John Fitzgerald Kennedy is noted by some to be one of our nation's most inspirational presidents. As seen by this, one of his most famous speeches, he was an undoubtedly captivating orator. Along with Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, JFK has given some of the greatest speeches in the history of our nation. This speech is known as the "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" speech. In it, he addresses a crowd in West Berlin, the sight of much controversy and debate throughout the entirety of the Cold War. He manages to relate to an entire group of people with a different culture and history, all because of the way in which he delivers the speech.
Primarily, Kennedy utilizes the three proofs of rhetoric to perfection. He exemplifies every aspect of ethos. For his character, there is none better. He appears to be a genuine person who is concerned with the plight of the Western Germans over the Communist doctrines of Eastern Europe. His intelligence is unquestionable and is made obvious in the speech. Kennedy is a Harvard alum who can hold his own in any debate, discussion, or dilemma. In terms of his goodwill, Kennedy made it clear that the United States had the backs of people of West Germany without question. By doing so, he establishes a sense of camaraderie with the audience, thus winning their attention from there on out.
For his logos, JFK provides some strong points to promote the interestes of Western Berlin, along with all of Western civilization, against the foes behind the Iron Curtain. For every grievance someone may have against West Berlin, he repeats over and over "Let them come to Berlin!" to see for themselves how vastly different the two sides of the city truly are. Finally for his pathos, Kennedy exudes sentiments of concern for the people of West Berlin, while showing a slight indignation of the leaders of East Europe. His speech is one of confidence and hope; confidence that good will prevail over evil, and hope in the eventual spread of democracy throughout the world.
In addition to sticking to all of the proofs of rhetoric, Kennedy also uses all of the canons perfectly. In his arrangement, he provides a convincing introduction, body, and conclusion by connecting each individual portion of the speech with the phrase "Ich bin ein Berliner." His style is one of elegance and eloquance. He realizes that this is a serious subject matter and the German people are a serious and reserved people. As a result, his delivery is not over the top and meant to garner laughter, but is moreso intended to give a people torn apart by the ravages of World War II hope for a bringter future. In essense, John Fitzgerald Kennedy provided hope for America as well. He was a breath of fesh air, a new face to mix up the stagnant old guard which had ruled Washington for so long. Unfortunately, he was unable to see his message lived out.
3 comments:
This speech is a great example of JFK's public speaking ability. I'm a fan of his "Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You" speech, where throughout the entirety of his speech he employs all three proofs of rhetoric as well as using the canons to the best of his ability.
It seems that JFK was a phenomenal speaker, because I keep remembering images of his speeches that I have watched or read, and he truly captured the heart and essence of America.
John F. Kennedy was one of the nation's most popular presidents for a reason: intriguing us with his messages and acting strong in times of distress.
I absolutely agree with Dan. JFK was undoubtedly an eloquent and persuasive speaker. Not only were his words believable, but his character was one that people could trust. His Harvard background adds even more to his ethos. As for his pathos and logos, he was a master at combining the two. He makes sound arguments while arousing emotion in the audience during this speech. Also, he utilizes the canons of rhetoric very effectively, comparative to Martin Luther King Jr. He is able to be a "breath of fresh air," as Dan said, to the people of Berlin and to Germany who were in dire need of help through his ability to speak effectively.
Not only is JFK an incredible public speaker, but combining this skill with the use of each rhetorical proof in many of his speeches has ultimately led to his reputation as an effective orator. Within this speech, it is clear the logic Kennedy used in the process of persuading his Berlin audience worked perfectly in combination with his examples of pathos and ethos in forming a strong argument. It is no wonder JFK took the United States by storm with popularity, and is one of America's most beloved presidents.
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