Introduction
On January 6, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered a speech regarding the union to the 77th congress. Roosevelt indicates that US security is threatened through false propaganda, and although still in war isolation, the nation must be ready for the upcoming war. In his address, the president uses various rhetorical strategies to persuade congress. Therefore, the speech by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is effective because he uses persuasion tools, including kairos, pathos, ethos, and logos.
The Application of Kairos
Addressing the New Congress at The Time of National Security Threat
President Roosevelt addresses congress at the time of the national security threat. The principle of kairos provides that effective communication is about speaking to the right person at the right moment (Lantz & Just, 2021). The decision to talk to congress at the moment is most suitable because congress is responsible for declaring war and making a necessary allocation to fund a war. The timing of the address is equally convenient because since America attained independence, national security has never been threatened to this level.
An Appeal to the Congress
President Roosevelt speaks to congress to seek new appropriations and authorizations. Following the ongoing war among the dictator nations, America must prepare for war. The president says, “New circumstances are constantly begetting new needs for our safety” (Captioning for Everyone, 2017). Therefore, to increase national security, Roosevelt asks congress to raise new appropriations and authorizations to begin a war against the enemy (Lantz & Just, 2021). The speaker speaks to the right people, in this case, the congress, for authorization and war empowerment to prepare for war.
Recommendations to Empower the Fighting Nations
Roosevelt makes a recommendation about empowering the fighting nations through weapons. He suggests that America should make and turn the ammunition to the fighting countries to enable them to fight against the aggressor nations. Instead of giving these nations billions of money, Roosevelt proposes providing them with weapons for defense (Captioning for Everyone, 2017). The president effectively uses kairos here by speaking to congress who are responsible for allocating funds and authorization of manufacturing war tools when the nation is preparing for war.
The Use of Pathos
Convincing the Congress that America’s Security is At Its Worse
Roosevelt narrates the history of American conflicts with other nations to persuade congress that American security has been better. He uses pathos to cause emotions of agreeing with his opinion that security is threatened today (Hoeffner, 2021). The president provides examples of moments when America went to war with European nations, ancient Chinese, and Mexico, but its security was still intact (Captioning for Everyone, 2017). Roosevelt reflects on American security history to appeal to congress about the seriousness of the nation’s danger.
A Well-Informed Congress About National Security
President Roosevelt urges congress to be well-informed to avoid manipulation. The speaker uses pathos to appeal to congress to agree about what is expected of them (Hoeffner, 2021). The new congress has much information to absorb regarding national security. Roosevelt mentions that some of the information is confidential and is better left unsaid for security purposes. That way, congress will understand the seriousness and the need to be well-informed, thus ignoring the propaganda that could manipulate them
Appeal for Cooperation
President Roosevelt used pathos to appeal for cooperation from congress and all the government groups to pursue safety. To trigger the congress’s emotions, he says, “Yes, and we must prepare, all of us prepare, to make the sacrifices that the emergency…” (Captioning for Everyone, 2017). Roosevelt gives more details about the security threat emergency to lure the audience’s emotions. To make it more emotionally persuading, the president asks congress to understand that they are all concerned in defense of American freedom.
The Use of Ethos
Taking a Stand as The American President
President Roosevelt takes a stand to address and inform congress about the union. He appeals to his position in authority as the president and his mandate to speak to congress. He says, “As your President, performing my constitutional duty to give to the Congress information of the state of the union…”(Captioning for Everyone, 2017). Roosevelt tells congress that the union’s stand is to deny the enforced isolation by the dictator nations. Using the ethos principle of persuasion, the president makes congress believe everything he says.
Using the Power of a Nation to Persuade the Congress
The president seeks the nation’s power position to dictate America’s position in the war. He uses ethos by referring to America’s influential role in the world to persuade congress that the nation is capable of alert (Hoeffner, 2021). Roosevelt says that Americans are soft-hearted but cannot afford to be soft-headed. He uses the power of the national authority to warn congress of the selfish groups of people who may betray the nation for personal gains.
Assurance of Support from a Presidential Position
The president assures the congress of full support from most Americans. He applies ethos by using his position of authority to ensure support (Hoeffner, 2021). Roosevelt says, “I have called for personal sacrifice, and I am assured of the willingness of almost all Americans…” (Captioning for Everyone, 2017). The president refers to his power abilities to ask for sacrifice from Americans and become assured that they will come through. Understanding the president’s position will make Congress easily convinced of national support.
The Application of Logos
Reasons Why the National Security is Threatened
President Roosevelt use logos to explain why the nation’s security is at risk. He says that the worse conflict America has dealt with in the past is a domestic crisis. The current threat is based on propaganda about US participation in the war. The president uses logic to convince congress that America has not experienced this level of insecurity in the past (Hoeffner, 2021). Having witnessed these threats and propaganda, congress can understand and believe security is at risk.
The Danger Facing the Lives of The Americans
President Roosevelt employs logos to persuade congress that the lives of Americans are in danger. He uses the lessons of Europe conflicts, especially the attack on the Norway Seaport. Roosevelt says the capture failed to shake American security because the defense forces were ready for it (Captioning for Everyone, 2017). He gives congress this logic to show the need to be prepared before the enemy can strike.
Unsatisfying Armament Production
Roosevelt uses logic to show his lack of satisfaction with the armament production. Some productions are up to schedule, while others are not. He explains that the delay in production is concerning because the dictator nations can start a war on them at any time, hence need to be prepared. Using logic to persuade congress allows them to understand and believe in the reasoning (Hoeffner, 2021). The president uses specific examples, including that while airplanes are behind schedule, the warships are ahead.
Conclusion
The speech is effective because the speaker uses persuasive tools, including kairos, pathos, ethos, and logos. President Roosevelt uses kairos to indicate the relevance of the topic based on the timing of speech. He uses pathos appeals to the emotions of the audience to agreeing with his opinions. Roosevelt uses ethos to appeal to his authority as a president and make the audience believe him. Furthermore, the speech applies logos to indicate the meaning of his speech and why it is crucial to the audience. Through incorporating various persuasive strategies, Roosevelt’s speech is one of the most memorable speeches in the US.
References
Captioning for Everyone. (2017). 1941, January 6 – FDR – state of the union address -four freedoms [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Hoeffner, L. (2021). The writer’s mindset: A rhetorical guide to reading, writing, and arguing (1st ed.). Pearson.
Lantz, P. M. V., & Just, S. N. (2021). Getting the timing right: Kairos as the rhetorical framing of time. Scandinavian Journal of Management, 37(3), 101167. Web.