Richard Nixon's Speech 'Checkers': Annotative Bibliography

Caleb Jensen
Ms. Barton
AP Language 7th Period
6 December 2015
“Checkers”: Annotative Bibliography In the 1950’s, people were heavily persuaded by people in the same social class because they could effortlessly relate to each other's financial well being, thus bringing them together as a unit. In his speech “Checkers”, Richard Nixon wields an honest and confident tone that portrays him as a middle class man in order to allow his audience to connect with him, thus saving his presidential campaign. The way that Nixon related and persuaded his middle class audience made his speech exceptionally effective.
"American Rhetoric: Richard M. Nixon - "Checkers" Speech." American Rhetoric: Richard M.
Nixon - "Checkers" Speech. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Richard Nixon delivered his famous speech titled “Checkers” to the public after he was accused of spending the money he raised for his campaign on personal items in 1952. His speech was aired on television so that he could reach all Americans and elucidate to them that he had not personally spent his campaign money. Nixon effortlessly employs effective rhetorical questions, cogent ethos, and
impactful anacoluthon throughout his speech to cajole his audience.
LaGesse, David. "The Dog Carries The Day For Nixon. (Cover Story)." U.S. News & World Report 144.3 (2008): 42. Academic Search Complete. Web. 1 Dec. 2015. Richard Nixon was quickly being credited for being a thief and needed to convince the 1950 Americans that he was not a criminal.
In his speech, Nixon asks the rhetorical question “now, what have I earned since I went into politics”, and then proceeds to tell his audience of all the items he owns and has bought since he started politics. He ends this section of his speech by saying what he has “isn’t very much”, to relate to middle class and poor people. Nixon uses ethos by stating that he is an “honest man” and that “every dime that [he and his wife] got is honestly [thiers]”. This portion of his speech is meant to make his accusers feel guilty for ever accusing him of being a thief. Lastly, Nixon effectively implements anacoluthon by swaying slightly from a few of his sentences in order to make an impactful point on his
audience.
"Nixon, Richard Milhous." Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia (2015): 1p. 1. Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia. Web. 2 Dec. 2015. Richard Nixon gave his speech “Checkers” on September 23, 1952 in front of 60 million Americans. His speech was broadcasted on live television so that he could give his speech and try to convince a wide range of people that he had not personally spent the money that had been donated for his campaign. All of his accusers were able to listen to the speech and Nixon was able to show his sincerity without having a formal meeting.
Sellen, Robert W. "Richard Nixon." Salem Press Biographical Encyclopedia (2015): Research Starters. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.
Richard Nixon was the Senator of California and was running for Vice President of the United States at the time he gave his famous speech “Checkers”. He presented his speech to 60 million Americans by broadcasting it on live television. He gave his speech from the standpoint of a middle class man in order to get people to relate to him. This is all relevant to his speech because it provides an explanation as to where Nixon stood financially as well as where he stood in social stature.