Santos 1 Alfredo Santos Innes Mitchell Rhetorical Criticism 28November 2012 Pentadic Analysis of Bill Clintons Speech to the

Public Introduction: On August 17, 1998 President Bill Clinton addressed the American public regard his affair with white house intern, Monica Lewinsky. This speech was given for the purpose of addressing the people directly providing clarity into a very foggy situation. The speech was broadcast during prime time television on the ABC network. President Clinton had a national audience waiting to hear his side of the story, and after months of silence from the public, he delivered on this anticipation. The affair, as well as the court proceedings, has had public speculation since. This paper will examine some of the rhetorical choices made by President Clinton with respect to pentadic analysis. Using this tool, both private and public motives can be discovered. The following research questions is what will be concentrated on in this analysis: What does the depiction of presidential roles and responsibilities in Bill Clintons address to the public reveal about his motives to admit his faults to the public? The Artifact: The CNN.com has published a very polished timeline of event for the Lewinsky scandal. It is based on reports from investigators of the court as well as testimony from both Lewinsky and Clinton. Within the timeline it is apparent that President Clinton denied the Lewinsky affair,

Santos 2 publicly, multiple times (A Chronology). The speech was a mere four minutes in length; however it followed an afternoon of closed door testimony for a federal grand jury looking into how Clinton answered questions about his relationship with Lewinsky (Clinton Admits). There has been plenty of speculation on what crimes were committed, such as perjury and question as to whether or not the president had asked people to lie under oath on his behalf. President Clinton met Monica Lewinsky when she became a white house intern. Their apparent physical relationship however was the pinnacle of their contact it seems. The speech given by Clinton recognized his short comings and acknowledged that even presidents have room for improvement. However, this speech also recognized that the American public should now focus all their attention on the private life of the president when more pressing issues are on the horizon of the country. All in all the speech was given to give explanation for the allegations against him, and to publicly address and apologize for the harm he has caused in the wake of his affair. Although the scandal resulted in impeachment of President Clinton, he was not removed from office. Bill Clintons survival may give future presidents the determination to stonewall and prevaricate but they had better make sure they are popular (Carver). President Clinton has shed both light on the issue of the private life of a public figure as well as a responsibility of public figures to take responsibility for their actions both private and public. Pentadic Analysis: Clintons speech can best be examined in two pentads. The first is the public acceptance of responsibility for his actions and his regret for the affair that took place between him and Monica Lewinsky. The second part involved protecting Clintons family from the public eye due to his own transgressions. He clearly spells out that his familys privacy should be respected and that his own private life has taken precedence over important national issues.

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Public Life Act Admitting to public about inappropriate affair with Monica Lewinsky, revealing private life Agent Agency Purpose Bill Clinton Public apology Take responsibility for actions taken, as well as public denials of the truth Scene America

In attributing regret with the affair, President Clinton wants the public to acknowledge how apologetic he is for the things he has done. His involvement he admits was voluntary, and although he did not volunteer information to the jury, he did not ask anyone to lie or perjure themselves for his sake. The dominant element in this first pentad is the agency. Pragmatism would be the appropriate philosophical system.

Private Life Act Protect families privacy, and his privacy as a public figure Agent Agency Bill Clinton National broadcast audience attention

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Purpose

Focus public attention on National life and important matters within the country

Scene

America

The second pentad is generally concerned with shifting focus from a scandalous presidential affair to the nation that has made it possible. Clinton says its been too long when referring to the amount of time spent by both investigators, writers, and reporters alike that have focused on the affair while ignoring more pertinent matters. The dominant element in this pentad is the act. Realism would be the associated philosophical system. Discussion: Following this paramount speech, President Clinton was impeached. However, this speech had such a profound connotation to it, that Clinton received acceptance from both the American people as well as government officials. President Clinton was impeached, however all impeachment charges were dropped, he was not convicted of any criminal charges, and he was not removed from office. The goal of the speech was clear and the two resulting pentads prove that Clintons motivations were pure and true, in spite of circumstances. President Clinton aimed to take responsibility first and foremost, and he accomplished this in from of a live national audience. In the realm of the twenty four hour news cycle, all eye were on the lead of our country and he aimed to sway public opinion. He wanted it to be known that although he participated in this affair, although he publicly denied its conception multiple times, although he has faced scrutiny and removal from office he was taking responsibility for his actions both private and public. This was vital. He not only held himself accountable for his private actions he held himself accountable for the preceding public attention because of it. He

Santos 5 laid out that his intention was not to attract a public response from the affair, and he openly claims to regret the situation altogether. The role of his purpose prompted his action to speak to the people directly, giving a public apology for his actions. People of America would all know of Bill Clintons public apology by the end of that day. The second aspect of the live broadcasted address was to protect the privacy of the result of the affair within the presidents own family. He openly states it is private, and I intend to reclaim my family life for my family. Its nobodys business but ours. The president utilizes his position to direct attention away from his family, because the issues they now face are a private one, as they would be with any other American household. He uses the opportunity to shift focus from he and his family to the country he has the duty to lead. He states it is time to stop the pursuit of personal destruction and the prying into private lives and get on with our national life. This is meant to describe to the American public that although this concern hold more significance due to the people involved, it should not take a back seat to the duty hes sworn to do. The country was too focused on his own affair and lost track of the affairs of the country. Now it is time, in fact, it is past time to move on. The president intends for this to be his last acknowledgement of the affair to the public. He has said what he has to say and he is using his power to sway the American people to do the same. He asks the public to turn away from the gossip magazines and the rumors and focus their attention back to the fabric of our national discourse. He thanks the people for watching and wishes a good night. Conclusion: Bill Clinton reveals that his motivation for addressing the American public is to come clean about the actions taken by him in his affair with Monica Lewinsky. He admits his faults,

Santos 6 and apologizes for his acts of betrayal and deceit of the American people as well as his family. He brings the idea clear that in fact, even presidents have private lives and that although his actions were inappropriate, the American people should not be concerned with this issue any longer. The President took a smart stance in revealing himself as man who makes mistakes, no matter the consequences, he is only human. He apologizes for his indiscretions and asks the American people to help him in reestablishing what should be important to every American: their nation. Works Cited Blythe, William J., III. Speech. The White House, Washington D.C. 17 Aug. 1998. CBS. Carver, Tom. "Analysis: What Saved Bill Clinton?" BBC News. BBC, 02 Dec. 1999. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. "A Chronology: Key Moments In The Clinton-Lewinsky Saga." CNN. Cable News Network, 1998. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.
"Clinton Admits To 'Wrong' Relationship With Lewinsky." CNN. Cable News Network, 17 Aug. 1998. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.

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Speech: 10 PM EST, approx 4 minutes `` Good evening. This afternoon in this room, from this chair, I testified before the Office of Independent Counsel and the grand jury. I answered their questions truthfully, including questions about my private life, questions no American citizen would ever want to answer. Still, I must take complete responsibility for all my actions, both public and private. And that is why I am speaking to you tonight. As you know, in a deposition in January, I was asked questions about my relationship with Monica Lewinsky. While my answers were legally accurate, I did not volunteer information. Indeed, I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely and completely responsible. But I told the grand jury today and I say to you now that at no time did I ask anyone to lie, to hide or destroy evidence or to take any other unlawful action. I know that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false impression. I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that. I can only tell you I was motivated by many factors. First, by a desire to protect myself from the embarrassment of my own conduct. I was also very concerned about protecting my family. The fact that these questions were being asked in a politically inspired lawsuit, which has since been dismissed, was a consideration, too. In addition, I had real and serious concerns about an independent counsel investigation that began with private business dealings 20 years ago, dealings I might add about which an independent federal agency found no evidence of any wrongdoing by me or my wife over two years ago. The independent counsel investigation moved on to my staff and friends, then into my private life. And now the investigation itself is under investigation. This has gone on too long, cost too much and hurt too many innocent people. Now, this matter is between me, the two people I love most -- my wife and our daughter -- and our God. I must put it right, and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to do so. Nothing is more important to me personally. But it is private, and I intend to reclaim my family life for my family. It's nobody's business but ours. Even presidents have private lives. It is time to stop the pursuit of personal destruction and the prying into private lives and get on with our national life. Our country has been distracted by this matter for too long, and I take my responsibility for my part in all of this. That is all I can do.

Santos 8 Now it is time -- in fact, it is past time to move on. We have important work to do -- real opportunities to seize, real problems to solve, real security matters to face. And so tonight, I ask you to turn away from the spectacle of the past seven months, to repair the fabric of our national discourse, and to return our attention to all the challenges and all the promise of the next American century. Thank you for watching. And good night.''