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Courtney Twing
Dr. Reid
English 102
2/3/2015
That Was Rhetorical?
Contrary to how the word rhetorical is commonly utilized in conversation, it is more
than merely asking a question without intending to receive an answer. There are numerous
rhetorical devices applied to literature, and a plethora of rhetorical devices from which to
choose, but it is simple to pick out ethos, pathos and logos in a great deal of important
speeches throughout history. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), the president of the United
States at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, beseeched the nation to engage in a war with
the empire of Japan through the use of rhetorical devices.
Some of the devices that FDR applies in his address to the nation are logos, ethos, and
pathos. Logos is a device used to make an appeal to the logic and reasoning of a given
audience. In a persuasive speech, logos can be employed to give evidence or proof of a
claim; therefore, the statement should be believed because it is based on fact. Ethos can be
manipulated in order to establish or build upon ones credibility. This means that if a
speechmaker speaks to business majors and introduces his or herself as the CEO of a fortune
500 company, one may be more likely to listen to his or her imparted information as opposed
to that of the manager of a local fast-food chain. Pathos expresses emphasis on emotion, and
takes the feelings of an audience into account. Most people have seen the ASPCA
commercials with the Sarah MacLauchlan song playing in the background; it is accompanied

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by photos of animals that have been abused by their owners. The lyrics of MacLauchlans
song, the powerful images, and her own poignant words pull on the heartstrings. It is a good
example of pathos to persuade individuals to donate to the ASPCA. Franklin Delano
Roosevelt (FDR) was a master of rhetoric, and used all of these and more in his Address to
the Nation after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Japan torpedoed U.S. Naval ships and planes near the Hawaiian Island of Oahu on 7
December 1941, and it came as a shock. Americans had previously been uninterested in
involving themselves in war, and had actively avoided the war entirely. Casualties totaled
over 2,000; over 1,000 of which were U.S. military troops. About 60 were civilians. After
the bombing, the nation looked to its president, and Roosevelt needed to comfort, inspire, and
motivate Americans to engage in the war they so desperately wished to escape. His words
effectively persuaded the American people that retaliating with war was the only option.
The simple fact that the man giving the speech is the president almost speaks for
itself, yet FDR still employs ethos in his address to the nation. One of the first sentences
from his mouth is acknowledging those to whom he is about to speak, and they are Mr. Vice
President, and Mr. Speaker, and Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives
(para 1). Anyone qualified to enough to make a speech to such an important crowd must be
important himself, even if he had not been the President of the United States. Roosevelt later
adds that he is the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy (para 8), and therefore is
duty-bound to ensure the protection of his people. As the President of the United States, his
nation obviously knows that they should listen to and follow him, but it is interesting that he
states I believe that I interpret the will of Congress and of the people (para 10). This seems
to mean that he still wishes to establish his credibility. Ethos is not applied vigorously in this

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speech, but it isnt highly necessary to assert authority when everyone already knows that he
is president, so it makes sense that this rhetorical device is used less often.
FDR relies heavily on logos, and makes logical statements to appeal to the American
people. He wishes to prompt them into a state of war, which they havent wanted to associate
with, so he needs to be convincing. He relays the date, location, and culprit of the attack as
well as the fact that The United States was at peace with that Nation, and was still in
conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace
in the Pacific (para 3). It is logical to be angered by an attack, but even more so when the
perpetrator was not a known enemy. FDR admits that they did receive a message stating
that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations (para 3), but that it
was sent one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American
Island of Oahu (para 3). The Japanese had betrayed their former American friends, and had
not offered any reason or hint of threat. He continues adoption of logic by arguing that the
distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned
many days or even weeks ago (para 4). He goes on to say that the Japanese Government
has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of
hope for continued peace (para 4). Roosevelt understands that Japan has been deceitful. He
is required to convince the people that not only have they have been dealt a tragic injustice,
but that it is worth retaliation. In his final sentence, he has given enough logical evidence and
is ready to inform the nation that he asks Congress [to] declare a state of war has existed
between the United States and the Japanese Empire (para 13).
Pathos is passionate, emotional, and raw. This rhetorical device will present itself in
any tragic situation of such magnitude, yet the president balances pathos well with logos to
create a wonderfully motivating plea. Pathos proves itself powerful in FDRs speech when

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he states that yesterday, December 7, 1941a date which will live in infamythe United
States was suddenly and deliberately attacked (para 2). This is one of the most poignant
and well-remembered lines from a presidential speech. Another example of the use of pathos
comes when Roosevelt relays the information of lives lost stating I regret to tell you that
very many American lives have been lost (para 5). A nation uninvolved in the war should
not have been subjected to such an attack. In reference to Japan, the President had this to say:
always will our whole Nation remember the character of the onslaught against us (para
9). This nods directly to pathos because it essentially states that Japan does not possess good
moral character, and has an unspoken statement attached: retaliation is justified. This is
especially apparent when he suggests that no matter how long it may take us to overcome
this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to
absolute victory (para 10). Roosevelt wants revenge, and there is no better way to rally a
people to fight than to suggest that it is rational and necessary. He makes it abundantly clear
that losing the war is not an option with this statement: we will gain the inevitable triumph
so help us God (para 12). In this one sentence, FDR has transformed his meaning. He
seems to convey that he is no longer the only one condoning war; God is on their side, and
wants them to fight. Finally, he throws one more example of pathos in for good measure
when he announces that Japan executed an unprovoked and dastardly attack (para 13).
Semantics is an important portion of expressing emotion, as is delivery of the speech. These
are further examples of rhetorical devices, but they play heavily into pathos. If the president
had delivered the address employing a monotone voice or softer words, the point would have
been poorly made. The president raises his voice and utilizes severe terms to drive home how
much Japans attack damages, destroys and endangers Americans. The use of repetition, or
anaphora, can feed into pathos also. FDR states Last night Japanese forces attacked (para
6) four times, one right after the other, to convey the full force of Japans seemingly

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unstoppable rampage. He hopes to rally his people to want to end Japans terror raids not
only for themselves, but for the sakes of all others who are victims of the onslaught.
Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the nation to light a fire in the hearts of the American
people. He wanted them to know about, and seek vengeance for, the unprovoked and
dastardly attack (para 13) on Pearl Harbor, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippines, Wake Island,
and Midway Island. He employed the tools of rhetoricincluding logos, pathos, ethos,
semantics, delivery, and anaphorato drive his point home. The president was correct in the
statement that December 7, 1941 would live in infamy, and it may have had something to do
with the powerful rhetorical devices exercised while he propelled his nation into combat.

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Works Cited
Roosevelt, Frederick Delano. Joint Address to Congress Leading to a Declaration of War
against Japan. American Rhetoric: Top 100 Speeches. Web. 2 March 2015.