Ronald Reagan Inaugural Address Rhetorical Analysis

On January 20, 1981, Ronald Reagan delivered his inaugural address following the economic decline and repercussions of the nation’s loss to Vietnam in the Vietnam War. In his address, Reagan covers the prominent topics of the nation, including rising inflation, unemployment, and several crises which were especially methods of encouragement and hope following the Vietnam War in an effort to appeal to the public. For Reagan to successfully inspire the Americans in this tough decade and earn their satisfaction through demands, he implemented a rhetorical device, literary element, and direction of presenting his administration. These contributions to his address strengthened his position with the American citizens and positively influenced how

The approach he presents generally suggests that he is both compassionate and dignified within his text. A reference that displays when this is most highly represented in his discussions is when he remarks “You and I, as individuals, can, by borrowing, live beyond our means, but for only a limited period of time . . . We are going to begin to act, beginning today” (Reagan 7). Reagan exerts these two tones by involving the audience with his ambitions and recognizing that he is with the nation in its hardships. The speaker consistently applies repetition to underline that he and the audience are categorized together by using terms such as “you,” “we,” and “collectively.” These details allow the nation to appreciate Reagan’s intentions of being accommodating to their needs, and therefore they can view him in a positive aspect while respecting him as a leading figure. Moreover, Reagan adds to that passage by expressing, “The economic ills we suffer have come upon us over several decades . . . to do whatever needs to be done to preserve this last and greatest bastion of freedom” (Reagan 8). The speaker asserts that he does not plan to avoid the present issues in his nation, and continues to encourage the idea of hope and progression of healing over time to the citizens. With their understanding of his claim, they can

He encourages the idea of advanced policies and equality for the future of America as he asserts, “Well, this administration’s objective will be a healthy, vigorous, growing economy that provides equal opportunities for all Americans, with no barriers born of bigotry or discrimination” (Reagan 10). In this passage, the speaker conveys a thoughtful and confident aspect about his administration to the public and gives them the expectation that they will work towards improving the economy. Addressing the quality of opportunities and the economy, in general, was crucial when considering the status of the nation during the time the speech was delivered. As the United States had recently lost in the Vietnam War several years prior, their morale among the citizens and military had drastically plummeted. Amid rising interest rates, unemployment, and deficits, Reagan sought to reconstruct America as a more prosperous nation, namely by dismantling a big government. In retrospect, his inauguration address signaled the commencement of a new, conservative era in American politics. As the nation’s citizens were in a state of distress and hopelessness, the inaugural address had been perceived as a sign of ambition and promise worth their support. Consequently, Reagan’s appeal to their desires and the necessities of the economy