Watch the Nixon Checker’s speech. How does (then) Senator Richard Nixon establis
ID: 3525155 • Letter: W
Question
Watch the Nixon Checker’s speech. How does (then) Senator Richard Nixon establish ethos, pathos, and logos?
Format: Your paper should be 3 to 5 pages double spaced with one inch margins. Feel free to have subheadings of "ethos, pathos, and logos" if that helps to clearly divide the material. If it is not clear which element you are describing, you will lose points. Do not cut and paste portions of the speech (ok - maybe a sentence here and there if that helps make your point). The paper is youranalysis of how he established these important tools for persuading his audience. Spend your time establishing your point of view about Nixon's strategy for creating ethos, pathos, and logos -- not cutting and pasting.
Sidenote: Nixon didn’t name this speech The Checkers Speech. Interesting how the story about the dog took “a life of it’s own”!
This speech is long (almost 30 minutes) but it’s worth it to see a part of history. You can detect a subtle paranoia about "those" out to "get him". It's so interesting because it's almost foretelling the future of his political career. I also think it’s interesting to see Pat Nixon. She’s off to the side -- and I don’t think she even blinks! For me, I see devotion, support, and love. When you stop and think about what she went through during her husband's political career, it's . . . well . . . amazing.
Here’s the Checker's Speech (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. The video is embedded in the article. It offers closed caption.
https://www.nixonfoundation.org/1952/09/checkers-speech/
Explanation / Answer
Tools of Persuasion
An analysis of Richard Nixon's speech
The tools of persuasion that are being analyzed are Ethos, Pathos & Logos. Ethos, in general, are the characters and beliefs that drive a group of people or a society. Pathos is a technique where a person appeals to the emotions of the audience. Logos generally refers to the cognitive or thought process, something that evokes a rational response from the subjects.
The objective of his speech is to clear his name of the allegations placed on him. An analysis of Nixon's speech is broken into three parts based on my point of view divided by tools of persuasion:
Ethos:
Nixon begins his speech with how in the past, American leaders have either ignored or denied a charge without explanations when it comes to allegations. Nixon says he wants to break this by being honest - a character trait. He talks about integrity - a character trait. He appeals to subjects by talking about morals - a character trait. About how whether or not the amount of money in question was used for personal purposes. About how it was not a secret fund or a secret transaction - transparency. All these are characters traits and beliefs. They are the Ethos part of the speech.
Pathos:
Nixon begins his emotional appeal by beginning with how he did not put his wife on payroll owing to the fact that many talented people were available who needed the work. He appeals to people as to how he had no other choice but to accept contributions in order to finance his political expenses. He also says that he is proud that people who have contributed to his aid have not asked him for a special favor. The classic part of the speech is this emotional appeal - he shows all his cards - what he makes, spends and owes - he puts his complete financial statement in public for the people to see. He dares Mr. Stevenson & Mr. Sparkman to do the same - This boosts his image with the subjects. This is a direct emotional connect! He talks about humble beginnings and how he grew up like any normal American would. This is as close to people as it gets - emotionally. The fact that a national leader is at the same place as themselves. He adds a tinge of patriotism - his service in the military - again an emotional appeal. The statement about Pat Nixon not owning a mink coat but owning a modest Republican cloth coat - is a masterstroke. The part about getting checkers (a cocker spaniel) as a gift is a very well put out thought too. By quoting Abraham Lincoln, he again hits the emotional chord. His conclusion where he mentions his love for his country - His fight against corruption. The final nail in the coffin is the letter he reads from a 19-year-old who has become a mother recently and whose husband is in Korea due to war. The fact that he chooses not to cash her check and the fact that he cherishes her letter and contribution are all very emotional thoughts.
Logos:
He asks the subjects many questions that make them think. Like whether or not certain expenses made towards political purposes should be charged to taxpayers - he lists about trips or political paperwork as examples. This is a cognitive appeal. He also talks about figures, the money that's paid to him as salary and the money that's assigned to be paid to his staff. This is facts & figures - logos. He makes an emotional appeal to the subjects without them knowing right at the beginning of the speech. He asks them to judge the opponent VP candidate for having his wife on the payroll at that time and the ten years preceding this speech. He presents the results of an independent audit of the finances for his political expenses (Along with the credibility of the audit by naming the law house in correlation). And the financial statement that he presents speaks for itself, it is a modest middle-class American's financial statement. He talks about how Stevenson or Truman don't owe anything to change the policies, how the ravages of war have led to huge losses. He almost makes it a campaign speech for Dwight and lets people do the thinking. He finishes the speech by asking people to write to the Republican National Committee about whether he should retain his place in the Republican party.
Through this speech, he succeeded in putting to right use the three tools of persuasion. This speech is a classic example of how the way you appeal to audience changes the way you are perceived by them.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.