Rhetorical Analysis Of Jfk Inaugural Address

Kennedy used the tone in which sounded like he was disappointed of the companies. He said “ increasing steel prices by some 6 dollars a ton, constitutes a wholly unjustifiable and irresponsible defiance of the public interest,” he basically said they acted irresponsible in front of the public. He also stated, that them increasing the price of steel was hurting the

In 1962, a major U.S. issue was the price rise in the steel industry. President at the time, John F. Kennedy, immediately went into action to create an agreement with the steel industry, which would result in lowering the steel industry prices. President Kennedy used a variety of rhetorical strategies in his speech in order to convey his message on the steel industry and the rise in the cost of steel. Kennedy utilizes appeals (logos) in conjunction with parallelism to open the audience's eyes logically and emotionally and emphasis his point of view and action plan for the steel industry as well as other U.S. issues. Kennedy's main point/purpose in this writing was to identify the issue of the rise in the cost of the steel industry.

John F. Kennedy was a United States president during an economic recession in the early 1960s. During this crisis, steel companies significantly increased steel prices, prompting Kennedy to publicize his response in a news conference on April 11th, 1962. In his speech, President Kennedy uses repetition and logos to declare to Americans that he is outraged by and taking action against these steel companies. Kennedy uses repetition to emphasize why people should be upset by the steel price increase. Repetition is the use of a word or phrase multiple times for dramatic effect, applied first in lines 6-9 through the phrase “when we are,” followed by the tense international and economic circumstances of the time.

Kennedy first starts off in paragraph 2 by highlighting that America is “devoting… to economic recovery and stability” and then follows up in paragraph 4 by mentioning that the increase in price would result in an extra “one billion dollars” (Sorenson 160, 161). As a result, Kennedy is able to demonstrate that the actions of the steel executives are against the needs of the nation because while “Americans” are hard at work focusing on fixing the economy, the steel executives are jacking up the price of steel making everyone’s lives miserable. Kennedy, however, not only attacks the executive’s lack of upholding their American responsibility, he also hammers their failure to contain any sense of moral obligation. In paragraph 7 Kennedy mentions that steel profits have “exceeded 600 million”, he then goes on to question if the executive’s profits are already so high why bother continuing to raise the prices (Sorenson 161). Not only is the raising of prices illogical it also hurts the American family that Kennedy mentioned earlier in his speech, “it would increase the cost…for every American family” (Sorenson 160).

Kennedy states that at a time when the American people are trying to rebuild their economy and recover from national sacrifice, the steel companies have an even greater motive to keep these prices manageable. This example clarifies that this is a terrible and unfair time for steel companies to raise prices, while the rest of the nation is trying to rebuild after difficult times. In this line, Kennedy is utilizing pathos to

Kennedy then creates a sharp tone as he continues to justify his actions through appealing to the nations emotions by addressing the servicemen in Viet Nam whom are losing their lives. He then relates to the American People in lines 16-21 by evaluating the handful of steel executives and

In response to the steel companies, who where determined to raise prices, John F. Kennedy speaks to millions of Americans about sacrifice for the country, and once again reminds the country that they are truly the United States of America. Despite being the head of the country, JFK instantly includes himself in with the common American citizen. All throughout Kennedy's speech, rhetoric is used to appeal to the audience, and to show the steel companies that they are being selfish and negatively effecting the united community of America. In the first paragraph, JFK relies heavily on diction to set up his speech and call the audience to listen to him.

Within his first sentence, he states that the price increase is an “irresponsible defiance of public interest” - in other words, it does not allow Americans to prosper to the fullest extent. He reminds the audience that their fellow Americans are suffering; he mentions “Reservists [leaving] their homes and families for months on end”, servicemen [risking] their lives”, and the “restraint and sacrifice” asked even of common American people. He paints a picture of American hardship for the greater good, of perseverance, of unselfishness, all American ideals. By then stating, “The American people will it hard, as I do, to accept [that] a tiny handful of steel executives whose pursuit of private power and profit exceeds their sense of public responsibility can show such utter contempt for the interests of 185 million Americans.” This statement is key to Kennedy’s purpose of proving that the steel companies have greedily betrayed the people who may have trusted them before.

John F Kennedy, is very well known for his diligence and his persuasion. Being called for a news conference due to the hike in steel prices by at least 3.5 percent. John F. Kennedy used strategies such as, diction, statistics, and he also uses an emotional appeal to come at the steel companies. President Kennedy starts his speech off with a strict tone by saying, ¨In this serious hour in our nation's history¨, by saying this he is stating the steel companies know that there is an increase in the steel prices that is a national problem.

In John F. Kennedy’s remarks on the news conference on Aprial 11, 1962 about the largest steel price rise. As the president of the United Sates of America, Kennedy not only puts out his actions into words. Also alarm and imform the audience into one; creating unity over the national problem. Kennedy opens up his speach with an alert.

Kennedy appeal to his audience emotions, “…we are asking Reservist to leave their homes and families…service men to risk their live‒and four week killed in the last two days in Viet Nam‒” (9-13). The fact that four people gave up their lives to protect citizens of America appeal emotional to the audience. The audience emotions allows then to agree with Kennedy that the steel companies should not have change their prices. In addition, Kennedy uses multitude of statistics in his speech. Kennedy mention, “Employment costs per unit of steel output in 1961 were essentially the same as they were in 1958” (60-61).

He displays personification in his speech by quoting,”Now the summons us again-not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need;not as to call to battle ,but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle rejoicing in hope.” This quote uses a trumpet to symbolize a call for serenity and not warfare. The trumpet shows the struggle between poverty,tyranny, and war itself to find happiness and promise in the world. Finally, Kennedy uses repetition in lines 15-28 stating “Let both sides” to display a need for

Kennedy often sets himself equal to his audience, as if saying that he is no better than anybody else, gaining their respect and support. For example in Kennedy’s inaugural speech, he states, “ United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures.” In this Kennedy is placing himself in the same category as his audience and saying that he needs them, just as much as they need him. Another example of Kennedy setting himself equal to his audience is, “ In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course.” In this statement, John F. Kennedy is saying that the people of America, united, have more power than him.

John F. Kennedy uses multiple rhetoric strategies to convince the audience of the White House and the nation to come to his side and to get the stele companies to lower prices back. JFK expresses his disappointment with raising ten steel prices by using words such as “wholly unjustifiable” and irresponsible defiance” to describe the actions of the Steel Companies. By using some of these words this causes the audience to agree with President Kennedy’s claim and to disfavor the steel companies. But in the speech, Kennedy tries to include himself with the citizens of the United States by using the word

However, in parts of his speech Kennedy talks about how certain groups in the nation are working to help the people of America. For example in line 92 Kennedy talks about the Department of Defense. He talks about what they’re doing to figure out why the prices of steel are rising so quickly and what needs to be done to protect the public interest. By using positive and negative words Kennedy is able to make his opinion clear. The audience is able to see Kennedy’s negative opinion on the rising steel prices and his positive opinion on what different organizations are doing to help with the current steel crisis.