Reagan’s rhetorical style was fundamental in defining him as a president. In fact, many believe that his speech at the Brandenburg Gate was directly responsible for the collapse of communism. To determine if this is so, it is essential to critically examine his rhetorical strategies and understand who Regan was as a person. Ronald Regan was born in Tampico, Illinois, on February 6, 1911 to Nelle and Jack Regan, a low-income Roman Catholic family. Yet despite his family’s lack of prominence, he went on to do quite a bit in his early life; Regan graduate from Eureka College in 1932, worked as a sports announcer on several regional radio stations, and eventually moved to Los Angeles, California in 1937 to become a professional actor.
The first rhetorical skill that Reagan uses is ethos. In the very first sentence he implies his status and authority by stating, “I'd planned to speak to you tonight to report on the state of the Union, but the events of earlier today have led me to change those plans.” By showing us his power as President of the United States (the
Speaking of John Adam’s inaugural address, historian David McCullough says that “he paid great tribute to Washington’s leadership.” It is important to note that this mutual respect between consecutive presidents set an example that has largely been followed for centuries. Nearly two centuries later in 1981, president-elect Ronal Reagan expressed similar sentiments, starting out his speech by addressing the sitting president of the time, Jimmy Carter. He describes the transition of power as “nothing less than a miracle” and asserts that the orderly transition of power “takes place, as it is for almost two centuries, [sic] and few of us stop to think how unique we really are.” He goes on to praise Carter for all he has done to ensure that this tradition carries on in a smooth and peaceful manner.
Tragedies, they will happen without a hint of awareness but they cannot be stopped or answered for. When they do occur it leads people to shock and grief. However tragedies brings forth something that gives people unity, hope, and direction. This something is called a leader and throughout history many people have embodied this quality. There are many instances where people have stood up an embodied this quality.
Reagan had the tendency to focus only on the “big issues” while the members of his Cabinet handled other matters. I found it intriguing that Reagan spent his presidency practicing a “hands-off management style” (Broussard 111). Reagan would make an executive decision on a matter, while others would put in work gathering information and coming up with policy alternatives. Broussard points out that Reagan’s concern while in office was inflation and “although he did not actually slay the beast…he left it weaker, wounded and far less dangerous” (Broussard 125). However, he also notes that battling inflation resulted in a serious recession and “the worst economic downturn…since the Great Depression of the 1930s” (Broussard 125).
Reagan is able to persuade the audience of his point of view, while still maintaining a caring
On August 8th, 1974 at exactly 9:01 pm, Richard Nixon--former President-- gave a speech that would affect both United States history and the american people. Richard Nixon’s argument and claim lay within the textual aspects, in other words, his tone, attitude, and the strategic ways of presenting to his audience. In this historical speech, Richard Nixon broadcasted his character, past decisions, and future advice to the people of the United States in order to justify his resignation from the presidential office. The rhetorical stylistic tools were effective and instrumental in backing up the argument. Recognition of audience was important, because it will determine his attitude and tone, which was innocence.
Analyzing Challenger’s Address Delivered on January 28, 1986, Ronald Reagan’s speech addressing the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster was a plausible proof of the possibility to communicate various ideas during a tough situation effectively and efficiently. In a speech that lasted less than five minutes, Ronald Reagan managed to express his thoughts verbally and attempt to persuade his audience through an eulogy, a speech characterized by its epideictic occassion, that had been infused with a deliberative content that did not conflict with the core of the speech. Before one can analyze the details of Ronald Reagan’s speech, understanding the purpose behind the creation of the speech might be useful for understanding the context of the speech as a whole. Based on the speech how it relates to common speech purposes
President Ronald Reagan’s speech on the 40th anniversary of D-Day is one to remember. He spoke of the bravery and showed the veterans gratitude for their selflessness to fight. The speech takes place in Normandy, France at the D-Day memorial. These veterans fought to give freedom back to those it was taken from. President Ronald Reagan does make a convincing argument in his remarks of the D-Day address because he not only recognizes the American veterans but also every veteran from the other countries who came to help.
President Reagan’s began his presidency with the understanding that there were growing concerns felt by the American people concerning the events that were taking place within our nation (Schultz, 2013). Also, he realized that family values and a free market were probably the two areas that were most important to the citizens. He started his presidential legacy by cutting taxes, decreasing funds for social programs and by increasing military resources. His thoughts were that by cutting taxes that the government 's revenue would increase, thus, ensuring they could pay their debt instead of the taxpayers. Although, the changes in military funding and social programs led to a drastic increase in the nation 's debt that even
Although Ronald Reagan’s speech about the Challenger explosion was given during a time of great sorrow, the speech was successful for being a way to unite the country as one to deal with the loss as a whole, and to bear the weight of such a horrific tragedy together. With the Challenger disaster being the first one of the space program to have deaths in flight, the United States was completely shocked by the misfortune of the shuttle. Ronald Reagan’s speech on the disaster was a way to have the nation not blame the space program for the deaths of the astronauts, but a way to have the nation face the disaster with strength and push through the event with more courage than before and to continue exploration into space. Ronald Reagan begins his speech by addressing the nation and stating how he is exempting the State of the Union
Policymakers should worry about the stock market. There is a problem when irrational exuberance, which make a bubble in stock, market prices. Stock market bubble happens when the stock market price of a company increase more than their fundamental prices. When there is a case of stock market bubble, stock market price will affect people’s investing decision, and bubbles can misinform people into investing when it is not profitable. Recession may occur due to a period of low investment which causes by over investment.
In this address he makes a sweeping critique of liberalism, big government, and federal payments. (Encyclopedia) In this speech, known as “A Time for Choosing” Reagan used logos, pathos, and mood to invoke people’s feelings about making the right choice when choosing their leader in order for society to have a stronger and successful future. Historical background
On January 20, 1981, Ronald Reagan gave his “First Inaugural Address” with the United States listening; some people were able to experience firsthand Ronald Reagan’s passion and views for our country, in Front of the Capitol Building, while others tuned in to listen on the momentous occasion. Ronald Reagan sets the stage for his presidency using logos through logical sentences that are meant to bring the audience a better perspective on his point of view. Diction was a key factor in showing Ronald Reagan’s strong sense of nationalism; he chose powerful, hopeful words and phrases that were intended to unify the people. He shows syntax through anaphora, repetition, and parallelism. By using these rhetorical devices, he states key phrases more than once to create an urgency and therefore grab listener’s attention.
Former President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, in his address to the nation about the Challenger explosion, distinguishes the terrifying news of the explosion of the space shuttle. Reagan's purpose is to remember the lives lost in this painful accident and to ensure that space program will keep our faith with its future in space. He adopts a sorrowful tone in order to acknowledge all the courage and breakers that those seven astronauts expressed to his nation. Reagan opens his tribute to the Challenger astronauts by recognizing that this accident delayed his State of the Union address and by showing the pain of him and his wife’s grief. He appeal to the emotions of the listeners by expressing that “today is a day for mourning and remembering” (Reagan, 1986), that he and his wife are “pained to the core” (Reagan, 1986), and that we all know that this accident is “truly a national loss” (Reagan, 1986).