Jake Fugiasco

Hour 4

The John F Kennedy inaugural address is one of the most famous speeches in the history of the world, his speech is a lot different than present day speeches like the Barack Obama inaugural address. Since they were written in different time periods, not only was the situation between the two speeches different, but the language of each speech is different as well. Both speeches have strong messages that argue the problems that the United States has and the entire world is facing. Both Kennedy and Obama use the rhetorical triangle in the speeches by using pathos, ethos, and logos to speak with the people of the United States and the people of the world. Pathos is the emotional quality that is being used throughout ones speech to connect the message to the audience. In the Kennedy speech, pathos is the most represented appeal in his speech. Kennedy uses pathos when he states his victory in the presidential election against Nixon, by saying the presidential election is a celebration of freedom. Kennedy wa s very emotional about presenting the entire world with the responsibility to spread freedom, justice, and to rid the world of evils including tyranny, poverty, disease, and war. The emotional qualities of Kennedys speech awoken the publics preexisting sense of pride, Kennedy then uses allusion by stating For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago. Kennedy explains to the nation that in order to build and grow, America must bring up the proudest moment in American history, independence. Pathos in Obamas inaugural address is used to inform , touch, and build trust with the people of America. Obama identified struggle, deficit, and poverty as the problems that the USA was facing. This connected him to the emotions of the citizens of America and was a great way to manipulate pathos. Obama talked a lot about crises the

Jake Fugiasco

Hour 4

American was facing, Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. This quote brings the citizens of American together through the common suffering of these crises, forming this sense of unity, Obama bring the people of America to attempt to solve the problems that the USA had. The emotional parts of each of these speeches touch their audience and made them realize that they made the right choice to elect Kennedy and Obama, pathos is the most important part of each of these speeches in order to make the audience realize that America was going to change for the better. Overall, the emotional quality of the inaugural speeches are the most important, but to make a good speech it takes more than just the emotion, it also depends on the writers perceived character or the ethos of the speech. Kennedy references multiple constituents of his overall character in his inaugural address not only in a direct manner but also indirect manner. Religion, loyalty, civility, sincerity, and altruism are some of the characteristics that Kennedy explained him as. The use of strong phrases such as, we pledge our world, and we pledge our best efforts, depicts Kennedy as a leader that is loyal to his country. President Kennedy appeals to ethos in his speech in order to establish himself as a man of strong character and capable of leadership and loyalty. Obama uses ethos in a different aspect than Kennedy, Obama uses ethos to try to connect with the audience or in this case America as one united nation. In his speech, he uses multiple words to show that he has also gone through tough time just like everyone else. By using we our and together throughout his speech many times, he is talking to the people of America but also including himself. Instead of telling America how loyal Obama is and how he is such a great leader, Obama uses ethos more so to connect with his audience. The quote It is now our generations task to carry on what those pioneers began,

Jake Fugiasco

Hour 4

talks about the current generation carrying on the progress of America, together everyone contributes to make America grow as it has been for many years. The Kennedy and Obama speeches use ethos in two totally different ways that both work, Kennedy uses ethos to send a message to America that he is a great leader and Obama uses ethos to connect with the people of America. The logic behind each of the Presidential Inaugural addresses is very important because it provides facts that will support what they are going to do for their country to try to grow and expand. When Kennedy gave his speech, he used logos when he explained why it was logical to avoid war and secure a global piece. Instead of letting issues divide countries, Kennedy urges both sides to he each other with their problems and to focus on positive aspects of each side. Without logic in what to do with the country, the country would be in great danger, Kennedy was president during the cold war so many Americans were scared of a nuclear attack so Kennedy used logic to bring the sense of hope to many Americans. In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course, Kennedy is logos cause and effect, if the citizens of America devote themselves to America that democracy will rise and all the fighting that is happening in the cold war will come to an end. Obama on the other hand uses logic in his speech to tell the audience that they will stand up to any threats. The use of logos in Obamas speech influenced the audience that he was a strong leader that will do anything to protect his country and help the rest of the world. Rhetoric is a very important part of Kennedys and Obamas inaugural addresses. Each of the president use ethos, pathos, and logos in completely different ways to persuade their

Jake Fugiasco

Hour 4

audiences. Since the speeches took place in different time periods, the audience of each of the speech was a lot different. The president needed to make sure that they connected to the audience by having a strong message that the audience cared about using the 3 steps of rhetoric; pathos, ethos, and logos.