The Hallmark of every new beginning in American Politics,
the Presidential Inaugural Address signals the successful transition of office
from the former to the current. Classified as a political speech, this text
type that is rife with rhetoric, is generally characterized as having a theme -
this theme being coherent and developed over the general progression of the
speech. Delivered on the 20th of January 1961, President John F.
Kennedy, a younger president sought to inspire the nation with a renewed vigor
to take pride and initiative for their country. In this way, President John F.
Kennedy’s Inaugural Address showcases the power of political speeches in
imbuing and evoking emotion through the use of varied rhetoric.
The first and foremost feature of any text type is the
intended audience and purpose. Acting as the foundation of the text, these act
as the guidelines from which all ideas are developed and written. In this
Address, it is made clear from the very onset of who the intended audience is,
“Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower,
Vice President Nixon, reverend clergy, fellow citizens.” Referenced to the
American People, the audience is also stated to be made up of the preceding
Government: President Eisenhower and Vice President; intentionally included
this implies an amicable transition, ushering in the new Government, this is
made clear in the speech itself through Kennedy’s statement, “ The torch has
been passed to a new generation of Americans.” The main purpose of this speech
is to inspire the citizens of the United States. Kennedy evokes a sense of
security and reaffirming this spirit of idealism, which reassures Americans of
their nation's strengths and inspires them to serve their country and world. Taking
on its issues and welfare as their prerogative, "And so, my fellow
Americans: ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for
your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for
you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Dazzled by his
poise and moved by his eloquence, Americans proudly embraced the vigor and
vision of their young president. A theme developed throughout the speech, the
content of the speech also seems to bring together many themes that connect and
correlate to the text’s main purpose.
An integral part of this speech is its content and
structure, these serve to build ideas as well as expound on others to create
well balanced and substantiated argument.
Following a natural progression Kennedy starts by referencing America’s
past leading into its promising future. “For I have sworn before you and
Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and
three quarters ago … We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that
first revolution.” Referencing the past, Kennedy’s uses this in setting a
benchmark for the future, reminding Americans to never forget and neglect their
heritage including all their country has endured. “And yet the same
revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around
the globe--the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of
the state but from the hand of God,” this use of antithesis again reminding the
people of the ideals on which their society was founded upon also is seen as a
transition; Kennedy is seen shifting from the past into the present, describing
these beliefs as not only pertinent to past but instead relevant and prevalent
to the modern world. Continuing on to various esoteric affairs relevant to the
time, Kennedy develops the theme of civilian involvement as being integral to
country’s success, “In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will
rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded,
each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its
national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to
service surround the globe.” Constantly returning to this theme of civilian
involvement, Kennedy builds this theme successfully encouraging Americans to
view their country and its well being as their prerogative, promoting a culture
of honor and responsibility that takes ownership accepting the issues and
acting on them as one body in a collaborative manner. “Now the trumpet summons
us again-not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need--not as a call to
battle, though embattled we are--but a call to bear the burden of a long
twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in
tribulation"--a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty,
disease and war itself,” an example of Anaphora and Tri- Colon that further
serve to emphasize the aforementioned point, calling all American to serve in
this on going struggle that is in its final stretch.
An element present in the final sentence of the previous
passage is rhetoric. A feature found throughout this speech, this contributes
largely to the style and theme of Kennedy’s address accentuating ideas in ways
impossible through literal terms. These
work in highlighting the tone and mood of the passage as. Kennedy’s use of rhetoric in conjunction with his speech’s purpose
and structure all portrays a tone of anticipation and hopefulness for the
season ahead.
Through the repeated use of metaphor, anaphora, chiasmus and
various other forms of rhetoric, Kennedy ascribes greater relevancy and meaning
to issues and ideas otherwise overlooked or even seen in an extenuated manner.
One of the key examples of this, present in paragraphs 13-16 is Kennedy’s
intentional use of Anaphora. In his address to foreign relations, each
statement begins with the words “Let both sides …” this when repeated four
times creates effect, as the idea of both sides repeatedly mentioned together
implies a message of Global unity, and additionally an idea that will not be
forgotten. The use of anaphora can often serve to evoke a reaction out of a
crowd as repeated words create emphasis and tend to evoke a greater reaction
seeing as a theme is being built through succinct phrases with an overarching
climatic tone. Similarly the statement,
“Together let us explore the stars,
conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the
arts and commerce,” a use of asyndeton as well as hyperbole creates an
atmosphere and anticipation, anticipation for grandeur and feats never been
done before. The intentional omission of conjunctions between parts of the
sentence emphasize the theme of the grandeur as listing such bold statements
one after the other inspires and evokes an emotion of overwhelming excitement
which often in political rallies is expressed verbally through cheers of those
in attendance. Finally, an infamous statement taken and publicized from this
address, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for
you--ask what you can do for your country,” a blatant use of chiasmus, the
reversal of two or more clauses creates and artistic effect that once again
reminds the American people of their responsibility as individuals, driving
home this idea in a statement that would never be forgotten through the
continuing evolution of American history.
In conclusion, it can be seen that the purpose of rhetoric
in conjunction with a theme is to accentuate. With the analysis of President John
F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, an understanding of its structure and
organization substantiate the characteristics of a political speech verifying
its purpose including the various means through which it is written. The use of
Rhetoric language, present throughout the speech serves as a marker of the
power of the English Language in creating global influence.
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