Rhetorical Techniques Used In John F. Kennedy's Speech

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In 1961, John F. Kennedy took the podium after being sworn in as the 35th president of the United States. People gathered around, despite the bitter cold, in hopes of hearing reassurance from their new national leader. At this time in history America was struggling with social inequalities, racial tensions, and a fight against communism. With the current issues in mind, Kennedy sought to invoke a sense of unity across the nation. Through the use of rhetorical devices such as strong dictation, emotional appeals, powerful language, and brevity, Kennedy was able to deliver and immensely effective speech that inspired and emboldened his audience. One of the most notable devices used in Kennedy’s speech was simply the way it sounded. He focused …show more content…
Not only did he appeal to the hearts and the emotions of his audience, he also appealed to their minds. Kennedy used wording that appealed to the needs of the nation. He was portrayed as a very strong, equal, and just leader who would stop at nothing to achieve peace. This promise of fairness and peace resonated with members of both political parties in light of the fact that the country was fighting a war against communism. This support from both sides only furthered Kennedy’s point of national unity. These promises of peace and freedom appealed greatly to the emotions and logic of many americans who were looking for …show more content…
Kennedy’s inaugural address was very effective. He used a brief speech with strong wording, understandable language, and a very powerful delivery to enthrall an entire nation. His inspiring messages about peace and progress towards a better nation appealed not only to the hearts but the minds of many Americans who were searching for reassurance from their new leader. His careful choices in wording made him appear as one of the people and allowed for him to connect with his audience on a personal level. his emphasis on unity was an appeal to an entire nation struggling with racial and social inequalities. His inspiring speech contained a level of emotion, personal dedication, and conviction that could be felt by all of his listeners. All of these rhetorical devices were combined in one carefully crafted piece to create an immensely effective persuasive speech that captivated an entire

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