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John F. Kennedy's Speech On The Rise Of Steel Prices

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In 1962, President John F. Kennedy's speech on the rise of steel prices, argues that there is no reason for the price of steel to rise. Kennedy supports his argument by explaining the negative effects, and the greed from the steel companies. Kennedy's purpose is to point out the facts in order to pin the public against the steel companies. Kennedy speaks in an informative tone for American citizens in the midst of a recession and a war directly affecting these American citizens. Kennedy lists the negative effects raising steel prices will have on American citizens. “It would increase the cost of homes, autos, appliances, and most other items for every American family.” Kennedy uses common appeals that American citizens have to help them realize there is a bigger effect if the steel prices rise than they might have thought. The next evidence: “It would add… an estimated one …show more content…

“Steel output per man is rising so fast that labor cost per ton of steel can actually be expected to decline in the next 12 months.” Kennedy uses logic to help citizens realize that if it is getting cheaper to make steel why would they want to charge more unless they were just in it for themselves. “Industry’s cash dividends have exceeded 600 million dollars in each of the last five years; earnings in the first quarter of this year were estimated… to be among the highest in history.” In this quote, Kennedy uses facts about the steal companies’ earnings to help persuade Americans that in the midst of a recession, the steal companies don’t care about that and want even more money for themselves and their stockholders even though they are projected to have the highest dividends in history already. In conclusion, Kennedy wants to put the facts about the steal companies’ business side to show to the American public that things are getting cheaper and they are making more so why would they raise the prices if not just for

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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says in his news conference," If this rise in the cost of steel is imitated by the rest of the industry, instead of rescinded, it would increase the cost of homes, autos, appliances, and most other items for every American family.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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When explaining this relationship Kennedy states, “it would surely handicap our efforts to induce other industries and unions to adopt responsible price and wage policies”. Kennedy shows that the raise in steel prices goes against what he has been trying to implement as president. By pointing out the negative effects the raise in steel prices will have on American citizens and American industry, Kennedy is able to show his audience that he is not okay, and does agree with the steel corporation’s increased steel prices. This enables Kennedy to relate to his audience, and to let them know that he is on there side and is not in favor with the corporation’s decisions to raise the prices of

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This is the most poignant revelation, as it reveals beyond the nonsensicality of the price hike, the unabashed greed of steel companies. Kennedy aims to give rise to disgust and dismay at this final fact, convincing the public of the immorality of steel companies. Thus, Kennedy utilized logos to prove that steel companies are in the wrong by pointing out how the increase in steel prices negatively impacts Americans, could not be justified by circumstantial reasons, and is simply a move motivated by greed. By rallying Americans against steel companies, Kennedy will gain support for anti-steel company legislature that could decrease steel

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Kennedy first starts off in paragraph 2 by highlighting that America is “devoting… to economic recovery and stability” and then follows up in paragraph 4 by mentioning that the increase in price would result in an extra “one billion dollars” (Sorenson 160, 161). As a result, Kennedy is able to demonstrate that the actions of the steel executives are against the needs of the nation because while “Americans” are hard at work focusing on fixing the economy, the steel executives are jacking up the price of steel making everyone’s lives miserable. Kennedy, however, not only attacks the executive’s lack of upholding their American responsibility, he also hammers their failure to contain any sense of moral obligation. In paragraph 7 Kennedy mentions that steel profits have “exceeded 600 million”, he then goes on to question if the executive’s profits are already so high why bother continuing to raise the prices (Sorenson 161). Not only is the raising of prices illogical it also hurts the American family that Kennedy mentioned earlier in his speech, “it would increase the cost…for every American family” (Sorenson 160).

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President John F. Kennedy gave a commentary during a news conference on April 11, 1962 in which he argues that the hike in steel prices is unjustifiable and extremely wrong for the lives of the American people. Kennedy establishes his claims that raising the price of steel harms the lives of every American citizen through first establishing the context of the issue and then explaining all of the reasons that this rise in steel prices is harmful through his use of anaphora, appeal to logic, and tone of contempt towards the steel companies. Kennedy wishes to rebuke the steel companies who are raising these prices and anger Americans against them in order that they can stop raising their prices. His audience is the angered people who were upset

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In his 1962 speech, then-president, John F. Kennedy tactfully used emotionally charged diction and political allusion to publicly pressure steel executives and influence people to do the same in order to lower steel prices. Mr. Kennedy’s diction is carefully chosen to enable fear and a sense of urgency in the American people, as well as to specifically target steel executives in hopes of lowering the nation’s steel prices. This can be seen in instances such as, “... wholly unjustifiable and irresponsible defiance of the public interest” (Kennedy 5) and,”... at a time when every dollar is needed for national security and other purposes” (Kennedy 34-35). In these quotes, Mr. Kennedy demonstrates proficiency in communication and careful deliberation

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It would increase the cost of machinery and tools to every American businessman and farmer” (Kennedy). Through repetition, Kennedy highlights the issues the nation’s economy would face due to the hike in steel costs, as well as the greater devastation that would occur if the rise in steel prices continued. To appeal to his audience’s emotions during this saddening time, Kennedy recognizes the devastating condition of Americans before the rise in steel prices: “servicemen [were asked] to risk their lives - and four were killed in the last two days in Vietnam - and [union members were asked] to hold down their wage requests” (Kennedy). The emphasis on these brave Americans allowed Kennedy to empathize with his audience’s loss. Kennedy then continued on to recognize that the hike in steel prices would only bring additional losses to the American people as it would “seriously handicap our efforts to prevent an inflationary spiral from eating up the pensions of our older citizens” (Kennedy).

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He logically presents the problems and impacts of rising steel prices, and how they would "seriously handicap our efforts." Even when he is listing off the effects of increased prices, he uses "we're" and "our" to continue the appeal of community. JFK then goes on to state, "there is no justification for an increase in steel prices," which helps keep up his very honest and direct tone. JFK is also, once again, trying to provoke the steel companies into changing their unjustified ways for the greater good of

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On April 11, 1962 John F. Kennedy held a news conference, and addressed the citizens of the United States about the 3.5 percent increase on steel by some of the nations larges steel companies. In Kennedy’s speech he adopts a serious and informative tone by using concrete diction while using facts from other sources to increase his credibility amongst the people. Kennedy uses abstract diction that hits the hearts of the people as he gives his speech. For example, he uses the word handicap several times in his speech.

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In 1962, the United States was in the middle of the Vietnam War and fresh out of a recession. Things were definitely not going very well when, all of a sudden, steel prices rose by almost 4 percent. Then President, John F. Kennedy, was very incensed by the sudden decision and wrote a very passionate speech about it. In his speech he talks about the irresponsibility of steel companies, using rhetorical devices to argue his points. He uses the points in his speech to convince his audience that rising steel prices are not in their best interest.

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637 Words | 3 Pages

In his speech, Kennedy also addressed the issue of international trade and emphasized the importance of free trade as a means to foster economic growth and promote peace among nations. He argued that protectionist trade policies would hinder economic progress and advocated for a liberal trade policy that would open up new markets for American products and create opportunities for American

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523 Words | 3 Pages

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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In 1962, in the midst of the international space race, steel prices in the U.S. began to rise. In this speech delivered by John F. Kennedy, he claims that there is no justification for these increasing steel prices through the use of logos and pathos. Whilst attempting to convince and create reason for steel companies to reduce their prices, JFK employs the use of logic-best argumentation in order to convey his message. However, at times, because his audience isn't merely citizens of the country but also executives of the steel companies, the line between pathos and logos is subtle, for he appeals to the emotions general American public through the use of verifiable data.

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812 Words | 4 Pages

As America entered and went through dark economic tensions, President Kennedy strived for stable prices and wages. After the largest steel companies raised steel prices by 3.5 percent, Kennedy gave a speech in response. In the speech, Kennedy calls out the steel companies for actions that were “wholly unjustifiable” and “irresponsibly defiant” to the American people. He appeals to the audience’s emotion, uses repetition, and applies logic to achieve his goal in persuading the companies to lower steel prices.

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However, in parts of his speech Kennedy talks about how certain groups in the nation are working to help the people of America. For example in line 92 Kennedy talks about the Department of Defense. He talks about what they’re doing to figure out why the prices of steel are rising so quickly and what needs to be done to protect the public interest. By using positive and negative words Kennedy is able to make his opinion clear. The audience is able to see Kennedy’s negative opinion on the rising steel prices and his positive opinion on what different organizations are doing to help with the current steel crisis.

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