How Does Carter Use Ethos In The Oval Office

Rhetorical Analysis: A Crisis of Confidence by Jimmy E. Carter From his speech in the Oval Office, 39th US President, Jimmy Earl Carter uses several rhetorical methods to get his point across to the American public. He rallies the audience to a common goal using diction, charged language, and rhetorical appeals like ethos and pathos. This is all in an attempt to help the citizens of America understand the necessity of confidence in our actions to fight against foreign dependence in the energy crisis. Carter utilizes diction to prove the necessity of his argument through using the repetition of statements pertaining to confidence in one’s actions. Carter stated that, “Confidence in the future has supported everything else… Confidence has

Carter uses pathos in the attempt to convince the audience on the weight of the energy crisis as it looms over America. He references the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy; the shock of the near-loss in Vietnam, and the Watergate scandal, all to show the sudden sense of loss in faith of the government then, as it has remained now, justifying Carter’s need to preface this issue threatening America. He also uses pathos in a way that shows how all the American families are suffering as a result of this economic oil inflation, saying that, “a majority of our people believe that the next five years will be worse than the past five years.” This underlines the complete lack of faith the audience has towards their futures in their country. Furthermore, Carter uses ethos as well, demonstrating his credibility through statements such as how he says, “I will lead our fight… and I will ensure honesty. And above all, I will act” which leaves an impression on people because he is the president, and for someone that is this important to be calling action to fight against an economic downfall, it shows that he rightfully holds the authority and ability to be leading it. This ultimately ties back to Carter’s demonstration of using rhetorical appeals to show his credibility and empathy towards this situation, and how he is adamant in leading the resistance to this