John F. Kennedy knows the increasing cost of steel will affect the whole nation negatively. In order to address his concern to the American people, Kennedy uses numerous rhetorical strategies. The purpose of his speech is clear and indicates his want for change. The American people are able to understand their leader’s speech because he employs the strategies that will connect with them on a personal level. In lines 3-5, Kennedy uses statistical evidence to convince the American people of the problem. The steel companies have increased their prices by six dollars a ton. Steel is usually bought in bulk by contracting companies and builders, so this hike really makes a difference. The contracting companies are American companies too, and they …show more content…
He mentions the servicemen that risk their lives everyday to protect the rights and freedoms of the American people. The state of the nation was very tense at this time, as America was fighting the Vietnam War. Four soldiers had been killed in the past two days, and the steel executives had the nerve to hike the prices. Kennedy was furious that the steel companies had given the American people just one more thing to worry about. One hundred and eighty-five million Americans were trying to keep afloat, while the executives fought for the power and reign of the steel industry. They were money hungry, ignoring the fact that all Americans needed to make a living. In lines 29-31, President Kennedy uses the strategy of ethos in his speech. He mentions that if the rest of the commercial and industrial industries mimic the steel companies it would cause stress in American families. The costs of their everyday items would increase, which would then lead to the plunging of the United States’ economy. This continuous inflation would leave our elderly without pensions to live on. Kennedy is inferring that it is our ethical obligation to take care of our elders, and the price hike will eventually keep us from doing …show more content…
At the same time he uses evidence from the Bureau of Labor. In his speech he states that the employment costs per unit of steel are the same as they were five years ago. Both of these strategies appeal to the logic of the American people. If the steel costs more, the employees should be paid more. Kennedy uses this tactic to specifically target the steel workers. The steelworkers are basically where the change would start, as they are all likely a part of an union. This statistic will light a fire in the workers who want their hard earned
His use of an absolute and unwavering tone establishes an incompatibility between the interests of the public and the recent greedy actions of steel corporations. This creates an ‘us vs. them’ mentality, that Kennedy continuously emphasizes throughout his speech to further justify his opposition to steel companies as a defense for the “public interest.” After directly stating his opinion, Kennedy shifts his speech towards the current events of the time, citing the “grave crises in Berlin”, the Vietnam War, and the limitations on union members. This use of logic seeks to sway the audience to join his opposition to the 3.5 percent rise in steel prices.
He used a very selective vocabulary, purposely using emotionally charged words such as: “wholly unjustifiable and irresponsible defiance” (lines 4-5), “ruthless disregard” (line 82), and “restraint and sacrifice” (lines 14-15). By using words with strong connotation, he powers the emotions of his audience once again directing support for himself and appearing as the calm figurehead amongst the emotional chaos. He also makes his speech very personal by mentioning individual American families, literally using the phrase “every American family” (line 25). He appeals to the strong sense of patriotism in the American public by mentioning the four servicemen who died in Vietnam. Despite the fact that they are almost completely unrelated to the rise in steel prices and, if they were alive, would be unaffected by the rise in price, either. And yet, Kennedy mentions the servicemen to make the situation appear that much more dire. By mentioning the tragic deaths of these men, Kennedy aims to trigger a strong emotional response in his audience that would turn into support for
Kennedy makes the steel companies look bad by revealing how greedy they were. It was a time in which there was more important things to do. The steel companies knew what they were doing but they decided to increase the prices anyway despite the problems it would impose on Americans. Kennedy states “…a few gigantic corporations have decided to increase prices
Kennedy, in his speech appeals mostly to logos by using hards facts and statistics. For example, in line 20 he explains how the inflation of steel is affecting “185 million Americans”. He continues using logos throughout his speech when he introduces Sect of Defense McNamara and tells the American people the steel inflation would an “estimated one billion dollars to cost of defenses, at a time when every dollar is needed for national security”. However, this is also an
He has the audience infer that the steel companies raising their prices was what they were doing for their country, and what they were doing was not helping like Kennedy has wished. This reference back to something that had a huge impact on many people strengthens Kennedy’s point of view and helps him achieve his
This speech proves that Kennedy had a way with words and knew the best way to get a message across. He clearly expressed his feelings but did so without letting them take over. He didn’t scream or shout, but showed he could handle his anger while still letting it shine through. Kennedy used the three appeals, strong diction and syntax, and a well-organized structure of his ideas to convey his purpose; Raise anger in Americans and side with them, while making the steel companies feel guilty for their
In conclusion, this speech was structured beautifully. Its use of figurative and expressive language makes it an unforgettable speech. Kennedy does a great job of using pathos, ethos, and logos to reiterate his commitment to the American public as well as discuss expected changes. Given the state of the world at the time of his inauguration, the decision to rely so heavily on pathos and ethos was a wise one which got the job done. His use of the rhetoric triangle effectively conveys Kennedy’s plan for America to not only her citizens, but to the world.
In focusing on the National economy and ending the recession, Kennedy accomplished a meek increase to the minimum wages for workers, during his presidency. But, he lost the confidence of business leaders in 1962, by seeking to rollback what the administration regarded as excessive price increases within the steel trade. Although, he succeeded in his direct objective, this did not come without a price. President Kennedy ultimately, alienated an important source of support by later calling for a large tax cut to grant capital to large corporations, meant for stimulating the economy (Hoagland, 2008).
John emphasized if a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. He felt Americans needed to use their freedoms to do great things, not just be thankful they have them. Pres. Kennedy’s heart longed for the nation of America to grab hold of the reigns of their freedom and take it to the extreme. The extreme would be to feed the hungry, help those in poverty fight their way out of it, and make peace in the world more often than war.
John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address is a puissant speech that conveys a mighty theme. The steady use of fervent dialect stimulates in the crowd a sense of esteem and obligation, which makes the speech even more impressive. The structure of the diction enhances the ability for all people of the audience to connect. Beginning with an intimate remark and closing with a broad regard, marks the address as both authentic and propelling. Nevertheless, what is most effective is Kennedy’s skill to access the atmosphere of the crowd and examine the circumstances of the juncture that is primarily the cause for the prosperity of this distinguished
... Americans are so happy in this country. Freedom is was what this country was founded on and he wanted to spread it to the world. Ethos is quite simple in his speech. John F. Kennedy is obviously a smart, brilliant man that became president. He wouldn’t be where he was if he wasn’t those things, there American people would not have elected him to office.
Kennedy is telling the audience that in Frost’s great life he accomplished a lot for this country. Kennedy gives a lot of praise to Frost for his accomplishments as a poet. The “special significance of Robert Frost” was that “he brought an unsparing instinct for reality to bear on the platitudes and pieties of society” and “his sense of human tragedy fortified him against self-deception and easy consolation,” (lines 19-22). John F. Kennedy admires how Frost has a realistic look on life and he shares this outlook with the rest of the world so they can also receive the benefits of this outlook. President Kennedy gave praise to this poet for knowing “the midnight as well as the high noon” and understanding “the ordeal as well as the triumph of the human spirt” because that was what “gave his age strength with which to overcome despair,” (lines 24-26). Frost was a man who understood all sides of the world and how it works. He shared this knowledge with his readers and was able to give them any necessary strength to overcome their own
This particular rhetorical device appeals to those listening because they can trust a man who is sure of what he is talking about and can back up the facts with ease, for example in paragraph five he says “Nations own scientific manpower is doubling ever 12 years in a rate of growth more then three times that of our population” verifying his theory thus gaining the audiences trust in order to support his main idea. Kennedy strongly demonstrates logos through comparing the cost of the space program to the amount of money people spend in the United States buying tobacco products a year. This negative cause verses a positive cause makes it clear to the audience that only good can come from supporting NASA because “that budget now stands at $5,400 million a year--a staggering sum, though somewhat less than we pay for cigarettes and cigars every year” making the positive choice obnoxiously obvious. Kennedy choice to use logos within his speech is ideal for evidence to back his speech can only result in the audience having no reason to doubt therefore
During the early 1960’s, the United States was emerging from a recession. Many people were struggling, but some big businesses were taking advantage of the economic distress. On April 11th, 1962, President John F. Kennedy held a news conference to talk about such big businesses, namely, steel companies. President Kennedy criticized these companies for increasing the price of steel by 3.5 percent. By appealing compellingly to logos, effectively to pathos, and rivetingly to ethos, President John F. Kennedy argues that the price increase of steel during the hard times by large companies has been a blatant disregard for their public responsibilities during an emerging recession.
Hence, through various rhetorical strategies, Kennedy achieves his purpose of gaining the spectators’ favor through stressing major current events that concerned the American people. These significant concepts include American patriotism and American diplomacy, stressed when he begins four consequent paragraphs with the same recurring three words, “Let both sides.” Kennedy’s brilliant use of pathos, parallelism, antithesis, and varied syntax successfully convey his ambitions and hopes for America, as it makes Kennedy’s speech a very memorable one in history.