The inaugural address of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, better known simply as JFK, is often held as one of the greatest examples of his skill as an orator. In his inaugural address, President Kennedy calls on the American people as well as the people and powers of the world to embrace in a spirit of cooperation the problems which confronted the world in the 1960’s. In his inaugural address, President Kennedy makes extensive use of three rhetorical devices— antithesis, alliteration, and simplicity— to convey to the American people and to the world the goals he hoped to accomplish during his presidency. President Kennedy uses the rhetorical device of antithesis heavily in his inaugural address. He mainly uses antithesis to contrast the dark shadow under which the world is cloaked because of the Cold War and the hope which his new administration seeks to offer. One of the best examples of President Kennedy’s use of antithesis can be found in arguably the most famous line of his inaugural address, "And so, my fellow Americans; ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,”(Kennedy 3). President Kennedy effectively uses antithesis to express his …show more content…
President Kennedy’s use of alliteration cements his words and phrases in the mind of his audience and further helps them to stay attuned to his speech. In one line from his speech Kennedy uses alliteration a total of four times: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty,” (Kennedy 1). In this example of alliteration, Kennedy conveys to his audience that his administration, and the nation, will remain strong and free in the face on any