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John F Kennedy Steel Prices Essay

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In President John F. Kennedy's commentary (April 10, 1962) regarding the hike in steel prices, he argues there is no justifiable reason for the United States steel companies to increase the price of steel, as steel plays such a large part of American society and would impact most of the U.S. industries. Kennedy uses a disappointed tone, logical and statistical reasoning, and emotional connections to the American people to express his stance on the rise in the price of steel. His goal is to convince the steel companies that they should not raise the prices, as well as convince the big steel companies to consider the country as a whole. The president is writing to the largest steel companies in the United States in response to their 3.5 percent increase in the …show more content…

He talks about the state of the economy after Vietnam, to try and convince the steel companies to partner with the government in rebuilding the U.S. JFK is disappointed in the steel companies that are solely thinking about profit for their companies instead of considering the country as a whole, during the time after a recession and uses this tone to truly express how he feels as the President. Next, President Kennedy’s logical reasoning for being angry towards the steel companies comes from the fact that steel prices are "imitated by the rest of the industry," and would cause the rest of the economy to be thrown off (line 22-23). JFK continually argues that there is no reason for the companies to increase the price of steel because the amount of steel produced per worker is increasing, meaning that the costs of labor, "per ton of steel can actually be expected to decline," (line 55-56). Labor prices are going down, and so JFK addresses the company’s need to raise the prices as unprecedented and

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On April 11,1962, President John F. Kennedy, made a speech about the nation’s largest steel companies raising the steel price by 3.5%. People in America got mad at this and Kennedy understood why the were getting mad. So, his conference agreed with the American people and said that the steel companies price was too high. Kennedy used different strategies to get his message through.

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At the start of the recession steel prices increased by almost 6 dollars a ton. President Kennedy addressed the issue on April 11th, 1962 at a news conference. During this conference President Kennedy stated on line 5 that this was “wholly unjustifiable and irresponsible defiance of the public interest”. Throughout the conference President Kennedy uses many rhetorical techniques such as using an ethical appeal through shared values, diction through a somber tone and word choice, and an emotional appeal to illuminate the issues that increased steel prices have caused. President Kennedy also uses intelligent, formal fiction through this speech regarding the increase in steel prices.

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President Kennedy starts off his speech by accusing the steel companies of not caring about public and customer interest. To capture America 's attention Kennedy speaks about events that he knows are touchy to the American public to feel resent towards the steel companies. Said events are used to make the American public feel like victims that are already giving all that they receive and the steel companies just want to take more. Furthermore, basic economics tells you that if you raise the price of one inelastic good the price of other goods will escalate.

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He draws a line between them, the “185 million Americans” (ln 20-21) and a “tiny handful of steel executives” (ln 17) who don’t have a “sense of public responsibility” (ln 19). Kennedy concludes his speech by saying, “Some time ago I asked each American to consider what he would do for his country. I asked the steel companies. In the last 24 hours, we had their answer” (ln 107-110). This jab at the steel companies also helps to make a point that the American people are doing more for their country than the steel companies are.

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Kennedy says in his news conference," If this rise in the cost of steel is imitated by the rest of the industry, instead of rescinded, it would increase the cost of homes, autos, appliances, and most other items for every American family. It would increase the cost of machinery and tools to every American businessman and farmer. It would seriously handicap our efforts to prevent an inflationary spiral from eating up the pensions of our older citizens, and our new gains in purchasing power"(line 23-31) This shows that when the decline of the companies it will seriously handicap the American people due to the large increase in prices. This is also shown in, "And it would surely handicap our efforts to induce other industries and unions adopt responsible price and wage policies"(line 43-45)

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He want his audience to disapprove with the steel companies plans. These facts convince the audience that Kennedy is right that the steel companies should not increase the steel prices because of the recession. The numerous statistics shows how unbalance the economy is and support Kennedy’s plan to stabilize the steel prices. In conclusion, Kennedy use of diction, emotional appeals, and a persuasive tone convince Americans to change their opinion and despise the steel companies. He want his nation attention to rally them up to look down upon the steel corporations.

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