John F. Kennedy Inaugural Speech: Rhetoric

JFK Inaugural Speech: Rhetoric John F. Kennedy was marginally voted in as President in 1961, a moment in history when there was nothing but silence, yet one miscalculated move could result in the destruction of man. This was in the midst of the Cold War, in which there was tons of tension in the air, which is clearly observable in Kennedy’s Inaugural Speech. Winning by a slim majority it’s necessary for him to convince the American citizens that he was the right choice and is trustworthy. Along with this he addresses the current situation in which Russia was becoming increasingly perilous and the need for peace and unity before a catastrophe occurs. In a historical speech President Kennedy addresses his role in directing peace and liberty by any means possible, using antithesis to convey the necessary objectives he plans on achieving, as well as utilizing fear to create a sense of urgency and clever repetition to point out certain important events. Many speakers

These emotions can be easily seen in many speeches as they’re usual abstract terms that invoke a particular emotion within the audience. The usage of terms and phrases such as, “power to abolish…all forms of human life,” or even, “destruction unleashed…engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction,” are all used to invoke fear. (Kennedy) This makes American citizens fear for them and also forces them to listen to the solution that President Kennedy would propose. Fear although isn’t the only emotion, there are also many invigorating and inspiring words sprinkled across the speech. Abstract words like, “loyalty” or “liberty,” make sure that there is a sense of patriotism to the ideas that America has been known for. (Kennedy) With such diction he connects some instances to the past, mostly in the beginning, and floods citizens with