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Powerful Use Of Rhetorical Devices In Speeches By John F. Kennedy

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John F. Kennedy was one of America’s most beloved presidents before his tragic death in November of 1963. On a frosty morning in January of 1961, he gave one of the most historic and quoted speeches ever given by a United States president. Through his tactful use of antimetabole, repetition, and allusion, John F. Kennedy was able to make his inauguration speech one of the most memorable and effective to this day.
Kennedy’s most notable quote is a good example of antimetabole. When he says, “Ask not what America will do for you—ask what you can do for your country”, he’s turning the public’s general question towards the president/government around, and suggesting that the audience ask themselves what they can do to assist their country. This sentence causes listeners to stop and consider what they could do to help instead of making demands of the President about how he is going to help them. …show more content…

He uses the word ‘we’ more than 20 times throughout his entire inaugural speech. By interspersing different group pronouns, such as ‘we’, ‘us’, and ‘our’ into his speech, Kennedy is able to come across as one of America’s own, and not a high-ranking “official”. When he talks about the loyalty that the United States will extend to its allies, he states, “United, there is little we cannot do in host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do”. Kennedy is explaining that by unifying everyone into one system there is so much that can be done, but if everyone were to act alone there would not be much the countries could get

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Friday, January 20, 1961 was the Inaugural Address of former president John Fitzgerald Kennedy also known as John F Kennedy. In the wake of winning the Presidential decision by one of the littlest edges ever, Kennedy was approved by more than half of the country shortly thereafter. Kennedy’s speech was centered on Freedom and the country’s call to greatness. The inaugural address speech that was made by President Kennedy was made to motivate and incite the American people to activity. Kennedy’s Inaugural speech was not only aimed to the people of the country, but also to the rest of the world.

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Because Kennedy is the new president, he has to establish credibility with the citizens and ultimately the whole world by appealing to ethos. In his speech, he tries to gain peoples’ loyalty and trust when he says “For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed.” Kennedy shows sympathy by including himself in the group of regular Americans by using the first person “we” throughout his speech.

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JFK knew how important this speech is and chose his words very meticulously conducive to the current situation in the nation and world. His first concern was to reach out to his American citizens, and he did that using abstract words such as “freedom”, “loyalty”, “sacrifice”, etc. Not only are they easy to talk about, but abstract words are also easier to stay general than getting into specifics. They are more difficult for people to oppose and set a strong tone for the speech that Kennedy sets out for. JFK continues on laying out a strong persona with the figure of speech saying, “Bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe.” creating a pattern of connecting and bringing together to symbolize how he wants the citizens of America and other democratic nations to face the threat of communism joined together as a “beachhead of cooperation” to push back “the jungle of suspicion”.

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By using we, us and our he includes everyone and unifies the citizens of the United States and the world. Kennedy says “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed...” He is saying that the old generation had passed their ideas on to the new generation who are willing to sacrifice so that their rights are not taken from them. By saying “friend and foe alike” he is bringing everyone together and not letting them be different just because they are a friend or a foe. Additionally by describing traits of all the Americans, he unifies the citizens of America because all were tempered by war and proud of their heritage so it allows citizens to bond of common history.

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Also, Bold diction is exhibited, for instance, the terms liberty, loyalty, united, pledge, and peace deliver a firm message. These terms indicate that the move towards unity will also be absolute and firm. Because this speech was around the time of the cold war, and citizens desperately wanted unity, this direct and bold approach thoroughly conveyed Kennedy’s

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The use of antithesis in Kennedy 's speech is demonstrated in the statement: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country” (para. 25). Kennedy’s use of antithesis are used to strengthen his argument. He strengthened his argument by inviting the audience to think about what one can do for the country. Another example Kennedy uses, “Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate” (para. 14). Kennedy is saying to never have fear to negotiate and face our fears.

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John F. Kennedy’s was known as a very patriotic person, and that would raise the question why. Well, the answer can simply be found in his inauguration speech. He gave the speech to bolster the fighting spirit and act as an inspiration for the Americans. How he does this is interestingly simple by smart actually. He used a plethora of stylistic devices extensively in his speech.

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On April 10, 1962, steel companies raised the prices by 3.5 percent of their products. President John F. Kennedy had tried to maintain steel prices at a stable rate. President John F. Kennedy, known for his diligence and persuasion, held a news conference about the hikes in steel prices. President John F. Kennedy, in his speech, uses rhetorical strategies such as diction, emotional appeals, and a persuasive tone to convince Americans that steel companies are declining the standards to maintain stable prices. Kennedy states that the steel companies are a national problem due to the increase of steel prices.

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Kennedy often sets himself equal to his audience, as if saying that he is no better than anybody else, gaining their respect and support. For example in Kennedy’s inaugural speech, he states, “ United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures.” In this Kennedy is placing himself in the same category as his audience and saying that he needs them, just as much as they need him. Another example of Kennedy setting himself equal to his audience is, “ In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course.” In this statement, John F. Kennedy is saying that the people of America, united, have more power than him.

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In 1962 President John F. Kennedy held a press conference in which he informed the audience on his stance for the rising steel prices. Kennedy not only wanted to inform the audience, he wanted to get them on his side of the argument. He wanted to show the audience that the rising steel prices were going to have a negative impact on the nation. To do this Kennedy used some of the rhetoric strategies and tools. He used periodic sentences, anaphora, and diction.

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But let us never fear to negotiate.” President Kennedy wanted to insure the people of our country that by being a unified whole we can be stronger and use that strength to help others. By using anaphora in this section of the speech, he creates a sense of unity amongst not only Americans, however, between

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