Analysis Of John F Kennedy's Speech To Put A Man On The Moon

Improved Essays
There are few men that challenge not only themselves, but the people around them to reach for the stars. Even fewer people actually reach them and not just figuratively. John F. Kennedy did exactly this in his speech to address America’s decision to put a man on the moon. The year was 1961 the cold war was in full effect and Russia was making headway in the race for the moon. The Russians had succeeded in putting the first man in space along with launching the first satellite into orbit. These actions proved to the world that they had the strength and technology to be a great nation. The world was watching the United States closely and saw that Russia was beginning to establish themselves as an international superpower
The United States needed
…show more content…
The way he honored the audience by expressing his gratitude for their attendance. This immediately establishes a connection with the audience, capturing their attention. He spoke slowly and clearly creating a sense of passion and trust. He utilized an appropriate rate of speech that resonated in the minds of his listeners. The way Kennedy utilized dramatic pauses allowed the audience to follow his train of thought and understand the importance of each main idea. The topic of space exploration is out of most individual’s intellectual grasp. Most Americans thought of traveling to the moon as no more than a child’s figment of their imagination. Kennedy made sure to excite the people and give them a sense of understanding into the future of our great nation. He explained that the moon is the new western frontier. This analogy sparked the imagination of any American. This idea made the impossible seem possible and helped the American public to back our nation in space exploration. I honestly believe that Kennedy was so popular because he knew what the American people wanted, he understood their fears, ambitions, and demands they had set upon him to lead them as …show more content…
He was one of the most loved and respected presidents with an average approval rating of 70.1 percent. He was a young president that was easy to look at and gave off the impression of being tough, but fair. These qualities were something the American public adored especially to the younger generations. His appeal made the American people view him as the ideal American with a celebrity like status. Not only was he visually appealing, Kennedy showed a sense of compassion for the American people and a motivation that inspired the people take pride in their country. He passed laws that showed his understanding of importance to stimulate jobs, decrease inflation and invest in our nation’s youth. His ability to relate to the needs of the American people was like no other president. The understanding that in order to improve our country to make it great we must invest in the very people that make our nation great. The speech “We Choose to go to the Moon” was a persuasive speech that utilized the residues organizational pattern. The introduction grasped the audience, explaining how urgent it was to develop our nation’s technology and establish our dominancy as a nation. Then by explaining that countries such as Russia are a threat to the American way of life establishes the need to advance to protect what America holds valuable. Kennedy explained how investing and developing in the technology to send a man to

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    In his inaugural address, John F. Kennedy addresses the American Public about the potential that the future of America can hold- if they strive to achieve it. Throughout his address, he refers a number of times to the belief that the people should be helping the government, not relying on the government to help them. Kennedy established his belief in this philosophy through the strong figurative language and rhetorical strategies he employed throughout his speech. Moreover. he assured the American People that as president, he believed in the importance of the common man by stating “ In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course.”…

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kennedy references his earlier speech, which was well-known among Americans. He had asked “each American to consider what he would do for his country” (108). The question elicited contemplation among the audience of what they would do, connecting Kennedy and his audience. However, when Kennedy asked the steel companies, “the last 24 hours” (109) had showed their detrimental response. The companies were dominating over the economy and destroying it.…

    • 745 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This comes at a time when the Cold War is raging between the U.S. and the Soviets. A new president has just been elected, and the Soviets are fighting satellite wars throughout Asia in an attempt to spread Communism. In addition to this, there is an arms race between the two. Thermonuclear destruction isn’t something most people find appealing, so Kennedy definitely appealed to the people by showing his plan of peace, rather than trying to escalate things further between the two countries. There were also issues of civil rights at home.…

    • 960 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    JFK, one of the most charismatic American presidents ever to hold office, had a handle on all three elements. Charisma is a trail often possessed by strong leaders who have “a way with people,” or those who are able to command a room. In Kennedy’s first inaugural address, he uses his charisma and presence to give a presentation that powerful and inclusive. He shows warmth when he appeals to the poor and disadvantaged: “If a free society cannot help the many that are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” Furthermore, because Kennedy had come form one of the wealthiest American families, his concern for the vulnerable is admirable.…

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    He explains that space exploration is “hazardous and hostile to us all”. Yet he the rhetorically askes the audience “why climb the highest mountain…fly the Atlantic?”. Kennedy then goes on in order to establish that the United States will land on the moon by giving one of his most famous quotes “we go to the moon in this decade…not because they are easy but because they are hard”. Although this action would go on to innovate human history he needed help from the US citizens. In order to do this, he must persuade his audience and that he does.…

    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Jfk Leadership

    • 989 Words
    • 4 Pages

    All of those steps that President John F. Kennedy took to improve the country brought so many benefits and positive changes to not only USA citizens, but citizens all over the world. Those things, among many more, make John F. Kennedy the best president of the United…

    • 989 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    John Jfk Thesis Statement

    • 1871 Words
    • 8 Pages

    President Kennedy was known for being very charming and confident. These two attributes highlight this category. He was able to inspire people because his charm and confidence came with results. The S category is for steadiness.…

    • 1871 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Soon after that launch president John F. Kennedy gave a speech in which he said something that rallied the imaginations of every American who heard it and caused every type of reaction. In the words of John F. Kennedy, "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth." He told America that if they were to reach the moon that they would have to work together. It was from that point on that the U.S. really started pulling forward in the Space Race. NASA realized that before they could send a man to the moon they would have to have a filler mission in which a group of three astronauts were sent into orbit in the same space craft.…

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    President Kennedy used ethos and pathos effectively in the speech, which made the speech one of the greatest speech in the history. A couple of months before the speech, The Soviet Union sent the first man to the space. At that time, Soviet Union was likely to have more advantages in space competition between…

    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kennedy first priority was America and that's what sets him aside from other presidents and he was likeable to the people and had a sense of mind for the people. John F. Kennedy was always urgent to make america the top by always striving for them to become first at everything they did. Like in the Space Race with the Soviet Union for ex amount of years he strived for America to be ahead. Or as referring back to all the things he did to make america great again like how he made a image for America that stood for justice and trustworthiness and etc. Solving the missile crisis built integrity and security for America bringing me back to the point of John F. Kennedy had goals for America and that some of them been executed before his death, by becoming president of the U.S he was able to express his ideas about putting the first man on the moon that was 7 years soon after his death ways to make America great and solving the missile…

    • 748 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1960s Dbq

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages

    All across the country, Kennedy’s words changed lives. Kennedy played a major role in revolutionizing American politics. Television began to have a real impact on voters and long, drawn-out election campaigns became normal. Dr. Christopher Campbell, a director of the Southern Miss school of Mass Communication and Journalism states, “I guess most people consider Kennedy the first T.V. president, and I agree.” Kennedy got a great mass of his votes…

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The greeks struggled with the same issue when you reflect back upon the execution of Julius. Robert Kennedy’s speech was more impactful and remembered from his use of rhetorical devices and diction. After hearing the speech, certain themes and words remain in your head which leave you thinking. Throughout his speech he referred to his own life , family and the use of prayer. Kennedy was portraying empathy with everyone who was affected.…

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    A journey to the moon during this time period was no easy task, but that’s a big part of the reason why he wanted to do it and prove to not only the people of the United States but to everyone around the world that America was capable of this journey. He articulates that, “To be sure, we are behind, and will be behind for some time in manned flight. But we do not intend to stay behind, and in this decade, we shall make up and move ahead.” (Kennedy, John). Kennedy thought if the United States was able to successfully land on the moon before the end of the decade, it would not only benefit the government, but it would also open many job opportunities and help stabilize the economy through finance and education.…

    • 1180 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    John F. Kennedy was president from 1961 to 1963, in the height of the Cold War. During his presidency, the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred, which was the closet that the United States and Soviet Union ever came to war. Less than a year after this event, in 1963 President Kennedy gave an impassioned commencement speech at American University. His speech was not filled with inflammatory rhetoric, like calling the Soviet Union an “evil empire” as Ronald Reagan famously would. His speech instead, called for peace, disarmament, and cooperation between the two countries.…

    • 1163 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The audience that Kennedy is addressing consist of scientist, professors, students and the general public. The audience in attendance cared about maintaining their freedom and security from the Soviet Union and the avoidance of a “Red Moon”, or the spreading of the Soviet Union. For the United States being the first nation to…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays