Lam, Jimmy
Prof. Caldwell
EComp 203 03
29 October 2016
Rhetorical Analysis: John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address
The period of the Cold War was a difficult time for the United States, where inner turmoil and external conflict continued to exist. The people became fearful and uncertain of how the Cold War would continue to unfold, and the hysteria over the perceived threats posed by the Communists perpetuated their fear (History). The nation and its people were desperate for a leader who was not only strong and determined, but also one who could reassure them. John F. Kennedy inaugurated into office as the president of the United States on January 21, 1961; it was the day that Kennedy provided the reassurance that the nation was looking for. With his inaugural address, as he considered the turmoil that existed at both the national and international levels, he sought to unify the nation and lay the foundation for the future generations to defend freedom and liberty not only for the nation itself, but also around the world. Kennedy’s inaugural address is very powerful and effective, moving not only a crowd of twenty-thousand people, but also the nation itself. The fact that people still remember his speech today is evidence of its success, which can be attributed to his impressive use of rhetoric that impassioned his audience and moved the nation.
Kennedy’s inaugural address conveys with it a determination that inspires his audience through personal and emotional conviction. He appeals to the people by creating a sense of inclusivity by addressing his audience with personal pronouns, such as our, we and us, to show his dedication to the people on a more personal level. He insisted that the American people should go beyond their personal beliefs to dissolve their differences and to think of “today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom.” He attempts to establish himself as a just and equal leader that saw past the insignificant divisions shaped by political parties, ultimately gaining more support. By doing so, he becomes more credible, thus making his speech more compelling.
There are many instances as to where Kennedy utilized anaphoras to emphasize the most important aspects of his inaugural address such as when he first described the world as very different now and that “man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.” By using repetition, his audience starts to feel a sense of anticipation for what is to come next in his speech as they are drawn into his words. Because they are anticipating what is coming next, they are more receptive to his pathos. He then urges his audience to celebrate the history of their nation and their differences, and embrace the future as a united people as he proclaimed that “we dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution.” He described the nation as “tempered by war” and “disciplined by a hard and bitter peace” to bring recognition to the importance of American history and how it lays the foundation for future generations to learn from and move forward.
Kennedy goes on to describe this new generation as a group with extraordinary principles and character. When he proclaims that the “torch has been passed to a new generation,” he is not only referring to the symbolic transference of authority in the office, but also the birth of generational change in the people. He hopes to lead the new, younger generation of Americans on a profound crusade to preserve and extend the ideals of freedom and liberty. He portrayed this new generation of people as those who are “willing to sacrifice for an ideal.” Kennedy commends the perseverance of the American people in hopes that they will make progress towards a better future. The ideal image that Kennedy speaks of represents a unified nation that extends its preservation of liberties beyond its borders. Kennedy captivated his audience effectively by painting an idealized portrait of the American people, inspiring them to embrace common values and ambitions that he expresses through the rest of his inaugural address.
Kennedy seems to have realized the limitations of his authority as the president by acknowledging that his powers come from the people when he reminded them that he swore the “same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century ago” and proposed that “In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course.” This means that the power to realize his vision of unifying the nation and protecting freedom rested upon the nation’s people rather than himself; he challenged his audience to take their future into their own hands. To further engage his audience, he utilizes an antithesis and urged them to “ask not what your country can do for you” but what “you can do for your country.” This form of rhetoric strengthened the idea that it is the people who have the power to enact change, and made the idea much more memorable as his words of inspiration echoed through their thoughts. The American people elected a man that they thought would reassure and lead them, and so Kennedy promised; He promised to lead and inspire the people for the betterment of the nation.
Kennedy’s determination to defend liberty is most powerful in his speech when he says, “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty.” Parallelism is used to emphasize the extent of his commitment, and that he is willing to defend freedom regardless of whomever may oppose it. He promised support to faithful friends for those who decided to join with the United States of American in “a host of cooperative ventures.” Kennedy demonstrates empathy for not only his nation, but for others as well, appealing emotionally to his audience. He assured “our best efforts” and liberty’s survival across the world as he pledged to address anything that would threaten the liberty and freedoms around the world.
Kennedy used the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, an antithesis, emphasize notable aspects of his speech. Its most notable use was to emphasize the dichotomy between freedom in the United States and communism in the Soviet Union. By using antithesis, he emphasized not only the disparity in the morals that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union, but also the idea of the United States’ moral superiority. He mentions that the struggle is not only defending freedoms against tyranny of communism, but also against the “common enemies” of mankind such as disease, poverty, tyranny and war. This is in regards to the Cold War and how the future and survival of mankind depends on peaceful resolutions rather than violent disputes. As he spoke of abstract ideals such as liberty, he cautioned that “nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge, but a request.” Because those that opposed liberty, such as the Soviet Union and other proponents of communism, were deemed untrustworthy, it would be futile to offer a pledge with them.
As Kennedy concludes his inaugural address, he becomes more conciliatory as he encouraged both sides, the United States and the Soviet Union, to “begin anew” in hopes for peace, and as he mentioned prior that “civility is not a sign of weakness.” He concluded his address by sharing with his audience, whether foreign or domestic, and that whether they are citizens of the United States of America, the effort in the pursuit of liberty is dependent them and on their strength to endure the hardships in protecting those freedoms. He pulled at the hearts and minds of the people, and gained their support using skillful rhetoric and provided a sense of inclusivity that wholly captivated his audience. His overall strategy of hoping to unite the people for a common cause is undeniable effective and has lasted till this day in the hearts of the American people because of his powerful language. He not only knew how to address his audience, he also knew what the people were looking for.
Works Cited
History. “Red Scare.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.
“John F. Kennedy: Inaugural Address.” John F. Kennedy: Inaugural Address. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.