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Rhetorical Analysis Of Atoms For Peace

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Before his election to the presidency, Dwight Eisenhower sought to contain the atom’s destructive power (). Yet, in his first speech at the United Nations as President of the United States, Eisenhower argued for the normalization of the international proliferation of nuclear technology (Office of the President, 1953). The motivation behind his now famous “Atoms for Peace” speech illuminates an interesting contradiction between the obvious American nonproliferation objectives and the president’s political calculation. The key to understanding this contradiction is to separate Eisenhower’s contemporary political motivations from the consequences of the president’s choice to pursue international proliferation of peaceful nuclear technology. The …show more content…

Several of Eisenhower’s rhetorical choices clarify that the address’s intended audience as the American people. References to the American citizenry sprinkled throughout the remarks, a detailed description of US retaliatory capabilities, and a pledge to submit a plan to Congress strongly suggest that the administration sought to sell the American public, not the international community, on its policy (Chernus, 2006). The campaign, which included a radio-television series entitled “The Age of Peril”, portrayed the extremely dark and dangerous side of the atom. In order to balance out the project’s dark messaging, the president and his advisors wished to emphasize a more hopeful and cooperative tone in Eisenhower’s speech to the United Nations (Osgood, 2000). The remarks further normalized peaceful nuclear technology by discussing plans for commercialization which rehabilitated a wartime technology for civil society (Johnston, 2012). The possibility of economic benefit signaled to eager commercial interests the Eisenhower administration’s openness to commercial exploitation of American atomic technology superiority (Holloway, 2017). Eisenhower used the speech as a platform to communicate a more positive outlook with domestic audiences to negate the campaign’s negative messaging. The …show more content…

In Danger and Survival, McGeorge Bundy suggests that the policy proposed in the speech allowed citizens to believe Eisenhower was presenting a reasonable policy alternative to the harsh eventuality of total nuclear war. In October of 1953, Eisenhower approved a shift away from the policy of containment advocated in NSC-68, initiated by significant cuts in the American conventional military budget and emphasis on larger nuclear stockpiles (Lavoy, 2003). The combination of possible avenues of cooperation and the harsh realities of a nuclear world, both effectively communicated in Eisenhower’s address, allowed the administration to propose more extreme policies such as massive retaliation to the domestic politic (Osgood, 2000). The unique dual-messaging justified the buildup of the American nuclear stockpile as well as deep budget and personnel cuts in conventional warfare

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Therefore, Truman, Eisenhower, and most Americans thought of themselves as the champion of freedom and democracy, placing upon themselves the responsibility of freeing the other countries from the Soviet Union’s control. But, Truman and Eisenhower did things differently. Truman signed the NSC 68, increasing the spending for defense and expanding the military even during the time of peace. However, President Eisenhower thought the spending has increased too much over the years, and instead relied on nuclear bombs and bombers. By using the bombs as threats, Eisenhower was able to pressure communist countries from taking over other

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The “Atoms for Peace” speech by Eisenhower addressed the United States and international groups and countries. Dwight Eisenhower was the 34th president of the United States, born on October 14th, 1890. He was president from 1953 to 1961. He presented a speech called “Atoms for Peace” on December, 8th, 1953 His speech was about the tension between nations and fear among citizens because of the atomic bomb, because of the bomb they were scared of each other and was concerned about the war he states in paragraph 18 “The United States does not wish merely to present strength, but also the desire and hope for peace.”

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President Eisenhower delves into his speech mentioning his recent meeting with the British Prime Minister and French Premier to discuss problems facing the world at the time, he had previously been in Bermuda referred to as the Big Three Conference. The main problem they discussed was communism, not directly mentioned in his speech. This meeting, ten years after the first Bermuda Conference which convened to discuss what to do with the Jewish people liberated from Nazi concentration camps. The world at the time was now facing a divided and walled Germany, fallout shelters, duck and cover reels, and tension of potential atomic war. In his speech, Eisenhower addresses the United States’ role in the nuclear arms race along with the contribution

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No matter what side you're on you can agree that Global Nuclear Arms is a very very controversial topic. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the great american president who gave a speech called Atoms for peace. He gave this important speech to the UN General Assembly in New York City on December 8, 1953. The president was just beginning a series of conferences with the Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of Great Britain and of France. When his Secretary General gave him the invitation to address the General Assembly reached him in Bermuda.

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It was August, 1939. United States President Franklin Roosevelt reads a letter sent to him from prominent scientists Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard. The purpose of this letter was to inform the President that the Germans supposedly discovered the secrets to developing nuclear weaponry and to urge the President to do the same (1). This letter changed the course of human history; from this letter came the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project was the code-name given to the American research and development of an atomic bomb.

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On December 8, 1953, President Eisenhower had a meeting with the United Nations General Assembly where he delivered his “Atoms for Peace” speech. This speech started the world on studying nuclear energy. According to an article by Ariana Rowberry, President Eisenhower said in his speech “…if a danger exists in the world, it is a danger shared by all; and equally, that if hope exists in the mind of one nation, that hope should be shared by all” (1). The Atoms for Peace provided technology and education for countries wanting a civilian nuclear program. What has led Iran from the ability to poses nuclear energy for civilian use to wanting to acquire an atomic

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Especially since Eisenhower believed in massive retaliation, which was funding the stockpiling of nuclear weapons and less funding to the army. Eisenhower’s policy had backlash from both conservatives and liberals. As stated in Document E, “...whether a policy accepting the first blow may be the best one.” People believed that massive retaliation was not the best way to avoid nuclear war. Document E serves the purpose of showing the faults of massive retaliations and how in the grand scheme it isn’t a sufficient way to keep away from a nuclear war.

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One of the most influential scientists of his century, Albert Einstein, will forever be the cause of nuclear warfare. It is hard to predict that a successful scientist could be responsible for millions of deaths. Despite having the best intentions, Einstein prompted the United State’s race to nuclear arms. With his signature on a letter warning the United States of Germany’s false progression of their atomic research influenced the government 's decision to create an atomic bomb which would be used later to destroy a japanese city, resulting in millions of deaths. Due to Albert Einstein 's fear for the safety of the United States, he prompted the destruction of other nations.

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Eisenhower used these precise words to let his audience know that the United States was not the only country who had knowledge of deadly atomic weapons. Not only our allies, but also our enemies, knew of the power of atomic weaponry. The use of promise of gain, Eisenhower is very adamant in his speech, about the great power that could be achieved by atomic energy and what great benefit it would be not only in America but the world. Eisenhower said in his speech “The more important responsibility of this atomic energy agency would be to devise methods whereby this fissionable material would be allocated to serve the peaceful pursuits of mankind. Experts would be mobilized to apply atomic energy to the needs of agriculture, medicine, and other peaceful activities.

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After the creation of the NPT, came the birth of nine significant regimental elements of the organization: the Atoms for Peace Program (APP), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZs). The Atoms for Peace Program, during its creation in the 1950’s, came about with huge expectations that it would allow for affordable electricity to people from all types of socio-economic backgrounds around the world. This enthusiastic belief was spread by some of the most influential figures of the time, including Winston Churchill whom announced that atomic energy is ‘’a perennial fountain of world prosperity’’ (Cirincione, J 2007). This however never eventuated, despite the construction of nuclear facilities steadily increasing around the world, and progression in areas of medicine, the promise of an endless supply of affordable electricity never occurred.

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