Introduction
President Roosevelt addressed the 77th Congress of the United States in 1941. The speech is constitutionally mandated and is officially known as the Union Address of Congress. In his speech, the president highlighted the threats facing American security and the need to act accordingly. The president employed several speech tools to pass his message to the intended audience: the electorate, elected officials, allies, and security apparatus.
At the time, the world order faced threats from dictators who, according to the president, needed to be stopped at all costs. The president’s speech exhibits the characteristics of American culture and a spirited fight for democracy. The president is also keen on bringing forth the security threats that face America and why his administration needs congressional approval to support allies at war. The president makes his speech at a time when national security is greatly endangered, and necessary actions ought to be taken. The speech by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is effective as he uses persuasion tools, including ethos, pathos, logos, and kairos, making it clear, effective, and impressive.
Ethos
Ethos presents a set of values or beliefs of a community that is exhibited in a community’s aspirations and attitudes. Firstly, the presidential address to Congress on the State of the Union was a constitutional mandate that Roosevelt adhered to with due diligence. The president states, “…as your President, performing my constitutional duty to give to the Congress information of the state of the union…” (Roosevelt, 1941, p. 3).
America is known for its power in democracy, economy, and politics. The presidents harness this power to remind Congress of America’s potential and need to keep the world order in check. The president also persuades Congress to support the government in engaging the dictators militarily. He also assures Congress of his presidential support in serving the interests of all Americans.
In literature, ethos presents the cultures, beliefs, and perceptions of a nation, community, or group of people, which are visible in their engagements or discernments. The president’s speech evidences America’s domination and leadership on a global scale and its contribution to global peace and security. He reaffirms that America cannot let democracy lose to the powers of dictators in the East and that its allies must be supported to win the war.
Pathos
Pathos is a trait that triggers pity or sadness in one’s audience, depending on the message passed. The president is concerned about proving to Congress that American security and principles are at risk. Roosevelt reminds Congress of America’s involvement in conflicts with other nations such as Mexico, China, and Europe. Since Congress is constitutionally driven, it cannot be easily influenced by the president’s ambitions of engaging in war.
As a result, the president shares confidential information with Congress for security purposes. Matters of national security call for the cooperation of the executive, Congress, and the American population. The president notes, “…yes, and we must prepare, all of us prepare, to make the sacrifices that the emergency…” (Roosevelt, 1941, p. 1).
The presidential tone is deeply rooted in the underlying dangers and threats to national security, as well as the underlying consequences. The speech is intended to present the presidential agenda to the target audience in the most sensible manner possible. The president’s speech touches on the threats facing democracy and national security, which triggered fear and sadness among the congressional.
Logos
Logos implies proving to the audience that one’s message is sensible and acceptable. The president takes it upon himself to prove to Congress that ten atonal securities are threatened. Roosevelt begins by presenting the history of American Security to describe the resultant crisis. Congress plays a significant role in approving government budgets and involvement in war or security missions outside the United States of America.
The president uses Europe as an illustration of the dangers facing Americans and the possible lessons to learn. He notes that the Norwegian seaports were captured for years. The president informs Congress of the unsatisfactory armament production, where most of the arms batches are behind schedule or under-produced.
This is also accompanied by the disclosure that warships are ahead of their predetermined programs. However, warplanes lag behind their schedules, and Congress and the American population should be as concerned as the president.
Kairos
The presidential address to Congress occurs at a time when it is important to notify them of the current national security threat. According to Roosevelt (1941), American national security is highly threatened, and Congress should act responsibly within its power and mandate. The American Constitution mandates Congress to appropriate resources and authorize government engagements in war and security ventures.
In this regard, the president asks Congress to consider new remunerations and approvals for the appropriate implementations and investments in security apparatus. As mentioned earlier, the president informs Congress of the deviations in the schedules of warships and warplanes. Roosevelt appealed to lawmakers to allocate funds and approvals for the research, development, and production of existing and new ammunition.
The president is concerned about the military competence of American allies engaged in war. He suggests providing loans to the fighting nations to empower them and give them an upper hand on their respective battlefields. However, Roosevelt is interested in loaning weapons instead of funds. This implies that the government is interested in its domestic growth and influence instead of draining its currency reserves.
Conclusion
The speaker’s employment of persuasion techniques, including kairos, pathos, ethos, and logos, makes the speech powerful. Using kairos, President Roosevelt indicates the topic’s importance based on the timeframe of his speech. He employs pathos to persuade the audience to share his beliefs by appealing to their emotions. This is evident in the president’s emphasis on the dangers and threats to national security and the military dominance of dictatorships.
The president employs ethos to evoke his legitimacy as president and convince the listener that he is telling the truth. The speaker also uses logos to explain the purpose of his speech and why the listener should care. Roosevelt’s speech is one of the most enduring in the US due to its use of many persuasive techniques.
Reference
Roosevelt F. D. (1941). The Four Freedoms. American Rhetoric. Web.