Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's Steel Industry

In a poignant speech to the American people, United States President John F. Kennedy calls for stable steel prices in response to the recent three percent increase by major American steel companies. He asserts that the steel industry is harming the American economy through this increase in prices, handicapping the nation’s ability to defend itself in this time of great uncertainty. To further emphasize the negative impact of this change, Kennedy appeals to pathos and logos, using imagery, reasoning, and statistics throughout his speech. These effects aid his purpose of denouncing the steel industry for the injustices done to the American people in its effort to squeeze every penny from their pockets. From the very beginning of his speech,

He indicates that this rise in the price of steel would “increase the cost of homes, autos, appliances, and most other items for every American family,” (line 23), and “seriously handicap our efforts to prevent an inflationary spiral from eating up the pensions of our older citizens,” (line 27). In this short excerpt, Kennedy deliberately paints an image of Americans suffering due to this change in steel prices, wanting the American people to see the pain and anguish that these recent events will bring them. Accordingly, this stirring image of the elderly unable to receive pension due to the actions of the wealthy invokes a sense that an injustice was done to the people. To them, these steel companies have now unfairly increased steel prices in order to reap the benefits of the extra influx of cash while allowing others to suffer.

He claims that this change in price will add “an estimated one billion dollars to the cost of our defenses, at a time when every dollar is needed for national security,” (line 33). This point is especially persuasive to the targeted audience since Kennedy is addressing the country after serious tensions during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the invasion of the Bay of Pigs. These military crises forced the United States to increase its military operations abroad, resulting in an ever-growing demand for the money necessary to conduct these operations. The United States had to rely on its strong economy to create the immense amount of money necessary for that funding, as President Kennedy points out. Thus, the point he makes about the faltering of the economy due to the increase in steel prices plays to a certain fear of the American people. This fear comprises of a new danger arising with the government lacking the funds to safely and securely defend the people. In sum, Kennedy links the rising cost of steel to the safety of the American people, and, therefore, he makes the audience feel as if their very lives could be endangered by the carelessness of steel executives. This point coaxes the audience further into agreeing with him since, in their minds, their own safety takes precedence over any other issue. As a result, Kennedy further unites the people against