On November 8th, 1960, one of today’s most beloved presidents was elected into office: John F. Kennedy. He was the youngest president ever elected into office at only 43 years old, and won the presidential election by the most narrow margin in U.S history (around 100,000 votes)! After winning by such a close margin, he knew he still had to prove himself and win over the vast amount of American citizens who voted against him–which he successfully did by giving one of the best speeches in history, his Inaugural Address. He delivered this speech in Washington D.C in the eastern portico of the U.S capitol in front of thousands of people on January 20, 1961. In his Inaugural Address, President John F. Kennedy successfully won over his intended audience through various rhetorical strategies including using a sense of nationalism to appeal to pathos as well as his careful use of diction and syntax to appeal to logos.
Humans are emotional beings, and many people are easily swayed through arguments that invoke some sort of emotion. In JFK’s Inaugural Address, he uses inspirational statements and various references to American patriotism to encourage a sense of nationalism. He also makes his audience feel secure under his wing as president through constant references to his goal of ending the Cold War with peace. Each of these appeals to pathos were essential to the success of his speech because of the fact that America was very distraught during the time period which he was coming to office. In one particular section of the speech that exemplifies his various appeals to pathos, he says:
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility–I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it–and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. (Kennedy)
He begins this quote with a very dark and worrying thought, stating that America’s most core value–freedom–is currently at stake. Then, he displays his true valor by proudly saying that he is not scared by the thought of having to defend this right, he is enticed by it! Prior to being elected into office, John F. Kennedy spent time defending the country as a US Naval Officer and took part in World War II, and even earned medals of honor for his service, so many people already knew he was a courageous and bold leader, but this affirmation that he welcomes the rare and critical duty he has been confronted with makes his audience feel that they are under the protection of a truly remarkable president. Then he concludes this thought with an enlightening statement that says that if American citizens devote themselves to defending their freedom, they will also spread freedom, and therefore create peace around the globe. Kennedy established himself as a citizen of America who was willing to do anything to better his country, and his patriotism truly shined when he gave this speech.
Spite the fact that he was born into an extremely wealthy family, John F. Kennedy makes the audience feel that he is equal to them. He is clearly above a majority of his audience from an economic standpoint, but his core values as an American citizen make him just like all of the people that he is addressing. For this reason, when discussing his suggestions for the future of America, he tells his audience what “we” should do, what is best for “us”, and what is in “our” best interest. This tactic makes his audience feel closer to him, and therefore, likely to agree with what he has to say. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address is one of the shortest in history, everything he said in it was said carefully and purposefully. Kennedy incorporates various antitheses in his speech, which all serve to provoke thought in his audience, but each particular antithesis, serves its own particular purpose. There is one theme that he bases many of these antitheses on: becoming truly united as a nation. In the beginning of his speech he states what the new generation of Americans have in common, “born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage–and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed,” and although this quote isn’t an example of an antithesis found in his speech, it sets up a central theme of his speech: in order for there to be peace in the world, Americans have to first become united as a people. Shortly after he describes the similarities between Americans, he says, “United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do,” and later on he uses an antithesis to make the same claim, “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” which does provoke some thought, but it also calls his audience to action and involves American citizens coming together for the greater good of the nation. Lastly, the most famous antithesis from the speech, and one of the most famous sayings of all time, John F. Kennedy begins the end of his speech with the saying, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.” When he said this, he gave his audience the last bit of motivation needed to put his advice to action. He was asking them to help him in giving back to the country that has given everything to all of them. It is quotations like that which made his speech so memorable and successful.
John F Kennedy’s Inaugural Address is one of the best and most brilliant speeches in history, notable for its vast amount of rhetorical devices, including various antitheses and appeals to pathos. Since a brilliant speech couldn’t truly be successful if the speaker didn’t put their words to action, John F. Kennedy had to follow this great speech up with some actual results, which he did. His first major accomplishment that was discussed in the speech was in March of 1961–he established the Peace Corps, a volunteer program that sends people to other countries to spread peace. Another accomplishment of his was pushing human boundaries–he set the goal for human to step foot on the moon and return to Earth safely by the end of the decade (the 1960’s). And not to forget his most notable accomplishment, the withdrawing of Soviet missiles from Cuba without any bloodshed–he not only prevented what could have turned into a nuclear war but he also proved himself to the world as a true leader.
Works Cited:
Olugbemiga, Ayobami. “JFK’s Top 5 Political Accomplishments.” Mic. N.p., 20 Nov. 2013. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.
“Ted Sorenson: JFK’s Inaugural Address Was World-changing.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 22 Apr. 2007. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.
“John F. Kennedy Quotations.” – John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2016.