As it seems U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy uses key characteristics on image restoration strategies and stylistic devices to perform a “sorry” speech about the incident with him and a young woman named, Mary Jo Kopechne. Kennedy uses false information to inform readers about what happened that night on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts on July 18, 1969. The incident messed up his run for president, leading him to make a “sorry” speech gives readers his side of the story. As you read through Kennedy’s story about his “incident” you could tell he uses image restoration strategies to better his case. Mr. Kennedy uses the restoration strategies: denial, evading responsibility, and reducing offensiveness to save his reputation. In paragraph five, Kennedy uses simple denial by saying “Nor was I driving under the influence of liquor”. Kennedy claims that he was not under the influence on Friday the 18th of July after the party. If Mr. Kennedy knows he wasn’t under the influence then he shouldn’t have to deny the act of drinking in the first place. On paragraph eight Kennedy uses good intentions by saying “Although my doctors informed me that I suffered a cerebral concussion, as well as shock, I do not seek to escape responsibility for my actions by placing the blame either on the physical and emotional trauma brought on by …show more content…
Kennedy constructs personification in paragraph six saying “Little over one mile away, the car that I was driving on an unlit road went off a narrow bridge which had no guard rails and was built on a left angle to the road”. Kennedy states that the car that he was driving went off a narrow bridge, Kennedy is invalid because he gave human qualities to an inanimate object. He drove the car off the narrow bridge. Mr. Kennedy includes hyperbole in paragraph twelve, saying “I remember going out at one point and saying something to the room clerk”. In Mr. Kennedy’s speech he is exaggerating his efforts to find Mary Jo, he has already explained his