One of the greatest speeches in American history was indeed John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address on January 20, 1961. The youthful energy found in John F. Kennedy’s speech was evident throughout. The goals he had were illustrated in strong appeals of emotion, by making a connection to the American citizens. JFK wanted his speech to inspire the nation and send a message worldwide signalling his hope for peace in the nuclear age.
In order to capture to capture the minds of the American people, Kennedy begins with an antithesis calling his victory “a celebration of freedom-symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning”. This statement is to ensure and promise the people that they are embarking in a new era of reform and peace and the end of conflict. Kennedy persuades them to that allowing him into power wasn’t a mistake but an opportunity to make America a more wondrous state.
Kennedy provides motivating propositions through appeals to ethos, logos and pathos. He establishes ethos by specifying how important God is to him and to the future of the United States. In other words, he is finding common ground with his audience, drawing their attention. He also talks as if he as well as all the American citizens are in making this country a better place by using words like us and we. He was the first Roman Catholic president. In this way he uses ethos by quoting Isiah from the Bible to show he has done all the research. JFK establishes pathos by asking what you can do for your country. He takes every person into consideration by asking what they can do, making everyone feel like they have a duty to fill in the country.
“Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate,” Kennedy understands people are scared of the world, and he stands strongly before them showing someone out there that there should be no fear in negotiating with others. He tries to earn his citizens trust through the use of language whilst showing a firm, tough side against injustice...