Rhetorical Analysis Of Pearl Harbor Address To The Nation

“...December 7th, 1941-a date which live in infamy”(Roosevelt 1). President Franklin D. Roosevelt speaks about the Empire of Japan and how they attacked the United States of America. This is very important to the United States because they are being invaded so suddenly and deliberately. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s main purpose in writing the “Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation” is to establish war and fight against Japan. In “Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation”, the president uses ethos the appeal to credibility, logos the appeal to logic, and repetition in order to advance a point and achieve a purpose in his speech. To begin with, Roosevelt points out ethos in order to cite his official position and authority to build his credibility. The president claim,“As commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy “(Roosevelt 13). This shows that he is above all and he directs that all measures be taken for their defence. Franklin D. Roosevelt also notes,”I believe that I interpret the will of congress and of the people”(Roosevelt 15). Here, Roosevelt builds his credibility when he shows his respect for and knowledge of congress for the american people.

Roosevelt implies,”It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago”(Roosevelt 4).Here, Franklin D. Roosevelt uses facts about the distance from Hawaii to Japan to show that the attack was scheduled. He also comments,”I ask that the congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan ...a state of war has existed between the United states and the Japanese Empire”(Roosevelt 18). Roosevelt uses logical reasoning and then clearly articulates his