Background and Summary
Ronald Reagan did not begin his spotlight of fame as a politician, but rather a Hollywood actor. He started his political career off as a conservative California governor, but he aspired to achieve greater heights as he ran multiple times for the Republican nomination of president. He won such nomination in 1980, and ultimately the presidency. The speech is his inaugural address to the country before claiming the position. Additionally, he was the face of the conservative movement, and the speech reflects this as shown by the ideals pushed throughout. These ideals included the call to action of millions of Americans to change the governmental structure to a more libertarian approach, therefore asking the populus to deal …show more content…
Although it is very easy to accomplish the use of logos while talking about economics by the use of statistics, he instead accomplished it through an organizational pattern. He had multiple questions to the audience that he proceeded to either answer or stand as a segue to a new topic. For example, he begins to talk about the inability for individuals to spend more than they have, and he follows this with the rhetorical question of “why then should we think collectively, we are not bound to the same limitation”. He relates the complex government idea of debt and spending over tax revenue to a personal level that every individual can understand. The order and organization or in other words the logical appeal allows this point to get the point across to the maximum number of individuals. Reagan also uses emotional appeal or pathos to enhance his speech. This can be seen best in his conclusion as he describes the cost of the freedoms of Americans. He describes Arlington National Cemetery as row after row of “crosses or Stars of Davids”. The imagery evoked by this one line causes sadness in those hearing or reading the speech as they realize the thousands upon thousands of American heroes have given their lives for the freedoms of others. However, it is more than that as it also induces an inherent amount of patriotism as it glorifies these dead soldiers and the freedoms guaranteed in the United States. Lastly, he uses uses ethos or ethical appear throughout his speech. He did this when he paraphrased Winston Churchill and the quote of a soldier Martin Treptow. Churchill is highly acclaimed as a world leader and the soldier immediately has the respect of Americans for his service. Therefore, the use of their words by Reagan establishes his credibility due to their respective
Ronald Reagan did not begin his spotlight of fame as a politician, but rather a Hollywood actor. He started his political career off as a conservative California governor, but he aspired to achieve greater heights as he ran multiple times for the Republican nomination of president. He won such nomination in 1980, and ultimately the presidency. The speech is his inaugural address to the country before claiming the position. Additionally, he was the face of the conservative movement, and the speech reflects this as shown by the ideals pushed throughout. These ideals included the call to action of millions of Americans to change the governmental structure to a more libertarian approach, therefore asking the populus to deal …show more content…
Although it is very easy to accomplish the use of logos while talking about economics by the use of statistics, he instead accomplished it through an organizational pattern. He had multiple questions to the audience that he proceeded to either answer or stand as a segue to a new topic. For example, he begins to talk about the inability for individuals to spend more than they have, and he follows this with the rhetorical question of “why then should we think collectively, we are not bound to the same limitation”. He relates the complex government idea of debt and spending over tax revenue to a personal level that every individual can understand. The order and organization or in other words the logical appeal allows this point to get the point across to the maximum number of individuals. Reagan also uses emotional appeal or pathos to enhance his speech. This can be seen best in his conclusion as he describes the cost of the freedoms of Americans. He describes Arlington National Cemetery as row after row of “crosses or Stars of Davids”. The imagery evoked by this one line causes sadness in those hearing or reading the speech as they realize the thousands upon thousands of American heroes have given their lives for the freedoms of others. However, it is more than that as it also induces an inherent amount of patriotism as it glorifies these dead soldiers and the freedoms guaranteed in the United States. Lastly, he uses uses ethos or ethical appear throughout his speech. He did this when he paraphrased Winston Churchill and the quote of a soldier Martin Treptow. Churchill is highly acclaimed as a world leader and the soldier immediately has the respect of Americans for his service. Therefore, the use of their words by Reagan establishes his credibility due to their respective