Persuasive Essay On John F Kennedy's Speech
In his passionate speech held at a news conference in 1962, President John F. Kennedy opened his speech with regards to the large increase in steel prices. Recent to his speech, he had repeatedly calls for “stable prices and wages as part of a program of national sacrifice during a period of economic distress”. Kennedy is addressing the fact that even though the major steel corporations know hiking up the prices on steel will only make America’s economy worse, they still do it for their own “pursuit of private power and profit”, and they are stupid for it. He begins by using very strong words to get his point across. Kennedy claims that the steel corporations constitute a wholly unjustifiable and irresponsible defiance of the public interest.
He is trying to use the people’s emotions by using strong words to get them to see just how wrong the hike in prices is. Immediately after that, he plays on the people logic and emotion, speaking about servicemen leaving their homes and families and risking their lives in Viet Nam, all while the U.S. is also trying to devote its energy to economic recovery and stability.
Throughout, Kennedy points out that what the steel corporations are doing is out of pure selfishness, and him saying that makes the cooperatives look very bad. He goes on and appeals to the logic of the American people. Kennedy explains the domino effect of rising steel prices and what harm it will do to the economy. He relates it to them, saying the cost of housing, autos, appliances, and almost all necessities will have raising prices. Relating this to them, Kennedy hopes the people will think more about what this is doing not only to their country as a whole, but to them personally.
To get his purpose across, Kennedy also uses a lot of repetition. He repeats the fact that there is no justification for an increase in the steel prices, except for own selfish gain and prosperity. He re-words many statements so he can really be heard by everybody, and to show the people he’s very serious about what he is saying. Kennedy ends this portion of his speech talking about the liberties and rights of the American people, and talks about that recently (to his speech) he had asked a rhetorical question for the people to think about. And he had asked average Americans and then the steel companies, to see how their answers would differ.
He is trying to use the people’s emotions by using strong words to get them to see just how wrong the hike in prices is. Immediately after that, he plays on the people logic and emotion, speaking about servicemen leaving their homes and families and risking their lives in Viet Nam, all while the U.S. is also trying to devote its energy to economic recovery and stability.
Throughout, Kennedy points out that what the steel corporations are doing is out of pure selfishness, and him saying that makes the cooperatives look very bad. He goes on and appeals to the logic of the American people. Kennedy explains the domino effect of rising steel prices and what harm it will do to the economy. He relates it to them, saying the cost of housing, autos, appliances, and almost all necessities will have raising prices. Relating this to them, Kennedy hopes the people will think more about what this is doing not only to their country as a whole, but to them personally.
To get his purpose across, Kennedy also uses a lot of repetition. He repeats the fact that there is no justification for an increase in the steel prices, except for own selfish gain and prosperity. He re-words many statements so he can really be heard by everybody, and to show the people he’s very serious about what he is saying. Kennedy ends this portion of his speech talking about the liberties and rights of the American people, and talks about that recently (to his speech) he had asked a rhetorical question for the people to think about. And he had asked average Americans and then the steel companies, to see how their answers would differ.