Famous Speeches

1
Famous Speeches

• FDRs Infamy Speech

2
FDR

• On December 7th, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked
  by Japanese forces.
• The next day, Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the
  United States Congress with his memorable a date
  which will live in infamy speech.

3
Purpose

• This speech had two purposes
• To urge Congress to formally declare war on Japan
  (which they did just minutes later), and

4
One

• To rally the American people to support the war
  effort.

5
Word Choice

• Focus on Roosevelts choice of words to see how
  they helped communicate his message.

6
Film Clip

• https//www.youtube.com/watch?vlK8gYGg0dkE

7
Infamy

• The most memorable phrase of this speech comes in
  its first line. The label infamy foreshadows
  the tone of the entire speech. Consider the very
  different tone resulting from the following
  alternatives
• Yesterday, December 7, 1941 a tragic date
• Yesterday, December 7, 1941 a pivotal day for
  our country
• Yesterday, December 7, 1941 a date which we
  experienced sorrow
• Yesterday, December 7, 1941, the United States of
  America was that is, suppose no labeling phrase
  was used at all

8
Pathos

• None of these alternatives are consistent with
  Roosevelts goal.
• Roosevelt continues to use vivid, emotional words
  throughout the speech, including
• suddenly and deliberately attacked
• deliberately planned
• deliberately sought to deceive
• surprise offensive
• unprovoked and dastardly
• premeditated invasion
• onslaught against us
• this form of treachery

9
Tone

• These phrases continue the infamy theme, and
  characterize the Japanese actions as duplicitous
  and dishonorable
• Variations of Japan and Japanese
• Consider the following phrases
• ... the United States of America was suddenly
  and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces
  of the Empire of Japan.

10
Word Choice

• Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched
  an attack against Malaya.Last night Japanese
  forces attacked Hong Kong.Last night Japanese
  forces attacked Guam.Last night Japanese forces
  attacked the Philippine Islands.Last night the
  Japanese attacked Wake Island.And this morning
  the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
• Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise
  offensive extending throughout the Pacific area.
• By using this exhaustive variety of word forms
  (Empire of Japan, Japanese Government,
  Japanese forces, the Japanese, Japan),
  Roosevelt makes it clear that the many components
  of Japan cannot be separated. That is, the attack
  was not made simply by the Japanese military, but
  by the Empire, the government, the armed forces,
  and Japan itself.

11
Repetition

• Repetition Last night Japanese forces
  attacked
• Imagine if the entire passage ( last night
  Japanese forces attacked ) quoted above had
  been abbreviated to the following sentence, which
  is identical in meaning
• Yesterday, Japanese forces attacked Malaya, Hong
  Kong, Guam, the Philippine Islands, Wake Island,
  and Midway Island.

12
Pathos

• Most of the rest of the Roosevelts speech is an
  appeal to emotion (pathos). He seems to be
  consciously aiming for an emotional, gut-level
  response from Congress and from the American
  people.

13
A Clear Call-to-Action

• Roosevelts immediate audience for this speech
  was the members of the United State Congress. In
  the final sentence of the speech, Roosevelt
  clearly asks Congress to make the formal
  declaration of war

14
Action

• I ask that the Congress declare that since the
  unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on
  Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has
  existed between the United States and the
  Japanese Empire

15
We

• The other audience for this speech was the United
  States public as a whole. In the sentences which
  precede the final one above, Roosevelt makes his
  call-to-action clear to the American people

16

• that always will our whole nation remember the
  character of the onslaught against us.
• 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.

17

• I believe that I interpret the will of the
  Congress and of the people when I assert that we
  will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost
  but will make it very certain that this form of
  treachery shall never again endanger us.
• Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the
  fact that our people, our territory and our
  interests are in grave danger.
• With confidence in our armed forces, with the
  unbounding determination of our people, we will
  gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.

18
Does the speech

• Use moral convictionsmessages with underlying
  moral principles state with intention to do the
  right thing
• Reflect the sentiment of the group.emphasizing
  shared history, struggles, or desires

19

• Communicate confidence
• Assure your audience that the high goals can be
  achieved.
• Use Rhetorical Devices-repetition, metaphors,
  smiles, and analogies
• Help your audience understand your messages in
  terms of concepts or experiences which they
  already know.

20

• Employ contrast
• Define ideas clearly by emphasizing what the
  ideas are not.

21

• Ask rhetorical questions.Engage your audience
  with questions that prompt them to get involved

22
Bird Group

• Necessary to Protect Ourselves-Malcolm X
• Emancipation Proclamation-Lincoln
• Lou Gehrigs Farewell
• George Bush 9/11
• Kennedys Inaugural Address
• Churchills Blood, Sweat and Tears
• Patrick Henrys Appeal to Action

23
Bird Group-examine assigned speech for

• Moral Conviction
• Use of Pathos/Logos/Ethos
• Group Sentiment Appeal
• Confidence
• Rhetorical Devices
• Contrast
• Rhetorical Questions

24
Aristotles Rhetorical Triangle

• What is the Purpose?
• Who is the Speaker?
• Who is the Audience?