Neo-Aristotelian Analysis of Reagan's Evil Empire Speech
This paper applies a Neo-Aristotelian rhetorical framework to President Ronald Reagan's 1983 "Evil Empire" speech, delivered before the National Association of Evangelicals. The analysis examines how Reagan drew on the prevailing political and moral climate—including debates over abortion, infanticide, and nuclear arms—to craft an emotionally and logically compelling address to a Christian audience. The paper evaluates Reagan's appeals to pathos through Biblical references, his logos-based arguments regarding federal healthcare policy and nuclear deterrence, and the speech's broader persuasive effectiveness. It also connects the Neo-Aristotelian approach to Kenneth Burke's Pentad as a complementary framework for rhetorical criticism.
- Introduction: Speech occasion, date, and significance
- Context and Antecedents of the Speech: Political, moral, and religious backdrop of 1983
- Pathos: Emotional Appeals and Biblical References: Reagan's emotional appeals to Christian audience
- Logos: Logical and Policy-Based Arguments: Policy arguments on infanticide and federal healthcare
- The Nuclear Arms Issue and the Evil Empire Framing: Moral framing of Soviet Union and nuclear strategy
- Neo-Aristotelian and Burkean Frameworks Applied: Evaluation through Neo-Aristotelian and Burke's Pentad
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper grounds its rhetorical analysis in the specific historical and political context of 1983, connecting the speech's content to the three major issues Reagan addressed: abortion, infanticide, and nuclear arms.
- It systematically applies Neo-Aristotelian categories—pathos, logos, and contextual purpose—to concrete moments in the speech, rather than treating them as abstract labels.
- The closing connection to Burke's Pentad demonstrates awareness of multiple rhetorical frameworks and shows how they complement one another in analyzing the same text.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates textual rhetorical criticism: selecting a specific speech, situating it in its occasion and audience, and then methodically applying a named critical framework (Neo-Aristotelian) to evaluate the speaker's appeals and purposes. This technique requires the writer to move from description to analysis, explaining not just what Reagan said but how and why each rhetorical choice functioned for its intended audience.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens by identifying the speech and its occasion, then establishes the three contextual issues that shaped it. It proceeds through a thematic analysis—pathos appeals on abortion, logos appeals on infanticide, and moral/strategic framing on nuclear weapons—before concluding with an explicit evaluation of the speech against Neo-Aristotelian criteria and a brief comparative note on Burke's Pentad.
Introduction
The speech that later came to be widely known as the "Evil Empire Speech" was delivered before the Annual Convention of the National Association of Evangelicals on March 8, 1983. It has since been considered one of the most effective speeches President Reagan delivered, achieving its persuasive goals within a matter of minutes.
Context and Antecedents of the Speech
The speech was shaped by the prevailing political situation, the moral discussions, and the religious discourse of the moment. Three major issues informed its content: the contentious nuclear arms race and the pressing need to make the world a safe place for present and future generations; the debate over the morality of abortion, which was at an all-time high; and the record rate of infanticide recorded in the previous year. These were the core concerns that Reagan addressed before the church congregation.
Pathos: Emotional Appeals and Biblical References
Because he was addressing a Christian congregation, Reagan strove — and succeeded — in appealing to the pathos, or emotions, of his listeners by making consistent Biblical references. On the issue of abortion, Reagan argued that all unborn children should have their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness respected. He also characterized the opposition's proposal — requiring daughters to notify their parents before obtaining an abortion — as a contravention of traditional values and an abrogation of the original terms of American democracy.
Logos: Logical and Policy-Based Arguments
Reagan also successfully employed an appeal to logos when addressing the issue of infanticide. He endeared himself to the audience by providing a clear outline of the legal and structural approach he had developed to handle the problem. This included restructuring the conditions placed on recipients of federal funds who provide healthcare services, specifically regarding how they would treat handicapped infants. On this point, he declared that there was a great spiritual awakening in America and urged the congregation and the nation not to lose hope.
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