A Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's Steel Companies

On April 10, 1962 President John F. Kennedy gave a speech in response to the nation’s largest steel companies raising their prices by 3.5 percent. While America was emerging from a recession, Kennedy uses both classical rhetoric devices and subtle but sophisticated diction to easily convince the American people of the greed the steel companies, as well as inform them of why lower and more stable wages must be pursued.

Kennedy begins this news conference with subtle, yet powerful choices in diction where he calls the Steel companies “unjustifiable and irresponsible” as well as “defian[t]”. These characterizing adjectives are all associated with negative connotations, thus showing his audience of his feelings of anger, disappointment, and even …show more content…
As Americans, the news that people fighting in our country’s name have died automatically sparks sadness, empathy, and respect. And to compare the ultimate sacrifice these brave Americans made for their country to the small sacrifice the steel companies were unwilling to make with their prices and wages, Kennedy immediately enforces both the anger and disappointment he holds with the steel companies, but also the immaturity and greed of the companies―seeding resentment in his audience toward them. Later in that same paragraph Kennedy juxtaposes “American people” and “a tiny handful of steel executives”, thus creating an ‘us versus them’ feeling, and leading audience members to feel a sense of unification against the “United States Steel and other leading steel corporations”. This appeal to people’s character and their emotions puts everyone on the same side as Kennedy, making it much easier for him to get his major points across. Then, later in the speech, Kennedy makes use of many words and phrases that ignite a sense of nationalism. When he says “protect the public interest” he’s letting Americans know that he has the interest of more than just himself in perspective―that he cares about the “welfare of [the] country” and the “American people”. Finally, the phrase “return for that freedom” further indicates that Kennedy is concerned about

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A Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's Steel Companies

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