Nixon Speech Essays

Submitted By Angelica-Luna
Words: 5184
Pages: 21
Open Document
Angelica Luna
AP English
Mrs. Bartels
December 12 2014
The Checkers Speech
Richard Nixon served as president from 1969-1974. However The Checkers speech was given in 1952 young Nixon had been asked by Eisenhower to be his running mate at the Republican national convention. A few days after Nixon was put on the ballet a headline came out about using money given to him by his supporters in his speech he claims that the only gift he kept was a dog named Checkers. When asked if he was going to resign from the ticket or continue to run for vice president Nixon responded with his famous checkers speech. Nixon starts out his speech by defending himself against the accusations of illegally spending the money of his supporters, he tells his audience exactly how much he and his family earn which he continually says isn’t much. This relates himself back to his audience which consists of average joes who know how it feels to make a minimal amount of money. Next he mentions whether or not using the money is wrong “Now, was that wrong? And let me say that it was wrong—I'm saying, incidentally, that it was wrong and not just illegal. Because it isn't a question of whether it was legal or illegal, that isn't enough. The question is, was it morally wrong? I say that it was morally wrong if any of that $18,000 went to Senator Nixon for my personal use ” this lets his audience know that he is owning up to his action as well as defend his character he later mentions that he never used the money for his personal use but to fund his campaign trip. He later says that the only thing that he has every kept from a supporter was a puppy who his six year old daughter named checkers. All of these things appeal to his audiences emotions. Nixon reminds the American people that he too is a family man just like the rest of them. Nixon appeals to his audience’s logic by showing them facts. Gives his audience an insight of his financial history from the time he was born to the time the speech. This allows the audience to trust him because of how vulnerable he makes himself to the people.
It can be argued that Nixon’s rhetoric is fairly simple. The reason may be that as time progresses the country becomes more democratic “In the early republic, presidents could assume that they were speaking to audiences made up mostly of men like themselves: educated, civic-minded landowners. These, of course, were the only Americans with the right to vote. But over time, the franchise expanded and presidential appeals had to reach a broader audience.”( Thompson) . and so because of this Nixon focuses mainly of the defense of his character and gaining the American peoples trust. Needless to say soon after this speech was delivered the amount of Eisenhower-Nixon supporters skyrocketed.
.

My Fellow Americans:
I come before you tonight as a candidate for the Vice Presidency and as a man whose honesty and integrity have been questioned.
The usual political thing to do when charges are made against you is to either ignore them or to deny them without giving details.
I believe we've had enough of that in the United States, particularly with the present Administration in Washington, D.C. To me the office of the Vice Presidency of the United States is a great office and I feel that the people have got to have confidence in the integrity of the men who run for that office and who might obtain it.
I have a theory, too, that the best and only answer to a smear or to an honest misunderstanding of the facts is to tell the truth. And that's why I'm here tonight. I want to tell you my side of the case.
I am sure that you have read the charge and you've heard that I, Senator Nixon, took $18,000 from a group of my supporters.
Now, was that wrong? And let me say that it was wrong—I'm saying, incidentally, that it was wrong and not just illegal. Because it isn't a question of whether it was legal or illegal, that isn't enough. The question is, was it morally wrong?
I say that it
Show More

Related Documents: Nixon Speech Essays

Richard Nixon Silent Majority Speech

For his campaign Richard Nixon gave his Silent Majority speech; in this speech he stated that he had a “secret plan” to end the war, but he then stated that a fast withdrawal from the war “would result in a collapse of confidence in American leadership...A nation cannot remain great if it betrays its allies and lets down its friends." In the beginning of Richard Nixon's time in office there was the credibility gap rose up again. For example, in March of 1969 the secret bombings of the Vietcong sanctuary…

Words 207 - Pages 1

Richard Nixon Speech Ethos Pathos Logos

Analysis Richard Nixon used his speech “Checkers” to save his 1952 republican vice president nomination. When news broke that Nixon used a secret fund to pay for travel and other expenses, many people-including some advisers to Dwight d Eisenhower- the republican candidate wanted, Nixon to leave the ticket. In a nationally televised speech on September 23 Nixon denied any wrong doing . He sentimentally admitted that his family had accepted a gift of a dog named checkers. In the speech “checkers” Richard…

Words 554 - Pages 3

Rhetorical Analysis Of The Checker's Speech

The Checkers Speech In order to provide a sound justification for analyzing this rhetorical artifact, it is necessary to know the general situation from which this artifact emerged. The Checkers speech qualifies as one of the most successful rhetorical exercises in American history. Nixon’s focus of the speech was on a combination of things. The main emphases were on restoring his image with the American people due to the allegations of accepting illegal campaign funds, decreasing the separation…

Words 662 - Pages 3

Silent Majority Essay examples

Richard Nixon delivered a speech with the hope that it would bring Americans together. At this time the American people stood divided on their views on the war. Many people wanted to withdraw from the war and many people supported the war in the quest for peace. The Vietnam War had already been going on for quite some time when Nixon came into office. Nixon was the second youngest president; he came to office in 1969 as the 37th president of the United States. (Sheppard) The goal of his speech was to…

Words 1873 - Pages 8

Richard Nixon's Speech Rhetorical Devices

In 1952, Richard Nixon was running mates with Republican presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower, however, was on the verge of cutting ties with his running mate due to allegations that Nixon had received gifts from lobbyists that totalled to a staggering $18,000. In a last-ditch effort to save his candidacy and his reputation, Nixon took to the small screen to talk to the American people. He hopes to change the minds of the American people so as to clear his name of any wrong doing…

Words 991 - Pages 4

Comparing D-Day Speech And Richard Nixon's Resignation

The presidents of the past have made many important speeches that show a shift in the era. Two such speeches are Dwight Eisenhower’s D-Day speech and Richard Nixon’s Resignation. Eisenhower's D-Day speech was made June 6th, 1944. This was addressed to all the allied troops as they prepared to invade France. Eisenhower hoped that this would encourage the Allied soldiers taking part in the invasion. This message reminded every man that “the eyes of the world are upon you” and that their opponents…

Words 904 - Pages 4

Rhetorical Analysis Of Richard Nixon's The Greatest Silent Majority

Richard Nixon gives the speech “The Greatest Silent Majority” during the Vietnamese war to convince Americans to support South Vietnam in their war against communist takeover from North Vietnam. “The Greatest Silent Majority” directs primarily to the Silent Majority, the people who oppose the Vietnamese war, to convince them to support the war. Throughout the speech, Nixon uses strong rhetorical appeals to support the freedom of South Vietnam and the pride of the United States. He uses “The Greatest…

Words 1996 - Pages 8

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Ethos: Senator Richard Nixon

Ethos: Senator Richard Nixon establishes Ethos from the beginning of his “Checkers” speech. As the speaker, Richard Nixon introduces himself to the audience as a vice president candidate and trustworthy behavior of an honest man. Furthermore, Nixon addresses the problem and encounters critics who claimed he stole $18,000 from a group of his supporters and used it for personal expenses. That being the case, Nixon decided to defend himself against the charges that were made towards him by delivering…

Words 532 - Pages 3

Richard Nixon Vietnam War Rhetorical Analysis Essay

stripped from their homes to fight in the war. During this time, Richard Nixon was voted into office as President. In his campaign, he claimed to have a secret plan to put an end the elongated war, but early into his term he decided against a sudden withdrawal in the fear of starting a new war. With Nixon’s letting the war continue, hundreds of thousands of people began to protest across the United States and on November 3, 1969, Nixon broadcasted, The Great Silent Majority. Him justify his plan to help…

Words 571 - Pages 3

Speech Disection Essay

Name CMST1110.90 Speech Surgery 30 October 2012 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I join my colleague Mr. Rangel in thanking you for giving the junior members of this committee the glorious opportunity of sharing the pain of this inquiry. Mr. Chairman, you are a strong man, and it has not been easy but we have tried as best we can to give you as much assistance as possible. Earlier today, we heard the beginning of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States: "We, the people." It's…

Words 2207 - Pages 9