One of the greatest examples of using rhetorical strategies is indeed John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address of 1961. John F. Kennedy uses diction, syntax, and persuasion in his inaugural address. At a critical moment of American history, John F Kennedy was elected as the thirty-fifth president of the United States. Kennedy was elected at a time of great turmoil in not only the United States, but also the world. With communism spreading throughout the world's nations and dangerous weapons being manufactured by the world's great powers, the citizens of the United States were looking for a leader. As the country's youngest president ever elected to date, Kennedy needed to establish his credibility as a leader, and prove to the world that his term would be one of change and hope. A president's inaugural address is a speech that provides a first impression to the public. In his first address, Kennedy employs the rhetorical strategy through provision a well-organized speech that uses emotional language to establish his ethos to an anxious and restless audience.
Trustworthiness can be argued as one of the most admirable qualities that a president can possess. If a nation cannot trust their leader, then that nation cannot live in comfort. Throughout the course of his speech, President Kennedy uses several persuasive appeals to inspire and gain the trust of his audience. Kennedy effectively pathos through the use of emotional language to make his audience feel included in his goals as President. Kennedy makes the task of bringing peace and prosperity to the world as not only his own personal objective, but also one of the American people. With famous lines such as, "Ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for country," the audience feels personally responsible for making the world a better place in which to live. Aside from instilling a feeling of responsibility in his audience, the most notable aspect of Kennedy's address is his ability to use language ethically for the purpose of stirring a sense of pride in the American people. In this case he relies on ethos as a rhetorical strategy to give reasons for his presidential goals. Despite his young age, Kennedy is still expected to perform on the same level as past presidents. Aware of this expectation, Kennedy assures his audience in the first paragraph of his speech that, " [he] has sworn before [the audience] and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago." He wants his audience to know that he has gone through the same process as all past presidents, and plans to hold the same American values upon which the nation was founded. Kennedy then moves on to propose several pledges to American citizens, friends of the state, and enemies of the state. The overall oath is one that assures the above groups of people that the United States will do whatever necessary to, "assure the survival and the success of liberty." This vow establishes Kennedy's credibility as a promoter of democracy and freedom. The speech promises to America's allies that it will continue to maintain a productive and meaningful relationship. To the citizens of third world countries it promises salvation. Kennedy's address dedicates a paragraph to every group of nations in the world, even America's enemies. By appealing to the adversaries of the country, Kennedy institutes credibility as a President who no longer wishes to fight with his enemies, but rather work with them towards a better world. The persuasive appeals used throughout Kennedy's inaugural address are made more successful by the well-organized nature of the speech.
During his address the President constantly uses images of freedom and liberty as he reminds his listeners that they are, "The heirs of that first revolution." It can be deduced that Kennedy has employed logos to offer logical reason for the American people to believe in his leadership. This language prompts the audience to think of the United States as a strong, father-like nation that is responsible for the goodwill of all the nations of the world. Organization is responsible in any speech for controlling the order of which information and appeals are introduced to the audience. In the case of Kennedy's address, the organization of his points and appeals adds to the efficiency of his words. As mentioned above, his address begins strongly with an appeal to ethos. Having established some form of trustworthiness, Kennedy then seeks to set a context of the age in which his listeners live by explaining that, "The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty." Having set an urgent and grave tone to his speech, Kennedy then proceeds to give his series of pledges to the various types of listeners tuning into his address. The newly elected President ends his speech by preaching to the American people that his goals appeal to something larger than the individual. By ending with a broader appeal to a higher power, Kennedy finishes his speech with his audience ready to work together to accomplish his objectives. The reason that this logical appeal works within the confines of the speech is because the audience accepts such a demand for freedom.
At the time of President Kennedy's inaugural address, the American people and the people of the world lived in tension. Increases in weapons technology and the escalation of the Cold War left parents watching as their children performed air raid drills in school. In an anxious world, Americans looked for peace. Knowing the mood of his audience, Kennedy cleverly formulated his speech in a way that would give him support. However, Kennedy also was aware that the members of his audience were citizens of a largely Christian nation. Therefore, the numerous references made to God have a large appeal to the audience. Most effective is the final line of the speech, which states that, "God's work must truly be our own." By comparing his ambitions to that of God's, Kennedy gains the support of millions of citizens.
John F. Kennedy's inaugural address is a powerful speech that delivers a strong message to its listeners. The consistent use of emotional language throughout the speech inspires in the audience a feeling of pride and responsibility that makes the address all the more effective. The organization of the speech increases its ability to relate to the audience. Starting off on a personal note and ending with a wide appeal to the whole nation, the address both establishes credibility and motivates the spectators.
Diction plays a very strong part in this speech. President Kennedy uses words like: life freedom, poverty, devotion, loyalty, and sacrifice to draw people in. For example, these are all words that can relate to everyone.
In conclusion this essay was both powerful and eloquent. Its use of expressive and figurative language makes it a memorable speech. JFK uses his speech to communicate his commitment to the American public as well as the expected changes.
Work Cited:
Witte Stephen and Nakadate Neil. A Rhetoric of Doing: Essays on Written Discourse in Honor
of James L. Kinneavy. New York: SIU Press, 1992
Hoffman Mary and Ford Debra. Organizational Rhetoric: Situations and Strategies. New York:
SAGE, 2009
