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Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's The Cuban Missile Crisis

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The Cuban Missile Crisis, written by John F. Kennedy, depicts a man’s determination towards uniting a nation during an unsettling period of human history. During a thirteen day period from October 14 to October 28, 1962, the Soviet Union installed nuclear-armed missiles on the island of Cuba capable of striking a number of major cities in the Western Hemisphere. Through his condemnatory tone, credible sources, and use of metaphors, the author proves that society must unite against a common enemy. Kennedy calls upon the people to stand together against their adversary as he highlights the deceitful acts of the Soviet Union through his condemning tone. He depicts the actions of the Union as a “deliberate deception” to show how the Soviets cannot be trusted as their tricks are a “definite threat to world peace” (Kennedy 2). The author’s repeated use of word “clandestine” through phrases, such as a “clandestine decision”, serves to further denounce the Soviets in the eyes of the nation. The author …show more content…

As the speech progresses, Kennedy continually refers to the words of the “Soviet Government” (2). The author’s repeated use of the phrase, “I quote” (2), as he addresses the nation proves the earlier statements, in light of the current events, as lies. Kennedy goes onto mention “Mr.Gromyko” (2), who spoke to him personally regarding the Cuban situation. As Gromyko’s statements are later revealed as false, Kennedy provides the nation with an individual to view as the enemy and not only the abstract concept of the Soviet Union. The author also recalls the lessons the “1930s taught” as he alludes to the atrocities committed and warns of their reoccurrence with the hesitation of uniting to take action against the Soviets (3). The words of the Soviet Union assists in proving Kennedy’s words regarding the need for society to fight as

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At the start of the recession steel prices increased by almost 6 dollars a ton. President Kennedy addressed the issue on April 11th, 1962 at a news conference. During this conference President Kennedy stated on line 5 that this was “wholly unjustifiable and irresponsible defiance of the public interest”. Throughout the conference President Kennedy uses many rhetorical techniques such as using an ethical appeal through shared values, diction through a somber tone and word choice, and an emotional appeal to illuminate the issues that increased steel prices have caused. President Kennedy also uses intelligent, formal fiction through this speech regarding the increase in steel prices.

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Kennedy’s anaphoric repetition of the phrase “To those" creates a list of promises to various entities. Again Kennedy applies antithesis and parallel structure; this time in order to illustrate the importance of unity with America's allies in the fight against communism. Kennedy creates personification as well as alliteration by asserting that in newly democratic and free nations, the former "colonial control" has passed away. This is followed by a caveat to these newly democratic nations about the dangers of giving too much power to one person or group with the metaphor of being consumed by a tiger. This caveat also resembles Chinese proverbs through parallel structure.

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President John F. Kennedy, in his speech, "John F. Kennedy's Speech Regarding Steel Industries," informs Americans of what is happening within the steel industry. Kennedy's purpose is to criticize the steel industry while informing American citizens about what is happening to them when steel prices are raised. He adopts an infuriated tone in order to communicate the idea of steel industries taking advantage of American citizens' will to sacrifice. John F. Kennedy uses his credentials as President of the United States to advise listeners about what is occurring within the steel industry pertaining to prices.

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Kennedy’s speech was influential because of the three main aspects were executed so successfully. He informed them about what the missiles were like, what they were capable of, and the steps America and several other countries would take in retaliation to the nuclear weapons in Cuba. He conveyed pathos through his words of compassion towards the Cuban captives and feeling for their pain. He asserted his feelings of confidence of the United States and his firmness of not backing down; the country would go to war if they must. Structure was punctualized by having three main topics, all paragraphs are the same length, with the exception of three small

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He goes on even deeper to elaborate one of the greatest struggles that every nation has with each other. The effect that comes from putting an emphasis on constructing nuclear bombs. On this specific topic of nuclear bombs, Kennedy uses a convincing cause and effect. If all nations keep pursuing destructive causes, then the effect will lead to the termination of all humanity. Thankfully, Kennedy takes his own advice and propelled everyone’s ideas toward a positive

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In the 1962, there are many events that are happening to America. Kennedy uses the current events to make a point in his speech. According to the president, “in this serious hour in our nation’s history, when we are confronted with grave crises in Berlin and Southeast Asia...asking Reservists to leave their homes and families for months on end…” In

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Starting around 1947, the United States entered a war-like situation against the Soviet Union. The two nations competed on gigantic scales, trying to achieve more in terms of invention, creativity, and efficiency. As a result, President John F. Kennedy spoke at Rice University on September 12, 1962, attempting to excite the audience about the new space program and its upcoming mission to the moon. Because space was considered uncharted territory, which is still true in some cases today, the president wanted to ease the audience and the rest of the country into the new exploration age that the United States was headed towards. To achieve his purpose, John F. Kennedy appeals to the peoples’ pathos by speaking of conquering wary circumstances

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During this speech, President Kennedy calls for an important aspect regarding the situation experienced hours before, which was a moral crisis that the country had faced at the time. He then finalizes his speech by calling for social support among citizens. “This nation, for all its hopes and all its boasts, will not be fully free until all its citizens are free. We face therefore a moral crisis as a country and a people. It cannot be met by repressive police action.

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John F. Kennedy discusses and analyzes on how the nation differs from the past and present day in that time period. Kennedy narrators on the division and war in the the world to appeal to the audience patriotism by using pathos and logos. In this speech President Kennedy states “to thoses who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request; that both sides begin the quest for peace, before the dark power of destruction unleashed.” He uses this quote to obtain a logical appeal to the appeal to the people. Kennedy uses logos to show that he wants the nation to come together and be humble together in one peace.

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John F. Kennedy uses literary devices to capture the attention of the audience, sets himself equal to his audience getting their attention and support, and uses the christian religion to strike the emotions and gain the support of his audience. Kennedy uses many literary devices to catch the attention of his audience. One of these devices is repetition. One example of repetition that Kennedy uses is, “Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

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His diction is very inclusive; he commences his speech with several uses of the words ‘we’ and ‘our’, which makes way for inclusivity. JFK is blurring the distinction between citizen and superior governor by including the people in his proclamation. While describing the hardships and challenges that the country is facing, Kennedy mentions how imperative the occasion is on a global level; in the midst of the Cold War, he reminds his audience of the importance of uniting. Through the use of the lexical field of danger — words such as: ‘defiance’, ‘serious’, ‘risk’, and ‘sacrifice’ — he creates a feeling of tension and urgency, and engages his audience to the concern. To conclude his speech, the President mentions self-guilt on the part of the country on how they had not displayed the “sense of business responsibility” that they should have, a rhetorical strategy that approximates the audience to the government.

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The burden of equipping these nations lies within the hands of America. Through his use of synecdoche, Kennedy reveals the duty that Americans have in freeing the world. He places the in “mortal hands” the power to destroy both poverty and humanity. The success, or failure, of humanity rests in “[i]n [the] hands” of the citizens, not of Kennedy. By placing the ability to both bring everlasting peace or destruction to Earth directly into Americans’ reach, it forces the people to make a choice.

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During the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis took place. It was when two superpowers were close to causing a nuclear war. Its main origin was when the United States invaded Cuba, on April 10, 1961; which is also known as the Bay of Pigs invasion. After the invasion, previous Prime Minister; Fidel Castro of Cuba, was ‘paranoid’ because he felt like America was planning another attack. So in order to protect his nation, he sought military and economic help from the Soviet Union.

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Many realized that the Soviet Union was a terrible foe to face, as George Kennan, a respected American diplomat, noticed. He said in “The Sources of Soviet Conduct,” “This means

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The Cold War created a bipolar world of opposing ideals and influences, and Kennedy helped to motivate a paradigm shift in European mentality. The actions that his speech set in motion helped to pull down the Soviet bloc, and start an eventual geopolitical revolution that allowed the dismantling of previous, more primitive ideals (such as those of the League of Nations), and remind the world that change could still occur. Even in the current day, events such as the Scottish referendum and the Ukrainian conflicts show that the populous, like Kennedy, still feel the need to tear down the ‘Wall’ keeping them

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