How Did Kennedy Raise Steel Prices

During the early sixties, the United States struggled with the challenge of economic failure. In an attempt to alleviate the recession within the economy, President Kennedy instituted a program that asked the citizens of the United States to make sacrifices in order to balance and stabilize the economy. Most of the United States were up to the task; others were not. With the intent of assuming money and power, steel companies raised the prices of their products. President Kennedy found this infuriating, and gave his response towards the issue. Known for his persuasive and uplifting speeches, Kennedy uses to his advantage rhetorical appeals in order to argue the steel companies reasons for raising their prices. To begin, Kennedy provides the possible consequences for raising steel with the usage of logic. As made clear by Kennedy, raising steel prices can influence multiple parties. Businesses, families, farmers, and the physically disabled would see a price increase in everything in the market. Kennedy is thoughtful of the idea that if one price increases, they all increase. This usage of logic was made intentional to the effect of proving that there lies repercussions in the increase of steel. Not only that, the effect also helps to identify who is
Paragraph 4 is prefaced with the statement, "...an estimated one billion dollars to the cost of our defenses" (33-4). With what the audience already knows of the current state of America, one billion dollars needed for national security is a bewildering cost. Coupled with how this era coincides with the Vietnam War, the United States are faced with the fear of invasion. Kennedy's use of emotion creates an indirect scare tactic to invoke fear and insecurity to the audience. This effect makes the audience worried for their own safety, and thus adding towards the feelings of contempt towards the steel