Rhetorical Analysis Of Jfk Speech

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John F Kennedy’s popularity as a president was undeniable. With an average public approval rating of 70.1 percent throughout his term as president, he was the most popular president in history after World War II. The majority of the public believed in him and trusted his word. Congress would have to take action on Kennedy’s words, or risk backlash from constituents when their seats were due for reelection. This approval rating made Kennedy’s speech more compelling as his credibility when delivering the speech drastically increased the chances that congress would take action on the goals specified in his speech.
Having been elected as The Presidential seat in the country, which holds a position of mass authority. One must be held accountable
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Throughout the speech, he idealizes the United States as an exemplary example of a free nation, and portrays the opposite towards Russia as a nation of tyranny. Near the beginning of his speech, Kennedy states “if we are to win the battle that is now going on around the world between freedom and tyranny”. This statement portrays Russia as a tyrannical and a corrupt nation of evil to the audience, while idealizing the United States as a free and just nation. Later in his speech, Kennedy states; “We go into space because whatever mankind must undertake, free men must fully share.” Again, this quote further portrays the United States as an exemplary free nation, stimulating the enthusiasm of the American audience and comradery around the patriotic nature of the country. In addition, Kennedy also identifies negative terms, such as “exploit” and “hostile flag of conquest” to describe Russia and its actions, further damaging the character of the projected enemy in this speech. By painting Russia as a threat to the paramount example of a free nation known as the United States, Kennedy appeals to the patriotic, freedom loving character of his American audience, drastically increasing public support in the detailed goals to land a man on the moon in his

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