Aristotle, in his Rhetoric, tends to give the ‘grand’ style the edge over the more ‘forensic’ approach in deliberate communication. Cicero’s genius was that he could use both styles effectively. He knew when and where to change his style, and as a result he was just as successful in the political arena as he was […]
Kennedy’s Inaugural Address [video]
Kennedy’s style was symbolic of articulate leadership in the Cold War period. His voice and appearance was pleasing to his audiences wherever they were. They liked him, and his kingly style fitted very well the needs of the new television era. He was a symbol of a new generation and spoke in the same deliberative […]
Kennedy’s speech at the Berlin Wall [video]
This was an inspirational type speech where the languages of ‘action’ and ‘feeling’ prevailed. Without credibility (ethos) this speech could not have succeeded; it offered security in a time of uncertainty. It is one of the most famous pieces of oratory in the Cold War years. More than a million West Berliners turned out to […]