Reader questions and feedback on great speeches. Also refer to John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill, Fidel Castro, Jesse Jackson, Barack Obama, format, vision, mission, politics, imagery, emotional appeal, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Answers to Readers' Questions on Great Speeches
Kennedy Inaugural
The following 8 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
- Wants to know examples of imagery in speech
- What personal quality does Kennedy request?
- Was JFK's speech informative or persuasive?
- Is Kennedy's speech better read or heard?
- What kind of body language did Kennedy use?
- What revolutions was Kennedy talking about?
- Is the U.S. a republic or democracy?
- Questions about Kennedy's speech
Wants to know examples of imagery in speech
Question
November 13, 2008
I would like to know where new ideas are presented and grouped. What are the examples of effective imagery, Repetition and/or emotional appeal used by the speaker. Thank you.
Leo - USA
16796
Answer
It is the job of the student to analyze the content of the speech, otherwise nothing is learned. Certainly, you could find examples of repetition, imagery and emotional appeal in the speech.
What personal quality does Kennedy request?
Question
November 3, 2008
What Quality of a person is reflected in the last paragraph of President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address?
Anastasia - Philippines
16731
Answer
Kennedy is asking people to be altruistic and to help the country and the world by their good deeds.
Was JFK's speech informative or persuasive?
Question
May 3, 2008
was jonh f kennedy's inaugural speech an informative speech or a persuasive speech.
michaelah - USA
15861
Answer
The purpose of an inaugural speech is for the new President to make an introduction to the public and inform them about some of the plans for the future.
In later speeches, the President--in this case John F. Kennedy--would use persuasion to get the people to believe in his views or ideas.
Is Kennedy's speech better read or heard?
Question
December 16, 2007
In your opinion does John F. Kennedy inaugural address come across beter on the written page or from the recorded footage of the actaul speech?
Monique - USA
14981
Answer
Kennedy's speech was well-written, but the written version does not include the inflections and emphasis of the spoken speech. Kennedy was a very good orator, and he could inspire the audience when he spoke.
What kind of body language did Kennedy use?
Question
June 29, 2007
My question is what kind of body language did the president use to make his speech persuasive?
Vivian - USA
14000
Answer
Certainly, he made gestures and facial expressions, but since he was standing behind a lectern while giving his speech, I don't think there was any special body language used. More importantly were his vocal expressions.
What revolutions was Kennedy talking about?
Question
April 17, 2007
I was wondering which revolution was President Kennedy talking about in the beginning of the Inaugural Speech.
Thanks in advance for your answer.
- Australia
13586
Answer
Kennedy was first talking about the American Revolutionary War. Although he didn't mention it by name, he alluded to the communist revolution which resulted in tyranny. The next revolution he talked about was to reduce poverty in the world. He did this by creating the Peace Corps.
Is the U.S. a republic or democracy?
Question
July 28, 2006
My comment refers to the following question and answer sequence posted on your website:
"Questions about Kennedy's speech
Question
March 27, 2006
i am a university student and our doctor give us a questions about the speech.1)john is republic or democracy?2)what is the meaning of this sentence.we observe.....celebration of freedom
sanaa tourki Morocco
10636
Answer
John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States, which is a democracy. "We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom" means that he is not celebrating because his political party won, but that Americans have the freedom to select who they want to lead."
I believe sanaa tourki asked whether President Kennedy was a Republican or Democrat. The answer is that President Kennedy was a Democrat (a member of the Democratic Party). Furthermore, the answer provided in response to sanaa tourki's question was incomplete/incorrect. The United States is not a democracy in the Aristotelian sense of the word (i.e., "demos" is the root word in democracy and means rule by the people/mob). The United States is a Republic. The U.S. Constitution created a Republican form of government (i.e., a representative form of government).
Nathan - USA
11554
Answer
Thanks for your feedback and comments on the question concerning whether the U.S. is a republic or democracy. You are correct in stating the U.S. is a republic. Also in the strictest sense, the U.S. is not a democracy where the majority rules at the expense of the minority. But in common usage, most people think of a democracy as a government where people are allowed to vote for their government. There is really an overlapping of the meanings of republic and democracy. See: http://www.williampmeyers.org/republic.html for a good essay on the topic. Another good viewpoint is at: http://www.chrononhotonthologos.com/lawnotes/repvsdem.htm
It is unfortunate that the answer to Sanaa Tourki was incomplete or incorrect, due to haste and misunderstanding.
Questions about Kennedy's speech
Question
March 27, 2006
i am a university student and our doctor give us a questions about the speech.1)john is republic or democracy?2)what is the meaning of this sentence.we observe.....celebration of freedom
sanaa - Morocco
10636
Answer
John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States, which is a democracy. "We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom" means that he is not celebrating because his political party won, but that Americans have the freedom to select who they want to lead.
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