“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” With these words, John F Kennedy marked his presidency as one of communal dedication and sacrifice. A year later, in the midst of a recession, steel companies raised prices by 3.5% at the cost of its workers and the public good, inciting a public outcry against corporate greed. In stride with the people, John F Kennedy’s response vindicated their anger, reinforced unity, and called out for the steel companies’ reform through contextualization of the steel companies’ actions, powerful logos defining their motivations, and an overarching pathos that villainizes these actions, and reinforces the patriotism of his listeners. Throughout the beginning paragraphs of the speech, Kennedy presents the common struggles placed on the American community; “we are devoting our energy to economic recovery and stability”, “we are asking servicemen to risk their lives”, “restraint and sacrifice are being asked of every citizen”. Kennedy follows by juxtaposing the public sacrifice with the greed of the steel companies who, he claims, pursued “private power and profit” at the cost of public interest. The contextualization of corporate greed in the midst of public …show more content…
He concludes, “The American people have a right to expect … a higher sense of business responsibility”, and proposes ways to achieve that end. In a similar manner to that of his inaugural address, John F Kennedy maneuvers the rise of steel prices into a communal, and a personal issue. Through persuading the people of their political involvement, he strengthens the advantage of his demands on the steel companies - they now have the American populace against