Rhetorical Analysis Of A Time For Choosing

Ronald Reagan delivered the speech ‘A Time For Choosing” or more widely known as “The Speech” on October 27, 1964. This speech was presented during the 1964 U.S. presidential election campaign by future president Ronald Reagan on behalf of Republican candidate Barry Goldwater. To this day, “The Time For Choosing” or more likely known as, "The Speech" is considered one of the most effective ever made on behalf of a candidate. Nevertheless, Barry Goldwater lost the election by one of the largest margins in history. This event catapulted Reagan to national fame this speech he gave on behalf of the Republican candidate for president in 1964, Barry Goldwater, whose career as a national politician ended with that race. This speech launched Reagan

In order to do this, Regan used rhetorical appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos in order to lift Barry Goldwater in a position where the public would want to donate and support his campaign.

An effective tool Regan uses to sell his ability is his ethos appeal. It is clear that a main goal of his speech is to portray good character.“Should the patriots at concord bridge have thrown down their guns and refused to fire the shot heard round the world?” (8) this section of the speech is given using “I”, “Our”, and “we”, implying that the benefits achieved by supporting conservatism reap benefits to all, him included which allows him to place himself among the people which allows the audience to feel more connected to him. With direct description, religious and moral references, or an obvious tone thrown over a moral statement, Regan uses this appeal throughout his speech and he uses it well. A major theme in this speech entertains a concern for the general direction of the nation in terms of foreign affairs. Regan

However, he also targets a more specific audience. In the very beginning of his speech, Regan makes the statement “I have spent most of my life as a Democrat. I recently have seen fit to follow another course. (1)” This statement serves to target democrats in a number of ways. One way it does this is by seeming to imply that he has learned from his mistakes and now recognizes the Democratic Party as the lesser of the two available options. This puts democrats in his field of fire by criticizing them indirectly. Another way the statement narrows his intended audience is by embedding a sort of genuine characteristic in his language, resulting in an appeal to democrats. By saying that he has changed his political ideologies arouses curiosity and projects a sense of severity regarding the negative situation created by Democratic Party leaders of the time. Reagan also uses Pathos not only to bring down other opponents but to also bring emotion into his campaign to positively affect the outcome. By saying, “I wonder who among us would like to approach a wife or mother whose husband or son has died in South Vietnam and ask them if they think this is a peace that should be maintained indefinitely. (5)”, Reagan is using emotion to get his audience to choose the right candidate that will get them out of wat and maintain peace. Everyone who has lost a loved one