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Tyler Upton
Professor Collins
ENGL. 1302
10 February, 2016

Kennedy`s Advice to the World

Former President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, gave his inauguration speech on
January 20, 1961. He gave this speech after being sworn in as President in front of thousands of
people in Washington D.C. Pathos, logos, and repetition in John F. Kennedy`s inauguration
speech emphasizes his thoughts that the world needs to come together so that war is not
necessary.
John F. Kennedy uses pathos in his inauguration speech to grab the audiences attention.
In the third paragraph, John F. Kennedy starts out by saying humans have the power to abolish
poverty as well as the power to take lives. He then goes on to say that the issues our forefathers
had dealt with are still a problem today. Kennedy implements pathos by speaking on how man
can do anything in this world and how we have yet to take advantage of that to deal with our
issue. He does this because it gains the audiences attention by grabbing their emotions. Kennedy
emphasizes that, as humans, we can do anything because he wants the world to come together for
world peace. Another use of pathos in the speech is in paragraph five when Kennedy pronounces
that every country should know, whether rich or poor, that America will be willing to do anything
to support its people and to assure its freedom. The purpose of this paragraph was to evoke a
sense of patriotism into the eyes of the thousands of Americans watching the address. Kennedy
instills the patriotism by speaking on how America will be willing to do anything to protect its

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people and freedom which gets the audience excited and makes them pay attention. By using
pathos President Kennedy helps instill his purpose that the world should come together by
influencing Americans that the best way to ensure their freedom is to join hands with other
countries.
Logos is often used by speakers to give the audience more information about the topic at
hand. This tactic is used by President Kennedy to help persuade his viewers to believe in his
ideas so he can implement his policies in the future. One example of logos in the address is,
United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we
can do -- for we dare not to meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder (Kennedy Para.
7). In this quote through deductive reasoning Kennedy uses logos to state his thoughts that we
can accomplish more together rather than divided. Kennedy generalizes about his theory between
ally and rival nations which adds logic to his address. The assumption he makes that divided
there is not much man can do adds to his argument that nations should come together for peace.
John F. Kennedy uses logos in paragraph twenty one as well, stating that peace will not be
accomplished in couple months, nor in a couple of years, or even in a lifetime but that the
process needs to start now. Logos is used when Kennedy generalizes that peace will not be
accomplished quickly. President Kennedy does this do let the audience know what there up
against, that even though they might not see the results of world peace in their lifetime they need
to start trying to make it happen for the future. By using logos John F. Kennedy gives his viewers
a perspective of his view that world peace is a must and that the only way it can happen is for
nations all over to come together as one whether they are opponents or allies.
Repetition is another element President Kennedy utilized in his speech to help get his
point across that world peace is a must. Kennedy used repetition in his address to make the

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audience realize what he was saying was important by placing emphasis on a few words
throughout several paragraphs. One example of repetition towards the end of the address is when
Kennedy opens up four paragraphs in a row saying Let both sides (Kennedy Para. 16, 17,
18, 19). In these paragraphs President Kennedy states that he wants both allies and rivals to
explore issues rather than having them divide us. He also says that both sides should limit the
power of arms so one nation does not destroy another, as well as assuming that if the world
comes together they can explore and do whatever they put their mind too. John F. Kennedy then
goes on to end his string of repetition paragraphs by saying a bible verse. He does this to make
people realize the importance of what is being said. Kennedy emphasizes on the words Let both
sides because part of his whole ideology is that both friends and foes must unite to ensure
peaceful relations throughout the world. John F. Kennedy is also trying to get his point across
that both allies and rivals can take on any task at hand as long as they come together as one.
Former President John F. Kennedy`s inaugural address was created with purpose to
persuade the people of America of his ideas to gain their support so he can pass his policies
during his presidency. Ultimately John F. Kennedy was successful by utilizing pathos, logos, and
repetition in his inauguration address to get his point across that the world needs to come
together in peace in order to overcome the problems presented to us all.

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Works Cited
Kennedy, John F. John F. Kennedy`s Inauguration Speech AMERICANRHETORIC.
AMERICANRHETORIC, N.D. WEB. 8 FEB. 2016.