Rhetorical Analysis Of John F. Kennedy's Speech

Words: 366
Pages: 2

President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech in Houston, Texas in 1962 to potential supporters for programs to land humans on the Moon. Kennedy appeals to facts, and values, and utilizes figurative language to gain the financial support of space programs in the process.

Kennedy begins by using facts about the history of human accomplishments to draw attention to the value of new discoveries to his audience. In paragraph 1, Kennedy lists discoveries such as the creation of shelters, wheels, the steam engine, electric lights, automobiles, and television among other things. In paragraph 2, Kennedy expresses his hopes of "reaching the stars" when it comes to space exploration. The audience can agree these products of curiosity and dedication are