Rhetorical Analysis of Richard Nixon's Checkers Speech - Coursework Example

RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF RICHARD NIXONS CHECKERS SPEECH Rhetorical Analysis of Richard Nixons Checkers Speech Senator Richard Nixon sat down on 23, September 1952 to address a television audience. His speech was no ordinary political speech since his future political life was on the line. Nixon had the daunting task of clearing his name from allegations that he had illegally received sixteen thousand dollars to fund his campaign. Additionally, he also wanted to present himself as a worthy asset to the Republican ticket. Being the running mate to Dwight Eisenhower, he wanted to use the opportunity to prove to the nation and his party that he was clean, and that all the allegations against him were baseless. He begins by saying, “Tonight, I come before you as a Vice President candidate and as a man whose integrity and honesty has been questioned.”1 In order to analyze Nixon’s speech, it is imperative to examine the obstacles or rhetorical problem the speech hoped to achieve. Nixon’s primary problem was proving his innocence. The media were overflowing with articles talking about his guilt. Luckily, Nixon overcame this problem by clearly spelling out all his financial assets right from the time of his birth. While talking about his financial status, he appeared as an ordinary citizen since he included even his debts. In this speech, he also proved to Eisenhower that his name would not hinder Eisenhower’s chances of clinching the presidency (Nixon, 1952). While concluding his speech, he appealed to the American citizens to call into the Republican National Committee and vote whether he should stay in the office or resign. The Americans called in large numbers, and the responses showed that a majority of them were in favor of Nixon’s retention (Nixon, 1952). Nixon successfully proved to Eisenhower that Americans wanted him to remain on the ticket. In this way, Nixon managed to overcome the biggest rhetorical problem of his speech. Examining the purpose of Nixon’s speech is also essential when making a comprehensive analysis of the speech. Nixon used three criteria to enable him convey his purpose. First, his speech had to answer the allegations by defending and explaining the fund. Secondly, the speech had to ward off any further accusations by demonstrating that he did not amass personal profit from the fund. Lastly, his speech had to launch a political counter-attack. Nixon used these three guiding principles with the help of three Aristotelian modes of proof: pathos, logos and ethos. The primary mode of proof used by Nixon in his speech was ethos. In a deeper sense, the purpose of Nixon’s speech was to reaffirm his status as a politician the Americans could put their trust and faith. According to the American public, Nixon’s credibility was questionable since they believed he had used $16,000 given to him by donors for private use (Nixon, 1952). In order to prove his integrity, he decided to tell Americans that the fund was defensible morally. Therefore, he outlined his total expenditures and income from his birth time to that moment. In his list of assets, Nixon also included the ‘little cocker spaniel dog’ called Checkers and his wife’s ‘respectable Republican cloth coat.’ He says, “Pat does not have a mink cost; however, she has a respectable Republican cloth coat.”2 These two references gave Nixon a common place in the hearts of Americans since they symbolized an all-American appeal. The use of reputable organizations is another tactic Nixon used to prove his integrity. He says, “It is an audit done by Price Waterhouse & Company firm, with legal assistance from Gibson, Dunn & Krutcher, lawyers in L.A, the biggest law farm and the best in Los Angeles."3 This proves to the Americans that whatever he is saying is factual. The legitimate evidence also shows that Nixon was not involved in dubious ways to ways obtain funds from the public. All these give his listeners the impression that he was truthful in everything that he was saying. Nixon’s speech also has pathos (emotional appeal). Pathos is defined as the use of language to induce feelings and desires in speakers and listeners. From Nixon’s initial appearance on television, he presents himself as a person under wrongful attack. His first assertions that he comes before the American people as a Vice-President candidate whose integrity and honesty have been questioned portray him as a man who is under attack. He also uses pathos when reading the letter sent to him by a nineteen-year-old girl. The letter articulates how her husband is in Korea fighting for America, and how strongly she believes that ‘great Americans’ like Nixon and Eisenhower will ensure lonely Americans like her would reunite with their loved ones (Nixon, 1952). Nixon draws a sense of patriotism that he expects all Americans should have towards the cause being fought for by Eisenhower and him. He also reveals that the girl had attached a $10 check to fund his campaign, yet she was living on $85 a month. He hopes the viewers to see that the girl has little, yet she is giving so much to fund Nixon’s campaigns. This shows that he is a man worth trusting. Nixon proves his trustworthiness further by asserting “it is a check I shall never take cash.”4 In this case, he strengthens the viewers’ trust. Lastly, Nixon used logos (logical argument) in his speech. His speech revolves around logically presenting ideas that his audience may understand. Facts of his annual income, about his opponent including his wife on the nation’s pay roll and his military service give viewers the sense that they are being told the truth. Nixon’s phrase, “I have the audit here in my hand,”5 showed the whole nation that he had nothing to hide and that he is a man of high common sense who was dealing with the problem in a rational manner. The speech changed the manner in which the public and politicians interact. It can be argued that Nixon was the first politician to realize the power that television had TV had in influencing a politician’s image since the speech helped in win the hearts of the Americans who had cast doubt in his candidature. In addition, the notion of politicians making their case directly to the public in their living rooms was a new concept at that time. The blend of the studio set and the financial disclosures were extremely agonizing and entrancing to watch. This contributed a great deal in making his speech a success since the fissure between him and the general public was closed. The bit about Checkers, which takes approximately one minute, is a clincher. Through invoking the name of a dog, a man’s best friend, in an important speech like that, Nixon managed to help bring forth a political landscape where policy was as important as personality, and where an individual’s vote centers on a candidate with whom they can share a drink or sit in a dog park. He explains to the public that a man in Texas heard his wife mention that his two youngsters wished to have a dog, and he sent them a black and white spotted spaniel dog (Nixon, 1952). He says, “Our six-year old girl named it Checkers. The kids, just like all other kids, love the dog and regardless of what they say, we will keep it.”6 In making this statement, Nixon was hitting at the news reporters who had written stories regarding the financial accusations. In conclusion, Nixon explicated that explaining oneself when facing conflict is extremely essential to clear ones name. His proficient use of ethos enabled him to create his sound political standing. This is because he managed to retain his integrity as a politician. It is correct to say that the speech was a success. This is ascribed to the fact that Nixon got sympathy from the powerful Republicans and the general public who were demanding he step down in his bid to become Eisenhower’s running mate. Days after the speech, Nixon was summoned by Eisenhower in West Virginia and reaffirmed their alliance, and in November they defeated the Democrats in the elections by seven million votes. Reference Nixon, R. (1952). Senator Nixon’s Checkers Speech. New York City, U.S.: Watergate.info. Retrieved from http://watergate.info/1952/09/23/nixon-checkers-speech.html Read More