Rhetorical Analysis Of Roosevelt's Day Of Infamy

Abstract
On December 8, 1941, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt stood before “Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives” and gave what is now known as his "Day of Infamy" or "Pearl Harbor" speech. Roosevelt’s speech tells the numerous problems that had happen the day before listing details about Japan's surprise attacks throughout the Pacific. He explains the peace in the Pacific and the harmony with Japan before the surprise. He wanted to go to war after the vicious attacks by Japan hitting the entire Pacific especially Pearl Harbor. In this speech, Roosevelt declared that December 7, 1941, the day that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, would remain "a date which will live in infamy."

was not going to sit back when it had been thus brutally attacked. “As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed all measures to be taken for our defense.” (Roosevelt, 1941). Roosevelt uses his position in government. The effect that this speech had was profound. By using the formal rhetorical strategies, one can see clearly the results that the speech had. By using these strategies, the world saw Roosevelt’s use of feeling, his character and name, rather than his logic and reason, to induce the result he wished from his audience, and also it is the profound

His speech is nearly a contradiction. On the one hand it is very blunt and direct. However, on the other hand it is very elaborate and fancy. His language is straightforward in order that the audience will simply understand. However, it is powerful in its simplicity. It is thus simple that the audience cannot help but be affected. At many points throughout the speech he deviated slightly before informing the general public that many Yankee lives had been lost. Though it was not memorized, it was clear that the president was well versed during his delivery and was terribly obsessed by it. His delivery was passionate, angered, and patriotic. He appeared to perceive how his voters would react, as proven by his pauses for applause. His tonal modulations were clearly purposeful for optimum effectiveness. His infuriated delivery appeared to convey all that Americans were feelings about the bombing. As Roosevelt (1941) stated “The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American Naval and military forces.” Roosevelt is speaking to Americans telling them that is an impact on our defensive line. One will clearly imagine what his facial expressions and hand gestures were. His delivery received the reaction that he had hoped for. His audience, including voters ,not only from America, but also the whole globe, each at the time of the speech and within the sixty three years since, have