In 1963, John Fitzgerald Kennedy gave his Commencement Address to American University in Washington, D.C., known as the “Peace Speech.” President Kennedy asked the graduates of American University to re-examine their thoughts and views on the Cold War and the Soviet Union. In his speech, he outlined a plan for future peace between the two nations, which included unilaterally suspending above-ground nuclear weapons testing, and vowing that the United Stated would not start a war. President Kennedy wanted the graduates of American University to make a better nation, so they can have better jobs (Peters et al). Kennedy wanted the graduates of American University to make the United States better by getting jobs and be a contribute to their nation. By going to college and getting a degree the person can get a better paying job, then someone who only as a high school diploma or no degree. Most occupations required a bachelor’s degree, so it is very import that people go to college and make something for themselves. Throughout his speech, Kennedy made connections by using Bible verses, religion, and the Declaration of Independence (Peters et al). During his speech, President Kennedy mentioned that the United States would stop using nuclear weapons and would not perform any further nuclear tests. The President also explained why he wanted to back out of the Cold War (Peters et al). The speech led to the signing of the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty between the United Stated and the Soviet Union. Signing the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty caused some problems that dealt with the arms control agreement that was between the two nations (Wenger et al). By singing the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty it saved the United States from nuclear destruction in 1962. Some administration officials thought that John Fitzgerald Kennedy was a great leader with amazing skills for a policy leader and someone who can manage crisis (Wenger et al). Kennedy greatly desired peace for our nation and the world. While giving the “Free Speech” at the Reeves Athletic Filed which is located northwest in Washington. He took the stage at the Reeves Athletic Filed at the American University because that location was known for conflicting situations and international affairs (Sorensen). President John F. Kennedy’s speech was well written and well-spoken, in that he used ethos, pathos, and logos throughout his speech to make a connection with the audience. Throughout his presidency President Kennedy made decisions that required him to make policies (Mongar). In my opinion, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was one of our greatest Presidents. While he was President he had accomplished many goals that made the United States of America a great nation. John F. Kennedy saw something that he did not like and he came up with a solution that would solve the problem.
During his presidency, he had to deal with four crises that he had to make decisions for: The Bay of Pigs, the Cuban missile crisis, steel price fiasco, James Meredith and the University of Mississippi administration (Mongar). The Cuban missile crisis was in October 1962, that was in international crisis that was between Soviet Union and the United States. President Kennedy found out that the Soviets had their missiles on Cuba, and he demanded the removal of their missiles and a naval blockade of the island (Mongar). Later, Nikita Khrushchev responded to the Kennedy’s demands. This crisis, Cuban missile was the closest the United States of America came to a nuclear war. During those thirteen days when the Soviet Union hides the missiles in Cuba it marked the most dangerous days in history (Mongar). John F. Kennedy had removed the Cuban missiles without breaking an international law. Since Nikita Khrushchev missiles were a secret, he looked like a fool when he removed the missiles. Another crisis was The Bay of Pig, when Cubans landed on the southern coast of Cuba supported by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to try to overthrow Fidel Castro (Mongar). The President took the blame and the responsibility for the failure of the invasion. Bay of Pigs was not a success because American air support didn’t arrive and then they expected air support from Cuba but their air support never should up. The crisis with James Meredith and the University of Mississippi administration dealt with a young air force veteran attempted to get accepted and enrolled. There was a federal court that guaranteed his right to attended the University. Kennedy had to send over three hundred troops and four hundred marshals to control the violence while James Meredith attended his classes (Mongar). With these crisis, The President had to make difficult decisions with all of the crises that were going on at the time. He made great inspirational decisions regarding every crisis. With every decision that he made, he always made a positive reaction. With every positive reaction that he made, it reestablished his self-image (Mongar). Our nation witnessed what his emotional state was when he was dealing with the crisis; and he was not afraid to let the nation witness what and how he was feeling at those times (Mongar). Lastly, he wanted the steel prices to lower their prices. Even though he asked the steel companies to lower their prices they actually raised them.
During his speech, the President used ethos to make his audience to see where he is coming from when he wanted to back out of the Cold War, stop using nuclear weapons, and not to perform any further nuclear test. In the middle of the Cold War, he had the courage to say, “No government or social system is so evil that its people must be considered as lacking in virtue." The President Address Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, Reverend Clergy, fellow citizens (Peters et al) to make a connection between the beginning and the end. Kennedy mentioned in his speech, “But I also believed that we must reexamine our own attitudes, as individuals and as a nation, for our attitude is as essential as theirs. And every graduate of this school, every thoughtful citizen who despairs of war and wishes to bring peace, should begin by looking inward, by examining his own attitude towards the possibilities of peace, towards the Soviet Union, towards the course of the cold war and towards freedom and peace here at home"(Sorensen). By saying this he wanted us to look at ourselves that peace would help the country to become better. The president made appeals by including Bible verses, his Faith, and how faith should play a role in the United States of America future. John F. Kennedy has been involved in a church since 1960 and everyone liked how the President how he shows emotion during his speech. He wants others to have his beliefs to make a better nation, when he mentions, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation.” He says this because it he wants his passion that would approve the nation. He wants everyone to work together to make life better for themselves and everyone else. By saying this phrase, he wanted his fellow citizens to show national loyalty and help their allies fight the struggles against the world. With every crisis, he faces he shows patience by not jumping into a situation that can cause a war. An example of ethos is when he says, "With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own" (Peters et al). Another example of ethos, is when Kennedy said, “I have, therefore, chosen this time and this place to discuss a topic on which ignorance too often abounds and the truth is too rarely perceived – yet it is the most important topic on earth: world peace. What kind of peace do I mean? What kind of peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children-not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women – not merely peace in our time but peace for all time” (Sorensen). When he says, “ignorance too often abounds,” he indicates that he understands the truth and how it is going to take an impact on his audience.
The President of the United States uses logos during his speech when he says, “First: Examine our attitude towards peace itself. Too many of us think it is impossible. Too many think it is unreal. But that is a dangerous, defeatist belief. It leads to the conclusion that war is inevitable — that mankind is doomed — that we are gripped by forces we cannot control" (Sorensen). By saying this, he wanted us to know that we can find peace and it would be possible to find. He uses logos to convince us that peace is possible, he wanted us to know that there is a lot of stuff that we cannot control and things that we could control.
In the “Peace Speech,” the president uses pathos during his speech when he says, "I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, and the kind that enables men and nations to grow, and to hope, and build a better life for their children — not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women, not merely peace in our time but peace in all time" (Sorensen). When the President of the United States of America said this, he wanted us to provide a better world for us and how peace is the answer to make this happen. In the Commencement Speech, known as the “Peace Speech,” the President uses pathos to make his emotional appeal that peace could make our world worth living, how peace would build a better life for our children. President Kennedy wanted us to know the value of genuine peace. He taught us a lesson how civil rights to genuine peace are connected. He also used pathos to tell us that we could improve our relationship with Soviet Union if we can have genuine peace with each other. Overall, the use of pathos in the Commencement Speech, he tells the difference of war and peace.
The “Free Speech” was divided into four parts. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy started his speech to remind his audience of the efforts that the founding fathers put into building America. Another part of the speech was to announce all of his promises, the third part talked about of United States needed to deal with the issues that it is facing and all of the options they need to consider in fixing the issues. The fourth part was to address his faith in his fellow citizens how they can help create peace in the world. From giving his Commencement Speech, “Peace Speech,” he said, “So, let us not be blind to our differences–but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal” (Sorensen). The president made sure he did his best to speak to all individuals as people, who he had helped everyone to believe in themselves. He encouraged everyone throughout the world to make their world and others better. By doing this, everyone would make their society better and larger. After President Kennedy give his Commencement Speech to the graduates of American University in Washington, D.C., on June 10, he gives his speech regarding his historical Civil Rights speech to the nation.
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