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3/4/10
Throughout time orators have given speeches which become an integral part of history,
resounding through the ages. Upon reading Harold Ickes speech What is an American? this
was my first impression; that these words seemed to sum up the feeling of a time so completely. I
imagine listening to these words would ensure they stayed with the listener. This analysis will
cover why this speech is so effective rhetorically, even reading it decades later, using the appeals
What is an American? was given in May, 1941 by Harold Ickes, the Secretary of
Interior. It addresses the war against Hitler and the Nazis taking place in Europe at the time,
which America had yet to join. America stood debating whether to get involved in a war that still
failed to affect them directly. Ickes covers these issues while presenting his opinion on what
course of action America should take. He leaves no doubt as to where he stands, imploring
America to step in and aid the British. His confidence in this plan of action is contagious.
Ethos is a strong factor in creating the appeals of Harold Ickes speech. The majority of
his ethos is a by-product of his station, ensuring little need for extra work in this area. The
audience would be well aware of Ickes station as the Secretary of the Interior. This position
establishes a potent ethos for Ickes, because of his obvious ties to America. When he details the
people through his office and therefore understands their ideals. Though this creates a strong
ethos on its own, Ickes goes one step further. He shows that he is well informed on the issue with
his choice of quote at the end. The quote comes from Hitlers Mien Kampf directly, proving that
Ickes is familiar with the enemy. He chooses a quote on the bravery of the British people that
Hitler included in his book, which the American people can help throw back in his face. This use
of Hitlers own words against him furthers his cause. By using this quote, and a brief one by
Winston Churchill, Ickes ensures that the audience believes his ethos. He proves to them that he
is well versed, not only in being an American, but in the situation he asks his people to enter.
The beginning of the speech draws the audiences attention in immediately with the
intense wording. Some ideas are almost caustic, practically offending the listeners. Why have
some of us been behaving like scared chickens? Ickes asks. The use of scared chickens causes
the audience to flinch, wondering if they fall under this umbrella. The next section groups the
audience together as Americans and creates a shared sense of affront. For years it has been
dinned into us that we are a weak nation; that we are an inefficient people; that we are simple-
minded. For years we have been told that we are beaten, decayed, and that no part of the world
belongs to us any longer. These harsh statements use pathos to instill anger amongst the
members of the audience, not at the speaker, but at those who would say such things of the
American people. Due to their anger, the listeners pay closer attention, wondering how Ickes will
address these wrongs. The following comments on how some Americans have fallen to these
view on such people and drawing the audience in with the strong language. When Ickes says I
say that it is time for the great American people to raise its voice and cry out in mighty triumph
what it is to be an American. The vehemence cultured earlier is shifted into pride in being a
great American. Those who felt affronted by previous ideas now feel pleased that they are
Americans and stand in triumph against the naysayers Ickes called out. Throughout the speech
the language remains potent, keeping the listeners attention. It is most prominent in the
beginning, but Ickes never slacks in cultivating pathos through his word choice.
A particularly successful section toward the end of the speech reminds the audience of
previous fights for freedom, and compares these to the fight the British are engaged in. He cites
famous struggles throughout history and the globe, creating a sense of unity in all those who
crave freedom. We, free, democratic Americans are in a position to help. We know that the
spirit of freedom never dies. We know that men have fought and bled for freedom since time
immemorial. This beginning of the section implies that as Americans we are almost required to
help, since we know what it is to fight for our freedom. Ickes creates a feeling of the endlessness
of the struggle for freedom, but also says that those who fight for freedom do not give in. As
such fighters for freedom, Americans have the obligation to ensure other nations can reach the
same liberty. We recall the heroic figure of Masaryk and the gallant fight for freedom of the
Czech people. Citing another well known bid for freedom spreads the ideals from something
entirely American to a fight the entire world is familiar with. The audience sympathizes with
these other freedom fighters, and begins to draw the connection with the fight at present in
Britain. The section spread the ideology of America to other countries, therefore wrapping them
Perhaps the prevailing rhetorical appeal, even over pathos, is the appeal to American
ideology. At every stage of the speech Ickes refers back to the title of the speech What is an
American? He uses the widely accepted ideologies of Americans to appeal to his audience,
constantly referencing these ideas. Ickes refers to the ideals of justice and freedom saying An
American is one who loves justice and believes in the dignity of man. An American is one who
will fight for his freedom and that of his neighbor. He knows that Americans pride themselves
on these principles, and that appealing to this will draw the audience in. The previous statement
sets the stage for the switch to the purpose of Ickes speech, which continues in Americans have
always known how to fight for their rights and their way of life. Americans are not afraid to
fight. They fight joyously in a just cause. This clever use of ideals his entire audience will agree
with to transition to his real purpose works flawlessly. Still discussing ideology, he has now
introduced the idea of fighting for those principles Americans insist they believe in. When he
begins to call for action, aid to Britain, the switch is smooth. Ideology to hypothetically fighting
for it to actually fighting for it; his logically move from each step to the next is sound. The
combination of logos in his flow of ideas and the weaving in of American ideologies creates an
effective argument.
Harold Ickes speech What is an American is successful due to the artful use of
rhetorical appeals. Pathos, ethos, logos, and ideology are all employed with skill by the orator to
engage the audience. I can image the audience talking after the speech about how they agreed
with Ickes, and how valid his points were; probably with enthusiasm. Hearing, or seeing, the
speech would only make it more effective, especially if Ickes were as strong an orator as he
seems in the textual version. If any of the rhetorical devices had been left out the speech would
not have been nearly as successful. The careful blend of the rhetorical appeals created a current
pulling the reader to the conclusion Ickes wanted, leaving one out would damped the effect.
Knowing the outcome of the war, and our choice on whether to get involved, I wonder how
much this one speech influenced public opinion. Judging by the rhetorical strength, Ickes could
Ickes, Harold. "What is an American?" The History Place. N.p., n.d. Web. 1
Mar. 2010.
<http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/ickes.htm>.