Bill Clinton Speech Oval Office Analysis

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Rhetorical Analysis of the Bill Clinton Speech Oval Office

President Bill Clinton, in his oval office speech to the public, addresses the aftermath of the investigation regarding his scandal with Monica Lewinsky. Clinton’s purpose is to “take complete responsibility” for his actions but also implies that “It’s nobody's business” but his family’s. He adopts an indignant and apologetic tone portraying that he's being treated unfairly and should be treated like everyone else.
Clinton begins his speech apologizing for his wrong doings, such as his affair with Monica Lewinsky and then lying about it in court. He argues that the situation is a private matter and that he was asked questions about his private life, “questions no American citizen would ever want to answer.” He implies a demeaning tone towards the American citizens, and utilizes repetition of the word “questions” to convey his message. In the beginning of the speech, he incorporates short and emotional sentences due to him feeling commiserate about the situation he is in. The sincerity from the president conveys an apologetic tone that dismisses the fact that he lied in court about his affair.
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Another example of anacoluthon is, “this has gone on too long” and has “hurt too many innocent people.” He refers back to the matter at hand and how the “investigation itself is under investigation”, the utilization of the rhetorical strategy, repetition. Clinton claims if he was innocent then, he must be innocent