Rhetorical Devices In Senator Nixon's 'Checkers'

Rhetorical devices in “Checkers”

In Senator Nixon’s “Checkers'' speech, the literary term rhetoric is used. Nixon was accused of taking excessive amounts of money from his supporters for personal use instead of using it to better the country. He plays on the emotions of patriotic, family-loving audience members to refute the arguement and convince people to vote for him. In this speech, rhetorical devices enhance the audience’s trust, persuade the audience he is not corrupt, and proves he has a true desire to help America.

Nixon’s use of rhetoric devices underscore that he is relatable and trusting. He announces that he has not taken anything anyone has given him for his personal use except a dog from a man in Texas for his family. “It was a little cocker spaniel dog... black and white, spotted, and our little girl Tricia, the six year old, named it Checkers. And you know, the kids, like all kids, loved the dog, and I just want to say this, right now, that regardless of what they say about it, we are going to keep it”(Nixon para. 60). Nixon only accepted a dog named Checkers for his daughter. He extenuates that he lives modestly and does not have many fancy items. “For four years we lived in an apartment in Parkfairfax, Alexandria Virginia.... And we saved for a time when we could buy a house. Now that was what we took

She gives him $10 to help his campaign. Nixon reads the letter saying, “...I feel confident that with great Americans like you and General Eisenhower in the White House, lonely Americans like myself will be united with their loved ones now in Korea. I only pray to God that you won’t be too late” (Nixon para. 85). She then says that she lives on $85 a month and the $10 is all that she can afford to give him. The woman gave a large sum of her money to Nixon to help him win. He creates a sense of urgency to convince listeners that the only way to help America is to vote for him and President