is one of many cases emphasizing how well Reagan spoke to the American public on a personal level and efficiently reinstalling our countries confidence quickly after a tragedy. Reagan’s successful use of argumentative appeals and prose to communicate on a personal level with his audience deservingly skyrocketed his popularity as a great leader, and a great communicator. A nickname is given when a personal relationship is established to express blockers of properness have been dissolved by personal reciprocal emotion; this has been accomplished by the “Great Communicator” and our great…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout this article I will be analyzing the rhetor Eric Thomas and his speech, How Bad Do You Want It through the Neo-Aristotelian Criticism. The Neo-Aristotelian Criticism style is a style that focuses on analyzing the style and manner of the speeches ability to deliver an idea to its intended audience. This criticism style focuses mainly on the rhetor, otherwise the speaker, and analyzes the entire speech in the qualities of; the emotional and physical qualities of the speaker, the audience, the major ideas, the reasoning for the speech, the credibility of the speaker, the organization of information presented, the quality of the presentation of information, the delivery, and the overall effect it had on the audience.…

    • 676 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    When Reagan gave this tribute, a nation was in mourning. America had just lost seven brilliant people in a tragic accident. Even though everyone was sullen over the deaths, Reagan saw what was at stake. The talk of the…

    • 659 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Burro Genius

    • 13815 Words
    • 56 Pages

    By Victor Villasenor ~Teacher’s Edition~ Module Written by Abby Flachmann | |Reading Rhetorically | | |Prereading |…

    • 13815 Words
    • 56 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis on Ronald Reagan’s “Challenger” Speech While in the Oval Office of the White house, on January 28, 1986, President Ronald Reagan delivered his speech about The Challenger Disaster. The speech was made just hours after space shuttle “Challenger” exploded during take-off, killing all seven crew members on board. Thousands witnessed this horrifying event live in person and on television. A big factor about this launch, making the explosion an even worse disaster was the fact that this mission was very unique. For the first time, NASA allowed a civilian to be allowed in space during a mission. She was aboard The Challenger as an observer in the NASA Teacher in Space Program. Ironically, nineteen years before this disaster, three astronauts were tragically lost in an accident on the ground. President Reagan remembers those astronauts that were lost not only the day of the disaster, but also those who were lost nineteen years before. He conducts this speech not only to mourn the death of The Challenger astronauts, but for the families and those who were impacted from this event. He especially calls out to the schoolchildren of America who were watching this event live as the shuttle took off. As the President of the United States, Reagan earned the nickname "The Great Communicator" due to his ability to convey his beliefs concerning economic and domestic policies to the public. This speech is just one example of how well Reagan spoke to the American public on a personal level and profoundly influenced the nations confidence in itself after this tragic event.…

    • 1276 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    President Gerald Ford’s Pardon of Richard Nixon Former President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford gave a speech pardoning his predecessor, former President Richard Nixon, of all offenses against the United States that he may have committed during his presidency. The announcement was made live on September 8, 1974. The speech was written to persuade the country to agree with the pardoning of Nixon and forgive him for the crimes he had committed against his country. Ford states that “Theirs (Nixon’s Family) is an American tragedy in which we all have played a part. It could go on and on and on, or someone must write the end to it. I have concluded that only I can do that, and if I can, I must.” President Ford argued that the pardoning of Richard Nixon isn’t only for Nixon and his family’s fate but for the country’s well-being. Throughout Ford’s speech he makes evident the use of Logos, Ethos and Pathos appeals. He uses the appeals evenly, convincing his audience while still being well-supported and reasonable.…

    • 1792 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Melanson, Richard A. 1996. American Foreign Policy Since The Vietnam War: The Search for Consensus from Nixon to Clinton. New York: M.E. Sharp, Inc.…

    • 3315 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rozell, Mark J., and William D. Pederson, eds. FDR and the modern presidency leadership and legacy. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 1997. Print.…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Carter used similar arguments to Reagan against Ford, emphasising people’s concerns over the ‘Helsinki betrayal’ handing Eastern Europe over to the Soviet Union. Any voters who might have voted…

    • 1042 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Kelly, Frank. MacArthur: Man of Action. Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Co., Inc., 1951. Perelman, Chaim and L. Olbrechts-Tyteca, tr John Wilkinson and Purcell Weaver. The New Rhetoric: A Treatise On argumentation. Notre Dame, IN : University of Notre Dame Press, 1969.…

    • 2130 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Reagan, R. (2007). Chapters: 1- 8. In D. Brinkley (Ed.), The Reagan Diaries (pp. 1-767). New York: Harper Collins Publishers.…

    • 1085 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    There were many problems in which Carter had been blamed for, especially the Iran hostage crisis which proved to be very humiliating. He failed to deal with any of these situations. Either as hesitant or ineffective is how many Americans viewed Carter. He also had attacked Reagan as a dangerous radical after he defeated Tom Kennedy for the nomination. For his part Reagan, the charismatic ex-Governor of California, repeatedly made fun of Carter 's powerlessness , and won a landside victory that carried the United States Senate for the first time in 28 years. Reagan 's victory marked the beginning of the "Reagan Revolution."…

    • 1537 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Samara Moore English 102-12 February 10, 2015 Rhetorical analysis Mike Luckovich (2012, March 15) The Atlanta Journal-Constitution…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Summary

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In your annotation of the article, what are a few of the predominant pieces of rhetoric that the author chooses to use to achieve his/her purpose? Also, add your…

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays