Rhetorical Analysis Of J. F. Kennedy's Inauguration Speech

Weathington, Graysen

Mr. Scott

English

12 May 2023

Rhetorical Analysis of “J.F.K.’s Inauguration Speech”

One of the greatest leaders our country has seen. This speech became the basis for guiding us through one of the tensest times in our history, the Cold War. John F. Kennedy became the president in 1961, and this speech he gave during his inauguration has been recorded as one of the most memorable and impactful inauguration speeches given. In his speech he seeks to convince the people of the United States to support him as their next president. He establishes his basic ideas for leading and what he wishes to accomplish, all of which he needs the people's support in order to achieve as their leader. These policies would become essential in dealing with the Cold War, which dominated the late 20th century, one such incident being the Cuban Missile Crisis. In order to convince the people to support the goals he seeks to achieve

He explains why it is our duty to promote peace ,“[...] to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans” (Kennedy). This is an emotional appeal that calls on the obligations and patriotism of the people. They are duty bound to continue the peace that their forefathers brought before them, which separates the U.S. from others. He also gives reason for why this quest is of such need now, “The quest for peace before the dark powers of destruction” (Kennedy). This logical appeal shows that the looming doom is something that even enemies can agree upon, despite opposition. No one wants annihilation to come from this conflict, no matter how much opposition exists between the two parties. So it is necessary to pursue this quest before destruction is all that's left. These two appeals focus on promoting peace, which is an important goal for successful leaders and a major concern of the country and American