Rhetorical Analysis Of Robert F. Kennedy's Speech

Robert F. Kennedy effectively addresses the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. through his numerous appeals to emotion, ethics, and reason in his persuasive speech. Throughout the speech Robert F. Kennedy persuades people to think the way he thinks and live in equality rather than acting in a destructive and violent manner. President Kennedy starts out first by directly addressing the audience, the statement “Ladies and gentlemen: I’m only going to talk to you for just a minute or so…” hooks the audience by giving them a sense of the speech being personal. After he has grasped the audience’s attention he addresses the issue of Martin Luther King, Jr. being killed. The death of him greatly appeals to the emotions of people because the