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Samantha McCall
Mrs. Weathersbee
AP Language and Composition
23 November 2014
Political Speech Analysis on John F. Kennedy
As a politician, oral communication is a key part in both gaining support, and clearly
relaying ones position on relevant issues the points of running for office. John F. Kennedy was
the 35th president of the United States, serving his term from 1960 until his assassination in 1963
("John F. Kennedy"). Born on May 29th, 1917, Kennedy was born into the midst of World War
I. Kennedy was born into one of the wealthiest families of the time, and had nine brothers and
sisters. Kennedy attended both Princeton University and Harvard University. Kennedy was a
student interested in government and current events. At the time, Germany and Italy were
destroying each other, and Kennedys father was the United States Ambassador of England. Mr.
Kennedy kept his son very informed in what was happening, and was one of Kennedys big
influences (Life of John F. Kennedy). In 1960, Kennedy ran on the presidential ticket as the
democratic candidate. The Election of 1960 was the closest election since 1916, and second only
to the Lincoln-Douglas election ("The Election of 1960"). This election made the many debates
and speeches that John F. Kennedy gave all the more important, contributing to the closeness of
the election, and ultimately distinguishing him as the presidential winner.
The ethos of a speaker is important because it makes the speaker worth listening to, and
makes him credible on the subject. Kennedy establishes his ethos through the fact that he was a

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senator, a Roman catholic, and would become the president of the United States. He also cites
multiple sources such as people well educated on the subject of which he is speaking and the
Bible. An example of Kennedys allusions to the Bible is For of those to whom much is given,
much is required (Kennedy, City Upon a Hill). This is an allusion to Luke 12: 48 God's
judgment is perfectly fair. In this life, some have better opportunities to develop God's character.
Others have greater intelligence or natural abilities. God will apply the principle of "to whom
much is given, much is required" with perfect fairness. Kennedy is trying to relay the message
of people who have received many gifts, in turn, have to return the favor share those gifts with
others. One of Kennedys gift is speaking, and he therefore is sharing his gift, and establishing
his ethos at the same time.
Three of John F. Kennedy's notable speeches are "The City Upon a Hill",
"Commencement Address at American University", and "Report to the American People on Civil
Rights". "The City Upon a Hill" speech was given on January 9th, 1961. This speech was the last
speech given before Kennedys inauguration, and was meant to usher in a new generation of
leadership. The "Commencement Address at American University" was given on June 10th,
1963. This speech was given to ask the graduates of American University to reconsider how they
viewed the Cold War. This speech also addresses the testing of nuclear weapons, and how it was
being discussed that no country should be testing nuclear weapons. Kennedy's "Report to the
American People on Civil Rights" speech was given in order to address how two AfricanAmerican were allowed to enroll in the University of Alabama, and how the integration of blacks
and whites must continue to happen because it is the right thing ("University of Alabama
Desegregated"). Some of this speech also was not scripted. This means that Kennedy adapted

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what he had previously thought he would say, into what he thought the people needed to hear.
Some of the key methods of an effective speaker are the ways in which they use syntax, diction,
and rhetorical devices.
Among John F. Kennedy's speeches, a commonality is the fact that he uses long,
compound-complex sentences throughout his speeches. This creates a fluid movement through
his speech, connecting all of his points together. The use of long sentences also draws the
listener's attention to a certain point whenever he uses a simple sentence. The abrupt change
throws the listener off, and makes them think more about a certain idea. An example of this is
"One hundred years of delay have passed since President Lincoln freed the slaves, yet their heirs,
their grandsons, are not fully free. They are not yet freed from the bonds of injustice. They are
not yet freed from social and economic oppression. And this Nation, for all its hopes and all its
boasts, will not be fully free until all its citizens are free" (Kennedy, "Report to the American
People on Civil Rights"). Pathos is the way in a speaker is able to target his audiences emotions
to make them feel pity. This quote also provides a sense of the way Kennedy uses pathos to
evoke emotion in his listeners. When a speaker evokes emotion, the listeners are more inclined to
listen, and be persuaded to accept their point. If a listener is interested in a speech, they will be
more willing to agree with the speaker.
The diction and language that Kennedy uses is also consistent throughout all of his
speeches. Although John F. Kennedy was a president, and an educated man, he typically used
informal language in his speeches. The use of informal language allowed Kennedy to relate more
directly to his audience. Informal language was how most people of the time talked, and

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therefore they could more easily understand the words he was saying, along with what he was
talking about. The use of non-extravagant words creates the sense of informal language.
Kennedy also uses inclusive language, such as "For we are setting out upon a voyage in 1961 no
less hazardous than that undertaken by the Arabella in 1630. We are committing ourselves to
tasks of statecraft no less awesome than that of governing the Massachusetts Bay Colony, beset
as it was then by terror without and disorder within" (Kennedy, "City Upon a Hill"). This made
listeners feel as if they already had sided with Kennedy, and his opinions were their opinions.
This made persuading his audience much easier, and included everyone on the same side. The
"we" language followed by the four rhetorical questions, discussed in the next paragraph, sealed
people's opinions.
Rhetorical devices also help to make speeches more effective and persuasive. Some of
the devices that John F. Kennedy uses are rhetorical questions, asyndeton, and polysyndeton.
The use of the rhetorical questions lead the listeners down a specific path, allowing them to
"make their own decision" on the subject being discussed. While a listener may think they decide
which point-of-view they had, Kennedy was actually, making their agreement with his ideas
inevitable. An example of a rhetorical question that Kennedy uses is when he asks "What kind of
peace do I mean? What kind of peace do we seek?" (Kennedy, "Commencement Address at
American University"). When asked this question, listeners then hear about the kind of lasting
peace that Kennedy hopes to achieve. Because of what; they then too believe that was how they
would have answered the question. Another masterful use of rhetorical questions are the four
questions that Kennedy presents in his City Upon a Hill speech, First were wenational

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interest (Kennedy, City Upon a Hill). These four questions are the specific ways in which
Kennedy wants the listeners to think. After answering the questions, if you didnt agree with
Kennedy, the thoughts you had of yourself were not a true American. This is done through
exemplifying values such as courage, honor, and integrity. These values are ones that someone
could not disagree with, and therefore, would have to join Kennedys side.
The use of both asyndeton and polysyndeton drew emphasis to a point that Kennedy
makes. This happens in much of the same way in which the use of an abrupt simple sentence in
the middle of compound-complex sentences draws attention to a certain point. An example of
Kennedy's use of asyndeton is "The enduring qualities of Massachusettsthe common threads
woven by the Pilgrim and the Puritan, the fisherman and the farmer, the Yankee and the
immigrantwill not be and could not be forgotten in this nation's executive mansion" (Kennedy,
"City Upon a Hill"). Without the use of conjunctions, it makes the list of qualities seem much
longer that it actually is. This can really rally the listeners, persuading them to think in one way
rather than in another, or solely act on their emotions. This also provides additional accent to the
sentence, drawing attention to the point Kennedy is making. The same effect can happen with the
use of polysyndeton. An example of Kennedy's use of polysyndeton is "It ought to be possible
for American consumers of any color to receive equal service in places of public
accommodation, such as hotels and restaurants and theaters and retail stores, without being
forced to resort to demonstrations in the street, and it ought to be possible for American citizens
of any color to register to vote in a free election without interference or fear of
reprisal" (Kennedy, "Report to the American People on Civil Rights"). With the overuse of

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conjunctions, it makes the list seem excessive. This may also rally listeners' emotions, and can
persuade the audience. Kennedys use of polysyndeton is also meant to keep people from
disagreeing with him. The use of rhetorical devices takes the speech to another level, displaying
the effectiveness of Kennedy as a speaker.
The rhetorical devices that John F. Kennedy uses combined with his syntax, language
and diction make his speeches effective, gain him political office and ultimately make him a
prominent political leader. The flowing syntax that Kennedy uses, his informational language,
and the multiple rhetorical devices allow the effectiveness and persuasiveness of his political
style to show. The use of all three of these devices allows Kennedy to truly connect with his
audience, and draw their emotions out of them. Humans, as a population, tend to act on their
emotions, so as a politician it is very beneficial to target the audiences emotions. Kennedy was
both a very effective speaker and politician.

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Works Cited
"The Election of 1960." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web.
15 Nov. 2014.
"John F. Kennedy." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 14 Nov.
2014.
Kennedy, John F. "A City Upon a Hill." John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and
Museum. N.p., 9 Jan. 1961. Web. 05 Nov. 2014.
Kennedy, John F. "Commencement Address at American University." John F.
Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. N.p., 10 June 1963. Web. 05 Nov. 2014.
Kennedy, John F. "Report to the American People on Civil Rights." John F.
Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. N.p., 11 June 1963. Web. 04 Nov. 2014.
"Life of John F. Kennedy." - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. N.p., n.d. Web.
23 Nov. 2014.
"University of Alabama Desegregated." History.com. A&E Television Networks,
n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.