Rhetorical Situation Analysis: West Berlin Speech

Introduction

Kennedy delivered the position of the democratic West in the 1963 Berlin Speech that challenged the world to stand with the US against the USSR in what had become the Cold War. The speech, composed in parts by Kennedy and members of his administration, represented the Democratic Party and its values of American idealism at a time when nuclear war with Russia had already become a serious threat. As an artifact, the 1963 speech says a lot about the collective West and what the US elite thought to be the most important issues of the day. This paper will analyze the artifacts rhetorical situation discuss its importance.

The Rhetorical Situation

Whenever anything is written or composed it is done so in response to a particular situation. This situation is what rhetoricians call the rhetorical situation. The rhetorical situation consists of five key elements: the text (or artifact), the author, the audience, the purpose, and the context. Together, these elements create the exigence, or need, that prompts someone to communicate (Sproat et al.). For example, the artifact in the case of a college student who has been assigned to write a research paper would be the paper itself; the author would be the college student; the audience the instructor; the purpose to fulfill the requirements of the assignment; and the context would include things like due date, length requirements, and formatting guidelines. Understanding the rhetorical situation is essential for effective communication. After all, if one does not know why one is writing or who ones audience is, it will be difficult to craft a message that is both meaningful and impactful.

The Artifact

Essentially, the artifact selected here is a speech given by the president of the United States. It was delivered during a time of national crisis, and the president was attempting to reassure the public that everything was under control. The speech was delivered to a large audience, and it was televised live. The presidents delivery was very important in this situation, as he needed to come across as confident and competent. In addition, his choice of words would be scrutinized by both the public and the media. As such, the president had to be very careful in his rhetoric. The situation required him to be persuasive, and he managed to do so effectively. The speech was well-received by the public, and it helped to quell some of the fears that were present during this time of crisis. The focus of the speech was the differences between democracy and communismthe ideals of freedom and independence espoused in the West, contrasted with the Communist ideals demonstrated in the USSR.

Some notable lines from the speech include the opening statement in which Kennedy framed the subject of the speech as the free world and the Communist world. He stated, There are many people in the world who really don't understand, or say they don't, what is the great issue between the free world and the Communist world, and followed that statement up with the challenge: Let them come to Berlin (Kennedy). Kennedy continued the challenge and framing approach with these...…survive a nuclear attack. The program was designed to help people cope with the fear of nuclear war, but it also had the effect of furthering public paranoia.

The Purpose

Throughout his administration, Kennedy spoke numerous times in which he urged Americans to prepare for the worst but hope for the best. Despite his efforts, the fear of nuclear war continued to hang over the country like a dark cloud for many years to come. The 1963 Berlin speech was intended to serve a number of purposes. First, it was meant to reaffirm the United States commitment to the people of West Berlin in the face of Soviet aggression. Second, it was designed to send a message of solidarity to the people of Eastern Europe who were living under communist rule. Finally, it was intended to reiterate the importance of freedom and democracy in the face of totalitarianism. In many ways, Kennedys speech was also a response to Nikita Khrushchevs secret speech of 1956, in which the Soviet leader had denounced Stalin and called for a more aggressive form of communism. By contrast, Kennedys speech emphasized the importance of individual liberty and self-determination. In doing so, he sought to define the Cold War not as a struggle between two competing ideologies, but as a battle for the hearts and minds of the people of the world.

Conclusion

By analyzing the rhetorical situation surrounding the 1963 West Berlin Speech, one sees a great deal more about the US and its Cold War. One sees the fears and concerns of the public. One sees the challenges lying ahead for the world.…