Presidential War Rhetoric

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• Presidential War Rhetoric
• Alannah DiBona
• Jeff Ruziecki
• Shannon Flynn

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Burkean Symbolism

• SYMBOL
• Man is a symbol-making, symbol-using, and
  symbol-misusing animal.
• Definition of rhetoric rhetoric is not based in
  any part of the human condition of society.
  Rooted in an essential function of language
  itself (fully realistic, continually born anew)
  use of language as a symbolic means of inducing
  cooperation in beings that by nature respond to
  symbols.
• Definition of symbol the verbal parallel to a
  pattern of experience. (based on a recurring
  situation/strategy)

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• clustering
• repeated words throughout
• attack(ed), defend/defensive/defense,
  defy/defiance, destroy, mass destruction, might,
  peace, right(eous), security
• themed clusters
• lessening of the character of the enemy (the
  lowest of the low theme)
• -cling, dastardly, cruelty, deceit, pillage,
  plunder, treachery, unprovoked, vindication,
  onslaught, hatred, unchecked
• increasing the American morale (the bravado
  theme)
• -fortitude, step up, safety, prevail, protect,
  freedom, confidence, justice, drive, morale,
  character, righteous, retaliatory, mass
  destruction
• words for heightened drama (the they deserve
  it! theme)
• -raped, grave, lawlessness, horror, comrades,
  flagrant, infamy, hazards
• the enemy makes a cowardly turn (the we have you
  now theme)
• -panic, weaken, fear, justice, onslaught

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Characteristics of a Wartime Speech

• Welcome
• My fellow Americans
• Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker
• Good morning, afternoon, evening
• Sets the tone of the speech
• Statement of Facts
• There is Today We will be
• What event occurred, why its important, who
  and/or what was affected, how this event changes
  the current situation

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Why are we doing it?

• Our goal is not the victory of might, but the
  vindication of right
• John F. Kennedy, October 22, 1962
• It is not the easy way.  It is the right way. 
• Richard Nixon, November 3, 1969
• We have faced other crises in our history, and we
  have become stronger by rejecting the easy way
  out and taking the right way in meeting our
  challenges.  Our greatness as a nation has been
  our capacity to do what has to be done when we
  knew our course was right.
• Richard Nixon, November 3, 1969
• Our objectives are clear Saddam Hussein's forces
  will leave Kuwait. The legitimate government of
  Kuwait will be restored to its rightful place
• George Bush, January 16, 1991
• No matter how long it may take us to overcome
  this premeditated invasion, the American people
  in their righteous might will win through to
  absolute victory.
• F.D. Roosevelt, December 8, 1941

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Who are we fighting for?

• I had to think of the effect of my decision on
  the next generation, and on the future of peace
  and freedom in America, and in the world.
• - Richard Nixon, November 3, 1963
• America was the hope of millions in the world.
• - Richard Nixon, November 3, 1963
• The wheel of destiny has turned so that any hope
  the world has for the survival of peace and
  freedom will be determined by whether the
  American people have the moral stamina and the
  courage to meet the challenge of free-world
  leadership.
• - Richard Nixon, November 3, 1963
• While the world waited Saddam Hussein(3 times)
  The world could wait no longer. 
• - George Bush, January 16, 1991
• this latest Soviet threat to world peace
• - John F. Kennedy, October 22, 1962

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Protection not aggression

• In Korea, and again in Vietnam, the United States
  furnished most of the money, most of the
  armament, and most of the men to help the people
  of those countries defend their freedom against
  Communist aggression.
• - Richard Nixon, November 3, 1963
• A great people has been moved to defend a great
  nation.
• - George W. Bush, September 11, 2001
• To take every precaution to protect our citizens
  at home and around the world from further attacks
  
• - George W. Bush, September 11, 2001