...Reagan’s Methods of Persuasion in “A Time for Choosing” In 1964, Ronald Reagan gave his famous “A Time for Choosing” speech as endorsement for Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater. Despite Barry Goldwater losing the election, Reagan’s speech stands out as one of the most influential speeches in American history. In the speech, Reagan uses many persuasive methods which cause this vast influence. Reagan most effectively persuades his audience through use of appeal to logic, appeal to ethics and credibility, and appeal to emotion. Reagan appeals to the logic of his audience to persuade them of his ideas. In the speech, Reagan uses many statistics, historical examples, factual data, and overall common sense to coerce voters to vote...
Words: 921 - Pages: 4
...Ronald Reagan speech analysis In this assignment I will be examining a speech brought by Ronald Reagan. I will put the speech in the rhetorical pentagon and afterwards analyze it. I will especially focus on Ronald Reagan’s use of language, cause it’s really relevant when it comes to speeches, and also the choise of composition in the speech. The speaker of the speech is of cause Ronald Reagan. Reagan was the 40th president of the United States in the time between 1981 to 1989. He preached this speech in March 1983, at the Annual Convention of the National Convention of the National Association of Evangelicals. As said, the time was 1983, and at this time, the cold war was continuously going on, and the relationship between the Americans and the Soviet Union with its communism were therefore extremely bad, which also reflects in this speech. So the communism is a huge topic in this speech, and Reagan accomplishes to compare America to goodness, while he attacks the Soviets by comparing them to evil. The other major aspect in the speech of Ronald Reagan is about the increase in illegitimate births and abortions involving under aged girls. He mentions the clinics that were established in well-intentioned faith are offering different kind of services to the girls, without their parent even knowing it. He wants to change that, and maximize parental participation. This is the other major aspect of the speech, which of course is being told to the evangelicals of Orlando...
Words: 858 - Pages: 4
...The Speech by Ronald Reagan on May 5, 1985, to the German war cemetery at Bitburg as requested by West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, for a wreath-laying ceremony. This cemetery and the President's speech are historically significant because they marked the 40th Anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II. After where President Ronald Reagan gave a speech at an Airforce base in Germany to the service member, Germans, and Jewish survivors and remembers. President Ronald Reagan knew what he was walking into, and instead of the denning request, The President did the wreath laying and speech. With all intent to come out ahead, knowing he was up against a wall, where he was undoubtedly supposed to fail. Not only did Ronald Reagan, do the wreath laying and walk the German war cemetery but gave an outstanding speech that would honor him as a great speaker. How would President Ronald Reagan turn out with such criticism against him visiting this German war grave site were 48-SS soldiers wear also buried. Laying a wreath for the so-called enemy and turning a blind eye to what it...
Words: 1472 - Pages: 6
...When national tragedy strikes in the United States, alarmed and concerned citizens look to their president for guidance. On January 28th, 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, killing seven astronauts and sending the public into a state of panic. President Ronald W. Reagan addressed the nation on that day, employing the rhetorical strategies of compelling diction and emphatic allusion to achieve his purpose of mourning those lost while still encouraging the spirit of celestial discovery. President Reagan utilizes both positively and negatively connotated words in order to create a sharp contrast in his diction. For example, positively connotated words used throughout his speech include, “brave”, “faith”, “daring”, “courage”, “respect”,...
Words: 600 - Pages: 3
...105 09 February 16 Ronald Reagan and the Shuttle Challenger Crash On January 28, 1986, Ronald Reagan delivered a speech on the topic of the shuttle Challenger crash from the oval office in Washington D.C. In his speech, he discusses the events that took place and speaks to many about the tragedy. He addresses the children who watched it happen live, NASA workers, the families of the victims, and everyone else in the United States. He discusses what we will do next because even though this is a time of much tragedy we as a nation need to stand together and continue to go on our journey. Ronald Reagan effectively uses pathos and logos to inform the nation of the tragedy and to persuade them that we must not...
Words: 1129 - Pages: 5
...Though he never managed to formally command words, Reagan became one of the most distinguished communicators of modern times. He accomplished this through his ability to speak casually and directly to the people. As Kathleen Hall Jamieson notes in “Eloquence in the Electronic Age,” Reagan’s grasp of modern technology allowed him to capture the attention of the American audience. Reagan was a master of storytelling and manipulation of his audience, which can be attributed to his career as a Hollywood actor. He preferred the “story” over the facts, and was a “very straightforward, plain-spoken communicator.” This style of communicating is common with Republican leaders from former President George W. Bush to current President Donald Trump. One...
Words: 1606 - Pages: 7
...On March 8th of 1983, Ronald Reagan gave the "Evil Empire," speech to the National Association of Evangelicals in Orlando Florida. This address was presented to give hope to America that Ronald Reagan and America would not sleep until pro-life was a thing, and to keep the Soviets from becoming stronger than the United States at a militaristic point of view. Ronald Reagan backs up all of his ideas with compelling evidence and powerful words. At the start of the speech, Reagan tries to show his audience that he is human just like them by saying that the public has "Warmed my (his) heart with your (their) welcome." Also showing that he won't take advantage of them, that they have done him a great honor by letting him speak. He also shows...
Words: 433 - Pages: 2
...Ronald Reagan, My American Hero October 5, 2014 English 101 Ronald Reagan was more than just our nation’s 40th President, he was a remarkable leader. Winning the Governor election by more than 1 million votes, and President of the United States for two terms, America was needing a fearless figure in front of economic, domestic and international threats this nation was experiencing. He brought lower tax rates, negotiated the nuclear arms treaty with the Soviet Union, and influenced the tear down of the Berlin wall and the ending the Cold War without firing a shot. Reagan left Office in 1989 and said, “We meant to change the nation, but instead we changed the world” (cardigan, 1995). Spending his last years with Alzheimer’s and never removing himself from the nation he had great passion for, Ronald Reagan arguably became the greatest President America has ever had. In the early days of Ronald Reagan’s career in acting, he took a very keen interest in his first political endeavor as President of the Screen Actors Guild in 1947. The SAG According to Cardigan (1995), was a labor organization much like other older unions during World War I. When the War was over, Reagan was at the helm of one of the toughest trials and even bigger strikes than before he became President of the SAG (Cardigan, 1995). Ronald Reagan Stated that dispute was hideously complicated. When the eider ideological issue of a possible communist takeover arise was he able to exert his full...
Words: 1023 - Pages: 5
...Ronald Reagan: Tribute to D-Day “These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war.” These words spoken by then President, Ronald Reagan are just one example of the many that shows his respect and gratitude towards all the service men that fought during WWII, more specifically D-Day. His speech was a moving tribute that moved some to tears and encouraged peace and disarmament talks between the US and the Soviet Union. Background of Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6, 1911 in Tampico Illinois to Jack and Nelle Reagan. Ronald had one brother named Neil Reagan. As a child, Reagan often moved therefore he could not make close friendships. At the age of 12, Reagan joined the Disciples of Christ religion, much like his mother, while his brother stayed in the Roman Catholic Church. Reagan...
Words: 1049 - Pages: 5
...authenticity in every single speech defined him as a true leader – one who might finally be able to restore faith in the American presidency in a country perpetually traumatized by the Watergate Scandal. Reagan brought indisputable political beliefs established on a solid sense of conservatism as well as a solid moral code built on firm religious values. These two features that Reagan exemplified laid the groundwork for an administration that was characterized by consistent and unyielding principles. The perfect example of this aspect of his administration is prevalent in his rhetoric. His small anecdotes, perfect word choice, and references to past great leaders all underscored his incredible ability to communicate the successes and lessen the defeats that faced his administration. Through his use of consistent and unique rhetoric from his first major speech in 1964 continued to his farewell speech in 1989, Ronald Reagan established motifs of freedom, limited government, moral renewal, and hope for the future that ultimately rescue American pride in the executive branch and in the country as a whole. In Ronald Reagan’s second inaugural address, which spans just over three pages, he used the word freedom 17 times. He took one of the most complex and hard to achieve concepts in the world and used America’s mastery of it to his advantage. The majority of American citizens loved the freedoms given to us by this bill of rights making it easy for Reagan to embrace. Furthermore, living...
Words: 4643 - Pages: 19
...Ronald Reagan begins his speech by stating that until recently he was a Democrat, but he believed it was necessary to change parties because the current political issues “cross party lines” (Reagan, “A Time for Choosing). After announcing that he is no longer a Democrat, and that he is officially endorsing Barry Goldwater for president, Reagan goes into detail about his decisions. Furthermore, he wants all eligible voters to think about the choices they must make on Election Day. Throughout the entire speech, Reagan recognizes both sides of the campaign, which made him more credible. For example, in the beginning of his speech Reagan said, “Now one side of this campaign has been telling us that the issues of this election are the maintenance...
Words: 568 - Pages: 3
...Doctrine of Reagan Mrs. J. Y. Baker Prof. Thomas Payne Jr. – POL 300 February 4, 2012 Doctrine of Reagan With the threat of The Cold War, U.S. Presidents beginning with Truman had to create doctrines to find remedies for the problem of communism and its expansion. The doctrine of Ronald W. Reagan was especially noteworthy because it initiated a revolutionized foreign policy after World War II. The Cold War brought trepidation of nuclear bombing that sent panic through the U.S. government. This is why previously the U.S. chose not to challenge the Soviet Union head-on. Officials felt American’s weren’t ready to send their loved ones to fight another war on foreign soil after Vietnam listed so many casualties. However with the risk of communism spreading further and possibly encompassing the globe, the U.S. just couldn’t take a backseat and keep quiet. In 1983, Reagan dubbed the Soviet Union an “evil empire” using a speech written by Dolan for the opposite purpose. As Diggins put it “Reagan dubbed the Soviet Union ‘the focus of evil’ of the entire world” (2007, pg. 29). Following the footsteps of his predecessor, President Carter, Reagan developed a way to fight the war on communism and make the people happy by preventing our military from suffering anymore casualties. President Carter got the ball rolling when the Soviet Union tried to invade Afghanistan in 1979. That’s when the U.S. supplied secret military aid to mujahideen fighters to assist in driving out the...
Words: 784 - Pages: 4
...President Reagan presents himself as an ordinary person whom everyone can relate to by expressing that he is in pain along with everyone else in the country. In the first paragraph, Reagan says: “Nancy and I are pained to the core by the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger. We know we share this pain with all of the people of our country.” Later in his speech he gives an explanation to the children: “I know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen. It’s all part of the process of exploration and discovery.” President Reagan did a wonderful job relating to his viewers. He was able to touch the hearts of his older viewers while connecting with the children. Reagan evokes the nations painful emotions by using words of comfort that specifically reaches the hearts of the people in grief. When President Reagan said: “For families of the seven, we cannot bear, as you do, the full impact of this tragedy.” This line was crucial because he could only imagine the emotions they are feeling; if he were to say he understood it would likely upset them. Ronald Reagan shortly follows up with: “We feel the loss, and...
Words: 433 - Pages: 2
...from their hold. In President Reagan’s speech on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day, he spoke of the tremendous bravery, love, and success the soldiers had that day as well as those before them. President Reagan persuaded the people to continue the fight for freedom, democracy, and peace utilizing pathos, allusion, and repetition. Throughout his speech, Reagan uses pathos to connect and appeal to his audience. Reagan repeatedly uses emotionally charged words and phrases that appeal to the audience by striking pride and sympathy of the soldier’s experience. In that manner, Reagan said, “When one Ranger fell, another would take his place....
Words: 591 - Pages: 3
...bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” - Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States. He was President from 1981 to 1989. He played a major role in ending the Cold war. He strengthened the military. To defeat the Communists he used force where as many former presidents had used appeasement. One of his speeches helped influence the destruction of the Berlin Wall. Through his domestic affairs he stimulated the economy. He enacted many tax and budget cuts. Unemployment also dropped. Both Ronald and Nancy Reagan started an anti-drug campaign. This led Ronald Reagan to pass an act with tight enforcement on drug laws that backfired. The...
Words: 1051 - Pages: 5
