Rhetorical Analysis Of John F Kennedy's Speech

As the United States was emerged from a recession, many of the large steel companies decided to monopolize steel prices by raising it 3.5 percent, which would lead to President Kennedy responding to the businesses actions. On April 11, 1962, Kennedy in a news conference would go onto shaming the steel prices brought by these corporations, especially after asking in a program of national sacrifice to help stable prices and wages. His usage of rhetorical strategies such as unifying diction, the literary device of pathos, and a disapproving tone in order to achieve his purpose of not only reversing the increase of steel prices to normal but also disgrace their actions.

The first device that President John F. Kennedy uses to combat the issue of raising steel prices is parallelism. In the second paragraph of his speech, he begins listing outcomes of the dramatic increase in steel prices by saying, "...when we are confronted with grave crises in Berlin and Southeast Asia, when we are devoting out energies to economic recovery and stability, when we are asking Reservists to leave their homes and families for months on end, and servicemen to risk their lives..."(lines 6-12) This is an effective use of parallelism because he builds on the previous statement by starting out the one that follows with the same introduction: "...when we are..." He is trying to prove that America is in a crisis situation and the steel companies increasing their prices is only going to make the situation even worse. He is showing all of the sacrifices that people are making and proving to the steel companies that their high wages are going to have a very negative effect on a people who are sacrificing more than anyone would have ever expected for their country. The second example of parallelism is in the third paragraph of his speech, when he begins by saying, "...it would increase the cost of homes, autos, and appliances, and most other items for every American family. It would increase the cost of machinery and tools to every American businessman and farmer. It would seriously handicap out efforts to prevent an inflationary spiral from eating up the pensions of out older citizens, and our new gains in purchasing power."(lines 23-31) He is pleading to the steel companies to lower their prices through showing them examples

On April 10, 1962, the United States steel companies decided to raise the price of steel by 3.5 percent during one of the nation’s most traumatic wars that affect the veterans still to this day: the Vietnam War. To put things in perspective, steel prices have effects on nearly everything, such as the cost of homes, the cost of appliances, and the cost of building infrastructures. President Kennedy had been calling for stable and affordable steel prices for a long time at this point in time; however, the steel companies still raised the price. The day after the increase in steel prices, President Kennedy held a news conference to call out the steel companies. In this news conference, President John F. Kennedy delivers a speech that employs several rhetorical devices, specifically repetition, ethos, and pathos in order to incite the audience to protest against the steel companies; which would, in turn, inflict pressure on the steel companies to lower the cost of steel.

The 1960s marked a time of great change, turmoil, and innovation in American history. To address these domestic and foreign challenges, President John F. Kennedy worked hard to ensure the best for the citizens of the United States. That is why, when steel corporations raised their prices 3.5 percent in a time of economic distress, he responded with outrage. In his speech to the American people on April 11, 1962, President John F. Kennedy used a plethora of rhetorical strategies to evoke a retaliatory response against the greed of large steel companies.

John F Kennedy begins his commentary on steel companies in America by using a directly disappointed tone while addressing the steel companies. Kennedy’s strategy in doing so is to immediately establish even more authority than he already has by simply being president. Kennedy’s authoritative tone consequently captivates a bigger audience that is willing to listen attentively and see him as a trustworthy, credible individual due to his dogmatic way of speaking. Kennedy jumps into his speech by immediately denouncing American steel companies for their “wholly unjustifiable and irresponsible defiance of the public

President John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address on January 1961, suggests that the United States must unify and act upon injustices in the country. He supports this claim by first calling out to countries around the world, then speaking to the citizens of America and asking them to take action, and finally by creating a sense of patriotism to help connect the people to their country. Because he is the youngest president, Kennedy adopts a tone of excitement and energy for his younger audience, but a tone of maturity and authority for his older audience members.

During a 1962 speech by former president John F. Kennedy to the American people, he uses the rhetoric devices of tone, logos, and ethos to convey his point. While discussing the problems that have occurred die to steel prices rising, these rhetoric devices help develop and give credibility and relatability to his speech; while also being a reliable source. This speech helped convince the American people of the dilemma occurring in America at the time. Throughout the speech, JFK uses tone to communicate a message to the American people.

In the context of the United States’ emergence from a recession on April 11, John F. Kennedy uses a news conference to emotionally express his scorn and contempt for the nation’s steel companies, as they had chosen to increase steel prices by 3.5% in a vulnerable national setting. Kennedy uses serious and disdainful diction and tone, as well as a powerful appeal to the American people, still coping with the strife of the recession. Kennedy instills opposition and shame towards the greedy steel corporations. His ultimate purpose is to rally the public, increasing concern for national economic welfare while simultaneously using the masses to force the steel companies to lower prices.

United States of America experiencing troubles recovering themselves economically in the 1960s, steel companies still raised steel prices by 35 percent. Trying to avoid companies from raising the steel prices, President John F. Kennedy gave a persuasive speech using rhetorical strategies, parallel structure and pathos.

John F. Kennedy is one of the most influential presidents of modern times. From having an airport, schools, museums, and even libraries named after him, his legacy is still present today. What made Kennedy special was the way he spoke to the American people. Rather than being just a politician, Kennedy showed a human side to him. He connected with the people. This is one of the reasons why his approval ratings are some of the highest in recent history. Kennedy was very captivating when speaking to the American people. When criticizing major steel companies for raising steel prices, Kennedy uses parallel structure, ethos, and an urgent tone to convince not only the people, but steel companies as well, to not raise steel prices.

In 1962 President John F. Kennedy gave a speech about the rising steel prices. Throughout his speech he uses many kinds of rhetorical strategies; some include, anaphora , alliteration, and rhetorical appeals. By using these three rhetorical strategies Kennedy's speech was able to be connected to the audience very well.

Kennedy calls the steel companies “irresponsible” for “increasing steel prices” because raising the prices goes against the “public interest” of Americans. The price increase is “wholly unjustifiable” because the steel companies do not need the money they will gain from this price increase to avoid laying people off or avoid going bankrupt. They simply want to make more money for their own selfish gain. The steel company’s actions disappoint Kennedy because many Americans make sacrifices to help the country rebound from the recession. Kennedy has a very indignant tone while he speaks about the steel companies “At a time when restraint and sacrifice are being asked of every citizen, the American people will find it hard, as I do, to accept a situation in which a tiny handful of steel executives whose pursuit of private power and profit exceeds their sense of public responsibility can show such utter contempt for the interests of 185 million Americans”.

JFK’s relationship with the business community had been uneasy from the start. His very public 1961 dispute with US Steel president Roger Blough over an increase in steel prices had reinforced the business community’s suspicions of his motives. By 1962, Kennedy’s domestic political fortunes seemed bleak. Unemployment remained high and the stock market had failed to recover after losing a quarter of its value. JFK ignored the advice of key aides and endorsed efforts to enact medical care for workers over 65 under Social Security and risked his personal prestige by addressing a nationally televised “Medicare” rally in New York. The bill would fail in the Senate after defections by key Democrats, leaving him frustrated.

Kennedy’s speech was one of inspiration and hope. He wanted to win the confidence of his citizens by delivering a short speech filled with noble ideals (Matheson 11). President Kennedy starts his inaugural address by exclaiming his understanding that America was very different from that of the nation’s predecessors. The President also wanted to send out a warning to all other nations by letting them know that with him as commander-in-chief, America would “pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend or oppose any foe in order to assure the survival and success of liberty”(Kennedy 609). Basically he was stating that he would not think twice about using all possible forces in order to preserve peace and prosperity for the United States. He further goes on to offer his support to developing countries by pledging to help them help themselves but with a special stipulation. He warned these nations to not lean on America’s success but to form their own freedom when he stated, “remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought to find power by riding on the tiger’s back inevitably ended up inside” (Kennedy 609). Of all the very remarkable things that this president stated the thing that resonated with me was his backing of the United Nations which would have ultimately dissolved had we not given our support. As stated earlier, our nation was in an atomic war with the Soviet Union and the citizens of the United States were

He directly calls out the steel companies in his speech and shames them in front of the common people. Kennedy is attempting to infer that while the steel companies are relaxing and just raising their prices, the common people are having to make sacrifices and lose their lives.