Category: RCL

Introduction:

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Speech came at the height of the Great Depression in 1933. People were struggling and overall pessimistic about the future, but they hoped that their recent election of a new president might change how things were going. After winning by a relatively large margin, FDR was ready to transition from campaigning to announcing his plan to take action as the newly elected official. His First Inaugural Address was his first speech he made to the American people as President. Ready to take on the challenges the country was facing, FDR included emotional sentiments by imploring the American people to look to the future and his new administration with hope. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address articulates powerful examples of strong emotional appeals of confidence and hope, the Kairos of the tense political atmosphere of 1933, and the commonplace that an inaugural address usually lays out the President’s promises and intentions for the upcoming term. Meanwhile, how does this address compare to FDR’s Second Inaugural Speech where people were already accustomed to his presidency and as concerned with the depression anymore? Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s first and second inaugural speech differently approach these commonplaces, rhetorical situations in which these speeches were created, and use of ethos and pathos.

Introduction

• Thesis: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address articulates powerful examples of strong emotional appeals of confidence and hope, the Kairos of the tense political atmosphere of 1933, and the commonplace that an inaugural address usually lays out the President’s promises and intentions for the upcoming term.

Rhetorical Situation/Kairos

• First Inaugural Address (1933)
• He won the election by a relatively large margin
• Great Depression
• This is unlike his previous campaign speeches because he doesn’t have to convince anyone to vote for him, he knows he has enough of their approval.

Ethos

• Trying to boost confidence and hope
• Famous quote: “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”
• This is the part of the speech that would look at specific quotes from the speech
• It’s normally difficult to be seen as “relatable” as a politician when people are struggling with unemployment.

Commonplaces

• The Inaugural Address is where Presidents usually make broad claims about what they are going to get done during their upcoming term.

Conclusion

• Dynamic between a newly elected official and the citizens

Just like my last post, I have again decided to look at a speech as a civic artifact. This time, I’ll be looking at President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address and how the rhetorical situation in that time and place, as well as the purpose of the speech, determined the Kairos of the piece.
At the time of FDR’s election and inauguration in 1933, America was deep into the Great Depression. Morale was down, and people were desperately struggling to hold on. They had just elected a new president and were in desperate need of a change. FDR presented this speech for that very reason, therefore revealing the true works of Kairos in this civic artifact. The rhetorical situation that this speech was created in allowed for an effective means of having its message greatly received.
FDR utilized various methods to now only convey deep connectedness with the people and their struggles but also uplifting them and inspiring them to look to the future with ambition and hope. He saw the American people as needing to be motivated and excited about the future. FDR had a few different purposes with this speech other than just inspiration though. Even so, he knew that the best way to get the American people on board with any particular political plan that they came up with was to have them actively engaged and enthusiastic about life after the Great Depression. For this reason, he in a way snuck his political plan in the speech between words of passion and magnitude. Considering his political motivation within the speech as well, it is essential to realize that this speech was also directed at members of Congress and other political figures as a way to inspire them to follow his plan as well.
Overall, the Kairos of this piece can be looked at in multiple ways to establish the true purpose and rhetorical situation in which this piece was presented to its audience.

President John F. Kennedy’s speech at the Berlin Wall in 1963 includes many elements of rhetoric to convey a powerful message. Now regarded as a very famous speech, especially of its time, the components used to be so influential are interesting to observe. Kennedy’s most famous line of the address is the German translation of “I am a citizen of Berlin”. This line not only appeals to a sense of community and commonplace but also to powerful patriotism, which we are accustomed to in America, but not in Berlin. This line is a significant emotional phrase that also feels like a call to action. This sense of solidarity and coming together as one with a common goal or ideology are all commonplace ideas that drive this speech and its underlying power. It’s interesting to consider how patriotism is used to address another country, considering nationalism is such a big thing in America. It would be incredibly interesting to understand and consider how a US President might view the effect of patriotism differently than a citizen of Berlin. It is also notable to consider how commonplaces change from country to country, for example, and how people addressing people from other parts of the world chose to administer rhetoric differently or similarly.
This speech also influenced many other public addresses in the future, including President Regan’s address at the Berlin Wall. President Kennedy’s speech instilled such strong commonplaces, especially among the people of Berlin, that he remained a cherished figure even after his death. This speech continued his legacy even after his death because people saw him as being able to bring people together. Therefore, commonplaces and rhetoric used in his speeches were arguably able to continue his memory and legacy, at least for the people of Berlin.