A Rhetorical Analysis Of Mario Cuomo's Speech

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Most likely, society as a whole will respond to pulled heartstring because the majority of humans have a concern for others living things, especially another human life. As government officials run for a variety of positions in office, they have always taken this fact into consideration. No matter how they eventually incorporate the pathos appeal into their campaign, they know that if they can get the people’s heart, they have also received their vote. Mario Cuomo exemplifies this logic in his speech given at the Democratic Convention in 1984. When the presidential election approaches, each party must make its decision about who should be representing the country. In 1984, Cuomo gave his speech packed with pathos appeals. He begins with the current president’s (Reagan) view that the United States was a “country shining city on a hill.” Reagan could not understand why people felt they were suffering. Cuomo begs of the president, “Maybe, maybe Mr. President, if you visited more places…” (Page 273) Here Cuomo makes a…show more content…
During the Franklin Administration, many tough decisions had to be made. From war time and depression, Franklin saw the country in various troublesome situations. But in Cuomo’s opinion, Franklin always held to helping keep the country in one piece, “Ever since Franklin Roosevelt lifted himself from his wheelchair to lift this nation from its knees—wagon train after wagon train—to new frontiers education, housing, peace, the whole family aboard…” (Page 274) Many do not realize how sickly President Roosevelt was, but throughout his whole presidency he continued to lead. Cuomo uses the pathos appeal to the families who had been torn apart by the aftermath of World War I and Hoover’s attempt to rebuild. In order to bolster the Democratic Party, he needed to win over the American families. His example of Roosevelt’s family focus aided his

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