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Abby Weitkamp

Pre-AP English

Mathew Garcia

5 April 2017

Rhetorical Analysis of Richard Nixons Address to the Nation on Labor Day

On Labor Day, 1971, Nixon addressed the nation about what America needs to have and

needs to do in order to achieve the goal of a new prosperity in a generation of peace.

Specifically, he talks about the work ethic of Americans as well as the productivity of American

workers. Throughout Nixons 1971 Labor Day Speech, Richard Nixon uses logos, ethos, pathos,

and repetition to motivate Americans to dedicate themselves to the goal of a new prosperity

without war and without inflation.

On all accounts, Nixon uses logos to highlight evidence as well cause-effect

relationships. In the second paragraph of his speech, Nixon says: A nation gets what it

deserves. In this quote, Nixon creates his first cause-effect relationship by highlighting that

what a nation receives is caused by its actions. This quote also serves as motivation to the

American people to work towards what they want. Another example of logos is the quote: The

overwhelming response to that call is a new justification for every Americans faith in himself

and faith in his country. In this quote, Nixon appeals to logic by using evidence that proves that

Americans still have faith. Yet another quote is: When you have the latest technology to help

you do your job, it means you can do more with the same effort. Thats why we say investment

in modern equipment will increase productivity. In this quote, Nixon establishes yet another

cause-effect relationship by citing a specific occurrence, which is the cause, and what effect it
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has on what people say about it. The quote: By exporting more goods and services, we will

create more jobs for your expanding workforce. also establishes a cause-effect relationship with

the cause being exporting more goods and services and the effect being more jobs. A final

quote is: We welcome fair competition--because it keeps us on our toes, because that alertness

leads to increased productivity, because that in turn leads to a better life for the American

workingmen and for his family. In this quote, Nixon establishes a positive cause-effect

relationship by highlighting that competition is not bad and is, in fact, often prosperous for the

American people. The overall impact of logos in Nixons speech is established reasoning that

Americans can easily understand.

Ethos is present throughout the entire speech. To start, the speech is made by Richard

Nixon who was the 37th President of the United States of America. This in itself lends Nixon an

incomparable amount of credibility. As ethos is an appeal to authority, this amount of credibility

is a cry of ethos. However, ethos is also about trustworthiness and ethics. Throughout his speech,

Nixon uses specific accounts of ethos. One example, is the first sentence where Nixon says: I

call upon all Americans to dedicate ourselves. In this quote, Nixon groups himself with the

people he is speaking to which causes him to appear more trustworthy to the people because it

makes him look like a simple American just as all those listening are. Another example is: That

is why most of us consider it immoral to be lazy or slothful- This quote is a good example of

ethos in the form of ethics because it specifically references what Americans consider to be

moral. Nixon also says: One answer to those questions was given in the response of the

American people to the new economic policy I announced last month. This quote reinforces his

credibility because it is talking about an important action he made as the acting President of the
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United States. A third example is where Nixon says: ...that came into the White House after I

made that speech. This quote references to his presidency. Thus, it reminds the people of his

credibility by his stating that he lives in the White House which is a revered landmark in the

United States. Nixon also states: As I read that report, I thought of my own father. During the

years that I was growing up, he worked as a streetcar motorman, an oil field worker; he worked

as a farmer; he worked also in a filling station. This quote allows Nixon to seem relatable to

typical Americans, thus establishing trustworthiness. Another example is in the third to last

paragraph of his entire speech where Nixon states: On this Labor Day, 1971, I am confident that

this spirit is strong and health among Americas 80 million wage earners. In this quote, Nixon

uses his own credibility as the President as well as the peoples trust to garner support and

motivation among Americans. The overall impact of ethos in Nixons speech is the trust of

Richard Nixon by the American people.

Pathos is key in Nixons speech. It is used in the first sentence where Nixon says: I call

upon all Americans to dedicate ourselves. In this quote, Nixon tugs the heartstrings of

Americans by uniting them which creates strong emotion. He also uses pathos when he says:

...has made the American workingman unique in the world. This quote causes Americans to

be proud of themselves, their fellow citizens, and their country. Another quote that invokes that

same sense of pride among Americans is: ...why a poor nation of 3 million people, over a

course of two centuries, lifted itself into the position of the most powerful and respected leader

of the free world today. Another example is: But the most heartening reaction...the willingness

to make a personal sacrifice in pursuit of worthy goals by the man in the street, the worker on the

job, the homemaker trying to balance the family budget. This example pulls emotions from
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Americans because Nixon is talking about Americans causing a heartening reaction. The quote

creates relatability, thus evoking a strong sense of pride as well as understanding in Americans.

Yet another quote that is an example of pathos in Nixons speech is: It reads:We were both due

for salary increases in September...but we will survive. If it were necessary to cut our income in

half, I still know no other country I would choose to call my own. This quote is an example of

pathos because, to the Americans, the man who wrote this essay is considered one of their own

and is possibly a thought that they themselves may have had. Another example of pathos is: Let

us recognize once and for all--no job is menial in America if it leads to self-reliance, self-respect,

and individual dignity. This quote yanks the heartstrings of Americans, specifically of Americans

with jobs that many consider menial, because it is talking about the jobs of Americans and how

they should be respected no matter what the job is specifically. Two quotes that are extremely

similar and have the same effect are: Think about what rising productivity means to you and to

your family. and Think about what rising productivity means to our country. These two

quotes are examples of pathos because they require Americans to think not only with their heads,

but also with their hearts. The overall impact of pathos in Nixons speech is a relatability among

all Americans, including Nixon, that allows for emotions to play a part in how the speech and

proposed ideas are processed.

Repetition is used to emphasize an idea and the importance of said idea or to create

suspense. Nixon uses repetition periodically but in lengthy bursts throughout his speech. The

first example of repetition in Nixons speech is the repetition of the phrase that work ethic. The

repetition of this phrase emphasizes the importances of a good work ethic. In Nixons speech,

there is also repetition with the idea of hearing information from another. This is shown with the
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following quotes: We hear voices, We are told, and We see some members...being told.

These three quotes repeat the same idea that people say things that are not always true. Another

piece of repetition is the phrase we must which is used at the beginning of multiple sentences.

This repetition is used to emphasize what we must do as well as used to motivate, inspire, and

pump up the energy of Americans. A final piece of repetition within Nixons speech is the phrase

When you...Thats why we sayproductivity. This repetition is used to emphasize multiple

examples of situations that contribute to one of the four key elements of productivity. The

repetition of this structure also keeps the listeners focused on what Nixon is saying. The overall

impact of repetition in Nixons speech is an emphasis on the key points of his speech.

Throughout Nixons 1971 Labor Day Speech, Richard Nixon uses logos, ethos, pathos,

and repetition to motivate Americans to dedicate themselves to the goal of a new prosperity

without war and without inflation. These four rhetorical devices have a high level of

effectiveness when considering the overall impact of the speech. All four devices inspire and

motivate Americans to take action in some way or another. Overall, Nixons use of rhetorical

devices is beneficial to his cause and helps to persuade his audience.