Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Rhetorical Contributions Alexis Ginsberg.
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Transcript of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Rhetorical Contributions Alexis Ginsberg.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Rhetorical Contributions
Alexis Ginsberg
Background Information
• DOB: January 30, 1882• Place of Birth: Hyde Park, NY• Education:-Groton School (NY)-Harvard University-Columbia Law School• Family: Married Eleanor Roosevelt and had 5
children.• Political Affiliation: Democrat• U.S President (1933-1945)
FDR’S Rhetorical Techniques
• Persuasive Delivery• Connected directly with his audiences • Conveyed sincerity & goodwill to his audiences• Gestures• Spoke over the Congress to the people
FDR’S Rhetorical Innovations
• Frequent use of radio• Motion Picture
Newsreels• White House Press
Conferences LIVE
• Fireside Chats• “Annual Messages” to
Congress• LIVE Convention
Acceptance Speech
1932 Convention Acceptance Speech
“Let it be from now on the task of our
party to break foolish traditions. We will break foolish traditions and leave it to the Republican leadership, far more skilled in that art, to break promises.” -FDR
Rhetorical Importance of Speech
• Presence at the convention was symbolic• Broke with party tradition• Foreshadowed his future rhetorical
innovations• Focused on his opponent’s unpopular
policies• Emphasized partisan differences between
the two parties• Identified himself with past presidents
1933 Inaugural Speech
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Rhetorical Significance
• Persuasiveness• Emphasis on personal leadership -”They have made me the present instrument of their wishes. In the
spirit of the gift I take it.”
• Acknowledgment of dire problems -”Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.”
• Promise for government action• Ubiquitous references to Congress -”I shall presently urge upon a new Congress, detailed
measures for their fulfillment…”
FDR’S FIRESIDE CHATS
Reasons for Success
• LIVE• Announced prior
broadcast• Interrupted daily
programming
• Absence of media & congressional censorship.
• “Going public.”• Reach out to new
constituencies
Rhetorical Techniques
• “Friend-next door”• Psychological focus• Public Opinion Surveys• “Catching Up” time• Personal Pronoun Use
-“I”
-“You”
-“We”• Slow speaker
The War Years
• 1936: Isolationist Rhetoric
• 1937: Recognizes prospect of war and calls for “quarantine” of aggressors.
• 1940-1941: Salesman-in-Chief of War Rhetoric
War Message: Rhetorical Significance
“A day which will live in infamy.”
• FDR's response galvanized the American people.
• Direct with declarative phrases.• Uncluttered by convoluted language. • United the nation in the pursuit of
unconditional victory against the Japanese.