Rhetorical Analysis: The Increase In Steel Prices

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In a poignant speech to the American people, United States President John F. Kennedy calls for stable steel prices in response to the recent 3 percent increase by major American steel companies. He asserts that the steel industry is harming the American economy through this increase in prices; handicapping the nation’s ability to defend itself in this time of great uncertainty. Kennedy then supports this argument by invoking strong emotions, using sound reasoning, and relaying important statistics from major organizations. These effects aide in his purpose to denounce the steel industry for the injustices done to the American people in their effort to squeeze every penny from their pockets. Kennedy appeals to the emotions of the American people …show more content…
He states “employment costs per unit of steel output in 1961 were essentially the same as they were in 1958,” according to the Acting Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Essentially, this quote explains how the steel industry has been doing so well that they have been able to keep the cost of employing workers about the same. In addition, this statistic came from the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a noteworthy resource, making the audience more inclined to believe the point that he is making. He continues explaining how the steel industry has been doing well when he states “the industry’s cash dividends have exceeded 600 million dollars in each of the last five years, and earnings in the first quarter of this year were estimated in the February 28th Wall Street Journal to be among the highest in history.” Again, Kennedy explains how the steel industry has been extremely well-off through the use of statistics from resources that are credible. These excerpts show the audience that the steel companies have already been doing so well that they have no immediate need to increase their prices as steeply as they have. Accordingly, the audience may feel that more wrongs have been done to them since the industry which has already been making enough to satisfy their