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Ich Bin Ein Berliner Speech Rhetorical Devices

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Recommended: Rhetorical analysis of ich bin ein berliner

Cody Sullivan
Mrs. Grillo
10H:1
14 April 23 The Effect of “Ich Bin Ein Berliner” and its Use of Rhetoric The “Ich Bin Ein Berliner” speech given by U.S. President John F. Kennedy on June 26th, 1963, was a major moment in democracy as a whole. This speech was, as the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy puts it, “ a turning point in the cold war” and “gave a strong defiant message to the Soviet Union” about how Democracy was going to stand strong not only in Berlin, but everywhere (John F. Kennedy Visit to Berlin, June, 26th, 1963). Kennedy used a combination of Logos, Ethos, and Pathos to make his speech effective to his audience of over 120,000 Berliners. Furthermore, he used rhetorical devices such as repetition to engage this audience. The …show more content…

Even professionals on the topic like the director of the JFK Library and Museum believes that “John F. Kennedy’s defiant defense of democracy and self-government stand out as a high point of his presidency” (Putnam). With a divided Germany, having just come out of the reign of the Third Reich and being attacked by communism, JFK’s speech allowed Germany to place itself firmly as democratic. JFK’s speech would live on in the hearts of the people of Berlin and would culminate in the wall coming down and Berlin being one …show more content…

American Rhetoric: John F. Kennedy - Ich Bin Ein Berliner (I Am a Berliner), https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkberliner.html.
“John F. Kennedy Visit to Berlin, June, 26th, 1963.” Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, https://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/academy/index.php?en_tar_john-f-kennedy-visit-to-berlin#:~:text='%22,Allies%20out%20of%20West%20Berlin.
Putnam, Thomas. “The Real Meaning of Ich Bin Ein Berliner.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 19 Feb. 2014,

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