Rhetorical Devices In Jfk Inaugural Address

Improved Essays
“Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.” Those words, some of the most famous in American history, were spoken by John F. Kennedy on January 20, 1961, the day of his inauguration as the 35th President of the United States of America. At that time the United States was deep into the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Kennedy’s speech mentions the ongoing economic and military competition between the two nations (“John F. Kennedy”). In his inaugural address, John F. Kennedy uses chiasmus, repetition and emotional appeal to convince the American people to move away from conflict, and focus on progress.

In Kennedy’s speech to the American people following presidential election he uses the rhetorical device, chiasmus, to persuade the American people to move forwards into a new era with not only national, but also global progress in mind. The reversal of words, throughout several phrases of Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, add to the strength of his message by stirring national sentiments within the citizens. “Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate”. Leading up to and during his presidency the American people were prideful, but at the same time lived in fear of opposing groups who threatened
…show more content…
Kennedy persuades the American people to reconsider the priority of conflict over progress, using chiasmus, repetition, and emotional appeal. Kennedy’s speech is considered by many, one of the most profound and world-changing speeches of the 20th century. Kennedy refrains from discussing politically motivated domestic affairs, and instead focuses on foreign policy. Kennedy takes his own advice from this address, when later he urges Americans to totally reconsider the Cold War (Sorensen). John F. Kennedy’s speech has an impact, not only on his administration, or those that witnessed his speech, but also future generations that hold his ideas of peace and progress so

Related Documents

  • 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
  • Superior Essays

    The Strength of Words Together How many times do parents, teachers, or friends give instructions or ask a favor in return of nothing other than the casual nod? Their words hushed by the blandness of their rhetoric. Individuals carry many responsibilities and jobs to live life. Their day-to-day schedule ever changing by the abruptness and difficulties life brings.…

    • 1483 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    JFK Rhetorical Analysis

    • 906 Words
    • 4 Pages

    John Fitzgerald Kennedy once said "I look forward to a great future for America - a future in which our country will match its military strength with our moral restraint, its wealth with our wisdom, its power with our purpose." JFK was a president with a plan for the good of the people. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, a 2011 Newsweek Article, and a U.S Army Marine Corps Photograph display this very idea. The authors built upon JFK's legacy with plenty of ethos and pathos by using his effect on people through his position as a previous senator and a new president. Pathos was also used in how he preyed on the people's pride and want of a common goal to advocate his purpose.…

    • 906 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis: John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address The period of the Cold War was a difficult time for the United States, where inner turmoil and external conflict were prevalent. The people became fearful and uncertain of how the Cold War would continue to unfold, and the hysteria over the perceived threats posed by the Communists perpetuated their fear (History). The nation and its people were desperate for a person who was both a strong and reassuring leader. John F. Kennedy inaugurated into office as the president of the United States on January 21, 1961; it was the day that Kennedy provided the reassurance that the nation was looking for.…

    • 1383 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Using only fear-invoking diction would create a mindset of vulnerability and weakness. However, President Kennedy did not want that; He wanted to motivate citizens into taking action so that they may end the tension created by the Cold War. President Kennedy’s shift in diction begins when he states, “In your hands, my fellow citizens…will rest the final success…of our course” (464). Instead of mentioning self-destruction of the world and implying helplessness, President Kennedy put responsibility into the hands of the citizens. He hoped the people of the United States would feel a sense of accountability if they were to fall into war.…

    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    First, he reminded America the pressure that is on them, saying that “[s]ince this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe” (Kennedy 2). Drawing an emotional response through mentioning of America’s troops who died for freedom, Kennedy almost put a sort of guilt on his audience to continue the task of protecting their nation. Ultimately, Kennedy skillfully pressured the new generation towards fighting for the good of America through generating feelings of guilt and responsibility from his audience. Moreover, Kennedy continued to aim for the audience’s emotions when he tells the nation to “go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own” (Kennedy 3).…

    • 1397 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Aiming to promote every American citizen’s positive participation in serving their country for the freedom of men, former president of the United States John F. Kennedy delivered one of the most memorable speeches that perfectly fulfilled his purpose and appealed to the audiences in his inaugural address. The use of metaphors, and personal pronouns in Kennedy’s address not only strengthens the speech’s main subjects about civic responsibilities and human rights, but also touches the audience’s heartstring and eventually persuades them to take Kennedy’s side. Kennedy first employs parallel structures to emphasize his arguments and appeal to the audiences by creating an intense and unify tone. In paragraph 6, Kennedy promotes the idea of…

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural address is still one of the most sought after a referenced addresses used today. It covers the parallel between 1776 and the founding fathers intentions for the United States, as well as addressing the similarities still in action and being fought for in John’s day. In the context of 1961, the United States was now roughly 15 years removed from World War II; however, the world was once again brought into another fight for peace through what was the Cold War era in Kennedy’s time. At the time of his election, the America people were living in fear of the potential End war-- as spoken of in his address-- since the creation of such technology has enabled humanity to have as John states “the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.” (Elements of Argument, 85).…

    • 1184 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Since 1947, the United States and Soviet Union displayed power and exchanged threats that caused four decades of the Cold War. It was in President Kennedy’s inaugural speech that he openly addressed the constant looming threat. “The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.” (Kennedy…

    • 1085 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Primary Source Evaluation

    • 2220 Words
    • 9 Pages

    This book is a compilation of quotes spoken by President John F. Kennedy in the year 1962, mandated by the Administrative Committee of the Federal Register to be freely distributed to each member of Congress. In the foreword, Kennedy describes the purpose of collecting all these documents: to tell “the story…

    • 2220 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kennedy utilized pathos throughout his speech by evoking patriotism to elicit the emotions of his audience and by portraying his personal views. The exploitation of pathos within the speech was one aspect that had formulated the legacy he has departed from. For instance, when he encourages the nations to work together to strive for a democracy rather than tyranny, and bolsters each citizen to take a role in progress towards peace, he is illustrating his usage of pathos. Kennedy states within his speech, “ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country”. This quote empowers the people due to the emotional facet of patriotism, telling the citizens they are called to be a part of a greater solution to fight against tyranny, poverty, disease, and war.…

    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    It is also possible that Kennedy’s words were overly optimistic. Attempting to create peace in this world certainly seems to be an impossibility when one considers the number of conflicts and atrocities that take place throughout the world. Kennedy’s short time as president has, however, left an enduring legacy. The “Peace Speech” might not have had the enduring effects of creating an enduring optimism among Americans, but it did help to alleviate the fear that had crept into the life of many Americans’ lives. The consequences of the speech were not merely empty rhetoric.…

    • 1792 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    With a clever use of schemes and energizing use of tropes, President John F. Kennedy creates an inspiring and unifying tone that, through effective organization and appeals to pathos, conveys the purpose of his inaugural address to the engaged American public. Kennedy, being well known for his captivating appeals to pathos, uses this strength to carefully craft several aspects of his speech including the word choice and tone. To invigorate his audience and capture their attention, the president strategically organizes his speech in a way that it first fills the listeners with pride to be Americans and second addresses the more serious and action-taking matters that the audience would be more likely to carry out once patriotism was practically…

    • 1401 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During the climax of the Cold War, newly elected United States president, John F. Kennedy, delivered his inaugural address and presented his political agenda for the upcoming years as president. Kennedy’s purpose in his inaugural address is to unite nations and peoples across world to promote worldwide peace and international security. To achieve his purpose and inspire the audience, Kennedy employed a variety of rhetorical strategies. Throughout his speech, Kennedy uses juxtaposition to develop his claims and ideas while refuting opposing ideas.…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A saying to get his chance at being the President of the United States, to gain the trust of all the American citizens, and to put his foot down and place a mark to any other country that he isn’t joking, but he only means business and solutions. He stayed cool, calm, and collected, John F. Kennedy ends his speech announcing, “Knowing that here on Earth, God’s work must truly be our own.” he declares this to notify the citizens of the United States that the quest for peace won’t start or solve the planet’s problems, meaning Kennedy would not like to go to war with Russia, or anyone at all. He only plans to look for peace and solutions and he is the true definition of trying to make the world better, but making America Greater while doing so. In my opinion, Kennedy puts on an amazing show for his inaugural speech, and it will light a spark of greatness to his although short, but his great presidency and will be a role-model for the following presidents to come.…

    • 1046 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays