Monday, January 13, 2020
Political Rhetoric Essay
John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama both make successful attempts at addressing the thoughts, concerns, and fears of the American people in their speeches made on the Democratic platform. John F. Kennedy addresses the nation in his 1960 â€Å"Inaugural Address,†while Obama addresses Bostonians at Democratic Convention in a speech entitled â€Å"The Audacity of Hope.†Both speakers demonstrate the skilful use of the rhetorical devices ethos, logos, and pathos for the purpose of garnering support for policies and ideas thought to be important in shaping the future of the country. The appeals made by these speakers demonstrate an ability to grab the interest of the audience and engage their attention through continued appeals to their conscience as humans and Americans (Callaway). Both Obama and Kennedy succeed in employing these ethical, logical, and pathetic modes of discourse in a tone that seeks to motivate and inspire their audiences to support them in their endeavors. As a young Catholic, John F. Kennedy’s road to the white house was filled with difficulties. He lost the ballot for the Democratic candidacy in 1956, and was forced to wait four more years before he could gain the chance to run for the American Presidency. His victory over Richard Nixon in November of 1960 was very hard won, with many persons apprehensive of his campaign strategy involving making the United States a new frontier. As the country had entered an economic slump and faced the threat of communism, his job was difficult on both domestic and foreign frontiers. Yet, his policies were dynamic, and he audibly heralded the dawn of a new generation (The White House).  John F. Kennedy gave his inaugural speech on January 20, 1961 as the 35th president of the United States and the youngest one to date (Carter 36). This inaugural speech is an exemplary one in the discipline of rhetoric for it skillfully engages its audience with tone at the beginning of the speech, as he downplays the Democratic victory and calls attention to the tradition of liberty that has been the heritage of the American people (Meyer 239). He speaks not of â€Å"victory of a party but a celebration of freedomâ€â€symbolizing an end as well as a beginningâ€â€signifying a renewal as well as change†(Kennedy). Using well chosen diction, he declares unselfishly an eagerness to protect the hard-won freedom and a determination to act morally on the national and international scene. He makes the claim that â€Å"civility is not a sign of weakness,†thereby underscoring the importance of ethical conduct and principled behavior (Kennedy). Kennedy’s assertion of the unity of his country is one that, according to his discourse, aims to extend to the entirety of the Americas. He clarifies the context of this civility by highlighting the courage that should attend all diplomatic endeavors. This was the period of the Bay of Pigs in which Russia’s apparent aim was to establish a presence in Cuba. Kennedy declares, â€Å"Let every other power know that this hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house†(Kennedy). This represents an ethical claim which finds it just and right for the stronger nations in the region to stand guard on behalf of the weaker ones. Kennedy makes this statement in order to show that the United States does and should consider it its duty to safeguard the interests of the countries of Earth’s Western Hemisphere.            John F. Kennedy also appeals to the logical sense of the entire nation in a number of ways throughout his speech (Meyer 239). For example, he refers to the diplomacy he intends to undertake with other nations and announces that logic and discussion will attend such diplomatic meetings for the discussion of arms and hostile military activity. He displays the logic of his belief in his statement that nations in conflict do well to â€Å"formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms†(Kennedy). The systematic method in which these proposed ideas are to be dealt with underscores the logical construction of the manner in which such negotiations are to proceed.            The speech by Kennedy also reflects a significant appeal to the sentiments of the nation (Meyer 139). The pathetic sympathies of his audience are aroused in his appeal to the traditions of liberty upon which the nation has been built. This patriotism elicits the pride and nationalism of the audience in the hope of identifying and exploiting the connection between the militarist actions of the past and his proposal for diplomatic action in the future. He appeals for their support in his famous lines, â€Å"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. Ask not what America will do for you but what together we can do for the freedom of man†(Kennedy). He makes this appeal, and in doing so requests the assistance of Americans’ sense of duty, which should be â€Å"unwilling to witness or permit†any form of encroachment upon the freedom hard won by those forefathers who died on the battlefields (Kennedy). Here he indicates that the Soviet efforts to establish threatening communist connections with Cuba would not be tolerated by the United States.            Kennedy also appeals to the trepidation felt by many Americans because of the stand-off developing between the United States and the Soviet Union. He refers to the state of atomic warfare in the world and speaks to the widespread fear that seemed to permeate the nation since the atomic bomb became a threat. He demonstrates his understanding of people’s concern with what he terms â€Å"the steady spread of the deadly atom†(Kennedy). He makes this appeal to the fear they feel in order to win their support for the military budget he subsequently proposes. Kennedy evokes the deep sense of endurance of the people in a â€Å"call to bear the burden of a long, twilight struggle, year in and year out†(Kennedy). This reflects the depth of the seriousness which he attributes to the threat of atomic aggression by hostile Communist states. Furthermore, the fact that this idea is given immediately following the allusion to â€Å"the graves of young Americans who answered the call to service around the globe†points to the gravity of the situation that faces the United States. Kennedy, therefore, stirs the feelings of his audience in order to garner their acceptance of the idea that the costly upkeep of the military – most likely leading to a greater tax burden – is of great necessity to the preservation of American life, liberty, and dignity. It will be seen that the effectiveness of Barack Obama’s speech utilizes techniques that are similar to those used by Kennedy. Barack Obama’s keynote speech to the National Democratic Convention was given on July 29, 2004 before he became a Senator (African-American 16). His goal in giving this speech is to promote the idea of living the American dream under the democratic candidate John Kerry. It is an example of a speech written to appeal to readers on several levels of the rhetorical scale. At this point in Obama’s life, he is a member of the Illinois state legislature and has recently announced his candidacy for the United States Senate. As a legislator, he has had exposure to the responsibility of making ethical decisions that result in the better regulation of the liberties promised in the constitution (Mack 99). He has also done work in very poor neighborhoods, and knows firsthand the problems faced by the people in those areas. The moral credibility of this speech is embodied in this central purpose: to promote and support â€Å"life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness†(Obama). He cites these qualities as being attributable to a â€Å"faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles; that we can tuck in our children at night and know that they are fed and clothed and safe from harm; that we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door†(Obama). The knowledge Obama has gained from his diverse experience qualifies him to speak on the behalf of a candidate whose aims are drafted along the lines of enacting legislation that will improve people’s social condition. Obama also uses ethical reasoning in his charge to the American leaders to engage the governments of other nations in talks that will unite countries under the banner of their common problems rather than divide them based on conflict. He charges such leaders to encourage them to explore the areas of science that give wonder and hope, rather than those areas that terrify and promise harm. In this way, Obama appeals to the deep sense of moral character and integrity possessed by his hearers, and which he knows they hope for the person he introduces – John Kerry – to bring to his agenda as a democratic candidate for the presidency. Obama also utilizes the rhetorical device of pathos in his Democratic Convention speech. From the very beginning of his speech, his words appeal to the sentiments of his audience as he reminisces on the ancestral lines that brought him to where he now stands. He highlights how unlikely it is for him to have achieved the privilege of being in his current position, because of the lowliness of his father’s birth (Mack 101). His humility is evident in his use of the phrase â€Å"Thank you†eight times in the first two lines. He mentions the goat-herding vocation of his father, and yet contrasts this with the strength of the dreams his grandfather had for his goat-herding son. Obama appeals further to the audience’s sentiment by underlining the level of hard work to which his maternal grandfather committed himself, emphasizing his eagerness to enlist in the American military on the day that Pearl Harbor was bombed. He also does this in his reference to the variety of people who seek a land in which they call home. He says, â€Å"It’s the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs; the hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores; the hope of a young naval lieutenant bravely patrolling the Mekong Delta; the hope of a mill-worker’s son who dares to defy the odds; the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him, too†(Obama). In this way, he appeals to the patriotic nature of the audience and to highlight the right he and the diverse population have to claim this nation as their own. Barack Obama also makes a joint appeal both to the logos and pathos of the audience in his allusion to the job and health care situations in America. He says, â€Å"It is that fundamental belief: I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sister’s keeper that makes this country work,†and this represents his rousing of the conscience of the people toward a more communal type of social policy he advocates (Obama). He also demonstrates reasoning and in his treatment of specific problems, evoking a sense that justice fails where people who have worked diligently all their lives are now required to compete with teenagers for low-paying jobs. This form of appeal also comes to the fore where he mentions the hardworking father who is at a loss to figure out how he can pay a $4500 weekly bill for his sick son when he cannot afford insurance (Obama). The dismal circumstances evoke the sympathy of his hearers. He also combines logos and pathos in his mention of the health care situation. From a logical point of view, humanitarian considerations support the idea of universal health care and hard work should logically be rewarded with proper medical treatment when necessary. The tone of Obama’s address is one of patriotism and urgency. He speaks of the drive and heart of the American people underscores his point that the leader he endorses believes strongly in the ideas he has put forth. He says, â€Å"Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us  the spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of ‘anything goes.’ Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America  there is the United States of America†(Obama). His tone is also inspirational and motivational, and he highlights the ways in which the passion and ambition of the American people has the ability not just to make them succeed in the things to which they put their hands and minds, but also to unite them as one nation. Yet he also highlights the areas that need change, and encourages all the audience that together such goals can be achieved if the American initiative and ingenuity is employed. He exhorts his audience with his words and provocative tone to move forward by selecting the right candidate.            The speeches of John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama use rhetoric as a means of constructing logical and ethical arguments that appeal also to the sentiments of their audience. Both speakers show themselves to be exceptional orators and to possess skill in rousing the spirits of the nation in support of their political campaigns. They also show themselves to be united in their efforts to earn the backing of the American people for future domestic and foreign policies. Obama appeals to the deepest and most immediate concerns of the people, and by insisting on his interest in social welfare programs, shows himself worthy of their trust and sympathies. Kennedy’s inaugural speech highlights the endeavor of a newly elected Democratic president to air the qualities of an unproven leader as being propitious for the direction the country seeks to take. Kennedy makes himself one with the people by referring to the areas in which they share ethical beliefs and logical connections. Both speakers allude to recent and older historical periods in which wars were fought and Americans died. In so doing, the speakers are able to garner support for the policies that will preserve freedom and prosperity for many gave their lives. Works Cited â€Å"An African-American Law School Professor Aims to Become the Fifth Black U.S.      Senator.†The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. Vol. 43 (Spring, 2004) pp 16 – 17.         JSTOR. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=10773711%28200421%290%3A43%3C16            %3AAALSPA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-R. Callaway, Michael. â€Å"Logos, Ethos, and Pathos.†Arizona State University. 26 January 2008            http://www.public.asu.edu/~macalla/logosethospathos.html. Carter, Burnham Jr. â€Å"President Kennedy’s Inaugural Address.†College Composition and            Communication. Vol. 14 No. 1 (February, 1963) pp 36 – 40. JSTOR. 1 February 2008            http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0010096X%28196302%2914%3A1%3C36%3APKIA%3            E2.0.CO%3B2-Q Kennedy, John Fitzgerald. â€Å"Inaugural Address.†20 January 1061. American Rhetoric: Online  Speech Bank. 26 January 2008 http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/ jfkinaugural.htm. Mack, Kenneth W. â€Å"Barack Obama before He Was a Rising Political Star†The Journal of        Blacks in Higher Education. No. 45, pp 99 – 104 (Autumn, 2004). JSTOR. 1 February       2008 http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=1077-3711%28200423%290%3A45%3C98% 3ABOBHWA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-N. Meyer, Sam. â€Å"The John F. Kennedy Inauguration Speech: Function and Importance of Its         ‘Address System’.†Rhetoric Society Quarterly Vol. 12 No. 4 (Autumn, 1982), pp. 239-    250. JSTOR. 1 February 2008 http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0277-3945%28198223 %2912%3A4%3C239%3ATJFKIS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-M . Obama, Barack. â€Å"The Audacity of Hope.†27 July 2004. American Rhetoric: Online Speech     Bank. 26 January 2008 http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/convention2004/ barackobama2004dnc.htm. White House, The. â€Å"John Kennedy.†Past Presidents. Washington. Retrieved on February 18,  2008 from http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jk35.html Annotated Bibliography â€Å"An African-American Law School Professor Aims to Become the Fifth Black U.S. Senator.†            The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. Vol. 43 (Spring, 2004) pp 16 – 17.                                  JSTOR. . This article from The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education appeared in the Spring 2004 edition. It is an un-authored article that talks about Barack Obama’s rise through the political ranks all the way up to running for Senator. This article will help provide background information related to Obama’s early years in the State Legislature and later on in the Senate. Blakesley, David, and Jeffrey Hoogeveen. The Brief Thompson Handbook. Ohio: Thomson                Wadsworth, 2008. This book is a handbook used for reference in all forms of writing. It has unique sections such as MLA documentation and how to research writing critically. It served a dual purpose in my paper as it was able to help me define several key terms as well as cite all appropriate sources properly. Callaway, Michael. â€Å"Logos, Ethos, and Pathos.†Arizona State University. 26 January 2008                 . This site presents a helpful chart on the ethos, pathos, and logos, which clearly differentiates each of the three styles of presenting an argument. It also presents clear definition as well as some examples from known articles written by recognized celebrities. It also gave insight into how to prepare a well-developed essay on rhetoric. Carter, Burnham Jr. â€Å"President Kennedy’s Inaugural Address.†College Composition and                                Communication. Vol. 14 No. 1 (February, 1963) pp 36 – 40. JSTOR. 1 February                                   2008 http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0010096X%28196302%2914%3A1%3            C36%3APKIA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Q This five page article by Burnham Carter Jr. was written two years after President John F. Kennedy gave his Inaugural Address. It praises Kennedy’s words and goes on to explore why it was such a great speech. This article is very well organized and uses outsides sources to get its point across. The ideas in this article will provide a basis upon which to build further arguments concerning the effectiveness of John F. Kennedy’s speech. Clarke, Thurston. â€Å"The Inauguration of John F. Kennedy and the Speech That Changed                        America.†The San Francisco Chronicle. 24 October, 2004. 26 January 2008                           . This article from the San Francisco Chronicle by Thurston Clarke recounts one of the most famous speeches ever given: The Inauguration of JFK. There was a myth that the speech could have been written by JFK’s assistant, Ted Sorensen. However, in the article Thurston disproves the rumor and demonstrates how JFK was the true author of his own remarkable words. The work helps give insight into the strategic mind of John F. Kennedy, and will apply to the logical aspects of the analytic paper.. Kennedy, John Fitzgerald. â€Å"Inaugural Address.†20 January 1061. American Rhetoric: Online             Speech Bank. 26 January 2008 . John F Kennedy’s Inaugural Address can be found in the Online Speech Bank of the American Rhetoric website. On this specific page it has the audio, video, and text of the speech that I will be analyzing. The speech will be examined on the following areas of rhetoric: pathos, logos and ethos, and will provide the primary material to be assessed. Mack, Kenneth W. â€Å"Barack Obama before He Was a Rising Political Star†The Journal of                   Blacks in Higher Education. No. 45, pp 99 – 104 (Autumn, 2004). JSTOR. 1                              February 2008 . Kenneth W. Mack wrote this four page article for The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education in the Fall of 2004. In the article, Mack addresses his relationship with Barack Obama on both a political and personal scale. He recounts anecdotes of himself and Obama along with other important political figures to shed light on hwo deserving Obama is of his acclaim. He also analyzes the Keynote Address that Obama gave at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. This article will provide deeper insight into the Obama’s character, and will inform the main ideas presented in the analysis of his speech. Meyer, Sam. â€Å"The John F. Kennedy Inauguration Speech: Function and Importance of Its                     ‘Address System’.†Rhetoric Society Quarterly Vol. 12 No. 4 (Autumn, 1982),                          pp. 239-250. JSTOR. 1 February 2008 . This twelve page article is an in-depth analysis on John F Kennedy’s Inaugural Speech. It explores all aspects of the speech with topics ranging from the audience to logos, pathos, and ethos. It breaks down different quotations and analyzes the content and not only the textual meaning but possible broader meanings. It will aid in the relation of the ideas presented in JFK’s speech to the context in which it was made. Obama, Barack. â€Å"The Audacity of Hope.† 27 July 2004. American Rhetoric: Online Speech               Bank. 26 January 2008 . The American Rhetoric is a website that houses famous pieces of literature, both American and Foreign. This particular piece is a speech from the 2004 Democratic National Convention and is the Key Note Address. The speech is given by Barack Obama when he was still a member of the Illinois State Legislator. I will be examining the speech for the main elements of Rhetoric: logos, pathos and ethos. It will be used as the main source from which quotations and examples will be drawn in an analysis of the speech’s effectiveness. Ramage, John, John Bean, and June Johnson. Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings. 7th         ed. White Plains, NY: Longman, 2006. This is a book that revolves around the topic of arguments. It defines argument, presents numerous argument readings over the pages, and then tackles on assisting readers into writing arguments. One of the arguments in the text is a speech by Former Attorney General John Ashcroft titled, â€Å"Testimony to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.†Using pathos Ashcroft states that America must not be complacent and should be one-on-one in defending the nation against terrorist attacks. Another argument in the book is made by Patricia Williams in an article titled â€Å"To See or Not to See.†This article tackles the invalidity of the antiterrorism policies, especially when it comes to liberty and human rights of the minorities. The methods in which these state officials tackle these tough problems will give insight into the difficulties facing Kennedy at the time. Comparisons of his attitude with that of these contemporary leaders will help to indicate the extent to w hich his proposed policies were necessary. United Sates. Senate. Barack Obama: U.S. Senator for Illinois. 1 February 2008. This website is the homepage for Senator Barack Obama. It is a very detailed site with many subsidiary pages that include things from biographical information to his previous speeches on podcast. The homepage has an RSS feed that gives up to the minute latest news relating to the Senator. It also indicates the issues for which Obama argues and different committees with which he is associated. This source gives an idea of the Obama’s political interests and facilitates the comparison of his speech’s main points. It also gives insight into the areas in which Obama may have done (or found) research for his speech. White House, The. â€Å"John Kennedy.†Past Presidents. Washington. Retrieved on February 18,  2008 from http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/jk35.html This article is a biography of John F. Kennedy, detailing his birth, tour in Japan, road to the White House and subsequent assassination while in office. It also tells of other accomplishments, the Bay of Pigs campaign, and the overall mission that he had in store for the country. It is useful as a source of general background information concerning Kennedy. Â
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