Rhetorical context assignment - Essay Example

Rhetorical context assignment Under rhetorical context, our leaders use popular public opinion as well as their wit to influence their subjects on their intended cause. This is the case in President Lyndon Johnson’s speech titled, “On Vietnam and Not Seeking Reelection” which was delivered on 31st March 1968. The main subject of his speech was the Vietnam War and, at the time, Americans became directly involved especially in his first term as president.What were others saying about this topic at approximately the same time?

His mounting escalation on the bombardment of the northern Vietnam, and his February 1965 decision to bomb North Vietnam, angered the public and he sought to regain this fallen glory. A poll, published the same day he delivered his speech, had it that only 26 per cent of the public approved his handling of the Vietnam War. With the rest 74 per cent being against his handling of the war, it was evident that majority were for the view that the United States should stop its bombardment of Northern Vietnam.

The Pacifica Radio/UC Berkeley had reported that, the advisory body of current and retired President’s advisers that President Johnson constituted on Match 25 to 26, had advised him against increasing war troops in Vietnam in for peaceful negotiations. According to the HistoryPlace article titled, ‘President Lyndon Baines Johnson decides not to seek re-election’, there was popular and political erosion for the support of the war. The Democrats were against the decisions and led various demonstrations in America.

Moreover, the Newshistory.com article titled ‘President Johnson Orders Air Strikes against North Vietnam’, had it that, there was a reason for America escalating the war on Vietnam because the Asian communists went on provoking America to shoot and bomb Northern Vietnam. In this case, there were different reactions on this topic according to different affiliations. As he stated in his speech, peaceful negotiations were the only way out, and this move was preferred by the rhetoric of the time.

What ideas might the rhetor have been responding to? Find at least 3 contemporary examples. The rhetoric of stopping the Northern Vietnam bombardment and seeking peaceful negotiation inspired the president to deliver this speech. In this case, the rhetor was responding; to the idea that the bombardment of the Northern Vietnam should be de-escalated. Secondly the people’s opinion favored peaceful negotiations rather than war in approaching the situation in Vietnam. He used his speech to show the benefits of peaceful negotiations to the Northern Vietnam, a move which was meant to gladden the majority who were against his former stand.

The rhetor was also aware that his decision to spare the most populated areas and the food-producing parts of the Northern Vietnam would win the world applause. The president was also largely responding to what he called the “division in the American house” and he insisted that the American people should not be involved in the ugly consequences of disunity (Lyndon 8). As a result of these issues, it was evident to him that majority wished that he doesn’t remain to be president and, thus his decision not to seek reelection.

By doing this, he knew he would let down his critics who could be seeing his act as personal and political rather than for the service of the nation. Works Cited HistoryPlace.com. ‘President Lyndon Baines Johnson Decides Not To Seek Re-Election.’ 8 March 2012. .Lyndon, Baines J. ‘On Vietnam and Not Seeking Reelection Delivered 31 March. 1968.’ American Rhetoric 2001-2011. 8 March 2012.. Newshistory.com. ‘President Johnson Orders Air Strikes against North Vietnam.’ 8 March 2012. . The Pacifica Radio/UC Berkeley.

‘Social Activism Sound Recording Project: Anti-Vietnam War Protests in the San Francisco Bay Area & Beyond.’ 8 March 2012. .