Rhetorical Analysis Of Reagan's First Inaugural Address

In President Reagan’s First Inaugural Address, Reagan crafts a speech that keys in on guiding principles. As president during the Cold War, Regan puts himself on the level of the average American to talk to the people about the problems with our government. He talks of diminishing the hierarchy of the government, restoring power to the people, and calls upon the average working men, as “the heroes of whom I speak—you, the citizens of this blessed land” (Reagan 3) to unify and find solutions for all. He asserts that, “in this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem” (Reagan 2). Regan articulates a principle that government is not sufficient to all. Government action should be taken to do things that are fair toward all people and benefit all people. Not just the ideal American. Throughout his speech he supports his claim. Take when he says, “I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing” (Reagan 3). Reagan is contrasting the concept of fate. Reagan uses the idea of changeable fate to show the people that the nation’s fate is in their hands, not the government’s. The parallel structure due to the repetition of the phrases “I do believe” and “in a fate that will fall on us” (Reagan 3) shows the reader the difference between

The use of persuasive literary devices and tactics guarantee a strong and powerful address. However, Trump’s address, could leave Americans feeling unsettled as he manipulates a traditional address. He synthesizes an addresses that will surely be remembered for its lack of sophistication, abandoned formality, and aggressive tone. The ramifications of breaking tradition results in Trump’s failure to prompt