Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address

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At the age of 43, John F. Kennedy was the second youngest president elected in American history. He came from a very prominent and wealthy Irish Catholic family and was the first Catholic to become president. After graduating from Harvard University and a three-year stint in the Navy, Kennedy then set his sights on his political aspirations. He served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for the state of Massachusetts. John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the thirty-fifth president of the United States in 1961. His inaugural speech is considered one of the best speeches ever written. The speech was given at a time when the United States was dealing with the Cold War and racial tensions within America. The speech contained endless rhetorical strategies to help make the American people feel calm and empowered through the use of emotion and character. The target audience of this speech was the world. Citizens or…show more content…
This makes the American people feel they have a personal responsibility to help the United States become a better place. The people felt fear after the president mentioned the possible threat of nuclear weapons in the Soviet Union. His request “that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction,” shows he has a desire to bring relief on this subject. The most incredible aspect of his speech is that while addressing difficult issues, he was able to stir the emotions of the people to have a great sense of pride for their country. By using words such as freedom and liberty, Kennedy was able to remind the audience that they are, “The heirs of that first revolution.” This type of wording makes the people feel as a great nation within itself, while feeling responsible for the
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