John Fitzgerald Kennedy gained lasting recognition though two events: the end of his life and the beginning of his presidency. Although his assassination caused controversy, his inaugural speech marked a seminal point in his political history. Kennedy wrote the script with the guidance of several editors; however, it largely contained his own ideas and thoughts. He only earned the presidential position through a miniscule popular margin, so Kennedy had to inspire Americans and set goals for his presidency as well as the future of America. Although he spoke directly to an American audience in Washington D.C, his words pertained to various foreign countries and people. Kennedy sent his message because of the existing doubt about his leadership and the widely reaching nature of the presidential inauguration. The beginning of his speech served to establish his credibility through diction and repetition and to …show more content…
When he used these terms and phrases multiple times, the audience would believe in him and his aspirations. Kennedy swayed the audience to feel as if he is the same as themselves. For example, Kennedy quickly refers to the audience as his “fellow citizens” (1) early on in the speech, establishing his rank among Americans. He knows that a common citizen will fulfill the common American dream. Kennedy also utilizes recurring phrases and words that promote feelings of his connection with the American people. He constantly uses the terms ‘we’ and ‘our’ to make the audience feel included in his plan and future political actions. For example, Kennedy includes how “we pledge our word” (7) to prevent tyranny, not just the government. His repeated use of these phrases help set these ambitions as ones felt throughout America within the listeners. With both his word choice and recurring sentences, Kennedy tries to gain his confidence and credibility from the