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Rhetorical Analysis Of Ronald Reagan's Speech

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Ronald Reagan’s speech to the people of West Berlin is made effective by his utilization of humble introduction, his figurative language, and his confident diction to satisfy the three rhetorical appeals. First, Reagan begins his speech by telling the German people his reason for traveling to Berlin to speak while using a noticeably respectful tone. “We coem to Berlin, we American presidents, because it is our duty to speak, in this place, of freedom. But I must admit, we’re drawn here by other things as well: by he feeling of history in this city, more than 500 years older than our own nation;”(par. 2) Reagans language in this statement maintains a humble tone throuhout. To illustrate, words and phrases such as “duty,” “freedom,” “feeling …show more content…

He describes the positive effects using an analogy. “...just as truth can flourish only when the journalist is given freedom of speech, so prosperity can come about only when the farmer and businessman enjoy economic freedom. The German leaders reduced tariffs, expanded free trade, lowered taxes. From 1950 to 1960 alone, the standard of living in West Germany and Berlin doubled”(par. 7). The analogy used in this quote means that countries which are allowed freedom will flourish more than those with governments which restrict the liberty of their people. Moreover, this figurative language indirectly vilifies Communism and the Soviet Union, the United States’ rival in the Cold War of this time period, to make his argument more convincing. This comparison between the effects of free speech and ecomomic freedom in a society evidently appeals to the rhetorical appeal logos. To illustrate, both the analogy comparing freedom of speech and the more literal relationship Reagan draws between free trade and economic development use solely logic to convey his message. Overall, Reagan’s logical approach contributes to his main purpose of reinforcing the maintenance of a democratic government in the two parts of Germany which he hopes to

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