John F. Kennedy – Ich bin ein Berliner

https://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkberliner.html

Opening

Kennedy says that he is proud to be in Berlin, and he includes what the speech is going to be about. This part seem more as an introduction to me, and then the grabber comes afterwards.

Introduction 

When Kennedy says “Ich bin ein Berliner” it  grabs the audiences’ attention because they want to hear what he means by that, and because they feel his sympathy and understanding for them and therefore wants to listen. This is a good “grabber” in the beginning of the speech.

Body preview

He talks about freedom, democracy, liberality and why these are better than communism.

Transitions

He repeats “Let them come to Berlin” several time during his speech. This work very well as transitions between different parts, and the repetition also determine his opinion.

Ethos, Logos, Pathos

He uses the forms of appeals. He has a high ethos because he is the president of the United States. He uses logos in his argumentation. Pathos is seen in the famous words “Ich bin ein Berliner”, because he show the population that he is one of them and understand what they are going through.

Conclusion

Kennedy’s conclusion is good because he summarizes his hopes for a free world where democracy wins. He also gives hope and call to action.

“So let me ask you, as I close, to lift your eyes beyond the dangers of today, to the hopes of tomorrow, beyond the freedom merely of this city of Berlin, or your country of Germany, to the advance of freedom everywhere, beyond the wall to the day of peace with justice, beyond yourselves and ourselves to all mankind”