Kennedy s Challenge to the USSR in Berlin

Rhetorical Situation Analysis: 1963 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 artifact’s 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 one’s 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 president’s 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 communism—the 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 statements: “There are some who say that communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin. And there are some who say in Europe and elsewhere we can work with the Communists. Let them come to Berlin.” The text shows that Kennedy wanted to make a point that Communism is not what it says it is, and the evidence for that claim was in Berlin itself, which was divided by a wall, before which Kennedy stood as he gave the speech.

The Context

The Berlin Wall was a physical symbol of the political and ideological divisions of the world during the Cold War. The wall separated West Berlin from East Berlin and divided families, friends, and neighbors. It stood as a reminder of the subjugation of the people of East Germany by their communist government. The construction of the wall began on August 13, 1961, and it continued to stand until November 9, 1989, when it was finally torn down. The wall stood for 28 years, 10 months, and 26 days.

The 1960s was a decade of social upheaval and political turmoil. In many ways, it was a continuation of the problems and divisions that had arisen in the previous decade. The Cold War continued to be a major source of tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. The two superpowers competed for influence in Third World countries, leading to a series of proxy wars. In addition, the civil rights movement in the United States continued to grow, leading to increased tensions and violence. The anti-Vietnam War movement also gained strength in the late 1960s. On June 10, 1963, John F. Kennedy gave his famous \"Ich bin ein Berliner\" speech in West Berlin. In this speech, Kennedy reaffirmed America\'s commitment to the people of West Berlin and denounced communism. This speech was an important moment in the history of the Cold War.

The Author

In June 1963, US President John F. Kennedy delivered a speech in West Berlin that would come to be seen as one of the most iconic Cold War statements of support for freedom and democracy. Kennedy’s address was given at a time when the city was threatened by Soviet expansionism, and it affirmed the United States’ commitment to the security of West Berlin. The speech also contained a now-famous line in which Kennedy declared that “Ich bin ein Berliner,” meaning “I am a Berliner.” This statement served as a powerful reminder that the people of West Berlin were not alone in their struggle against communism. In the years since the speech was given, it has been widely praised as a masterful piece of rhetoric that helped to stiffen Western resolve during a critical period in the Cold War. Although Kennedy delivered the speech, it is unlikely that he composed it alone; rather, the words represented the views of the collective West, of the power elites in Washington, of the anti-communist factions around the world. Kennedy spoke the words, but he cannot be considered the author. The author of the speech should rather be seen as the US.

The Audience

If the US was the author, who then was the audience? The answer is: all stakeholders. Given the Cold War context in which it was delivered, it is not surprising that Kennedy’s primary audience was the people of West Berlin. However, the speech was also directed at the people of East Berlin and the Soviet Union. In particular, Kennedy sought to underscore the shared values of freedom and democracy that were held by the people of the West and the East. In doing so, he hoped to provide a rallying point for those who were struggling against communist oppression. Ultimately, Kennedy’s speech was a call for peace and understanding between the people of the world. The speechwriters aimed to shore up confidence in the US by showing it as better than the USSR. Fears still existed about Kennedy and how he had handled the Cuban Missile Crisis. Those fears addressed in the speech included, implicitly, the threat of nuclear war. Indeed, the early 1960s were a time of great anxiety for many Americans. The Cold War was in full swing, and the recent Cuban Missile Crisis had brought the threat of nuclear war to the forefront of people’s minds. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy announced a nationwide civil defense program, which included the construction of bomb shelters and the distribution of educational materials on how to 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.