Hes speaking directly to the people of the united states, and indirectly to the whole world. I come before you tonight as a candidate for the vice presidency and as a man whose honesty and integrity has been questioned. Although it would forever be known as nixon s checkers speech, it was actually a political triumph for nixon at the time it was given. Rhetorical analysis of richard nixon s checkers speech using aristotilian analysis. Then senator richard nixon gives his famous checkers speech, dispelling false rumors, and keeping his spot. Nixon had been accused of improprieties relating to a fund established by his backers to reimburse him for his political expenses. The checkers speech or fund speech was an address made on september 23, 1952, by california senator richard nixon, the republican candidate for vice. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Richard nixon was a senator to california from 1950 to 1953, the vice president of the united states from 1953 to 1961, and the president of the united states from 1969 to 1974. Richard nixon checkers speech on september 23, 1952 richard milhous nixon sat down to address the largest television audience ever amassed by a politician this was no ordinary political speech. Analysis of ethos, logos, and pathos in the checkers speech of richard nixon the checkers speech was done many years ago but still so important as it was then and now. Studentshare our website is a unique platform where students can share their papers in a matter of giving an example of the work to be done. Here is a look at the dream speech and other addresses that moved.
The address is often referred to as the checkers speech because he referred to his dog checkers as the type of gift he received from supporters. In his 1952 checkers speech, richard nixon was one of the first politicians to use the medium of television to defend himself against accusations of wrongdoing. Through no fault of his adorable own, checkers name is now synonymous with sappiness. Richard nixon s checkers speech september 23, 1952. May 09, 2016 in this video i analyze ethos, pathos and logos of richard nixon s checkers speech and recite part of it. What was the checkers speech and why is it so important. Richard sandy quinn was president of the richard nixon foundation from 2010 to 2014. Richard nixons checkers speech, is referred to often enough that most people have heard of it.
It also salvaged nixons career, plucking a lastsecond. Looking at 10 great speeches in american history national. As with nixon himself, the speech was brilliant, bare knuckles and mawkish, all at once. Nixon basically threw it in there as a sort of callback to a similar stunt fdr pulled in a speech about his own dog, fala. Get indepth analysis of checkers speech, with this section on symbols, motifs, and rhetorical devices.
Aug 03, 2008 perlsteins commentaries reveal his obvious and absolute hatred for nixon, and readers should be wary of his analysis, unless youre only interested in a nixon isevil argument. The speech is about california senator richard nixon that was shown on national television. In just plain dick the historian kevin mattson analyzes nixons famous 1952 checkers speech and the presidential campaign of that year. It did an excellent job of getting the american people on his side. Eisenhower requested nixon to come to west virginia where he was campaigning and greeted nixon at the airport with, dick, youre my boy. Checkers, the dog who helped save richard nixons career. This was a little different, since fala had been used to attack fdr politically. About 30 minutes later, nixon had pulled off the first of several political comebacks in what became known as the checkers speech. This paper applies bormanns fantasy theme analysis to richard nixons checkers speech. Nixon delivered the speech in response to newspaper articles suggesting that a fund, set up.
Richard nixon s checkers speech on september 23, 1952, as a candidate for vice president, richard m. These themes are nixon as moral model, nixon as the american dream, and nixon as patriot. To inform the people of his official resignation, try to improve his reputation and highlight the positive aspects of his presidency. The usual political thing to do when charges are made against you is to either ignore them or to deny them without giving details. Richard nixon, malcom x and ronald reagan in the top 10 of the. Oct 05, 2012 richard nixon, on the other hand, was not so lucky. Nixons checkers speech american experience official site. Jeb bush takes a page from richard nixon by disclosing personal. How checkers changed the game of television richard nixon. But few recall the details of what led up to the 30minute, primetime television special.
The peripeteia, an analysis of reversal speeches by barbara bush, richard nixon, and. Nixon eventually reached the white house, but checkers didnt. Richard nixons checkers speech and the rocking, socking election of 1952, presents a glimpse into one pivotal time period in nixons life, and through that key time, allows readers to think about nixon in what might be new ways. Nixon celebrated the anniversary of the checkers speech every single year, and considered the speech one of his crowning achievements. Eisenhowers vice president thus serving as a launching pad for his eventual. For example, perlstein accuses nixon of somehow blackmailing eisenhower regarding ikes own financial misdeeds in the checkers speech, but offers no proof and cites. Not only did this speech ensure 39 yearold senator nixons place on the 1952 republican presidential ticket as dwight d. A television broadcast of a speech made by richard nixon.
Sep 23, 2016 september 23 marks the anniversary of one of the most consequential and precedentsetting speeches in u. Senator richard nixons checkers speech watergate scandal. Nixon provides a detailed account of his and his familys finances to remove any suspicion. Then senator richard nixon gives his famous checkers speech, dispelling false rumors, and keeping his spot on the general eisenhowers presidential ticket. What is rhetorical analysis of the checkers speech 1487. The peripeteia, an analysis of reversal speeches by barbara bush. Home historical text checkers speech analysis symbols, motifs, and rhetorical devices. The checkers speech or fund speech was an address made on september 23, 1952, by california senator richard nixon, the republican candidate for vice president of the united states. Televisions political power proved itself in other ways in 1952.
He delivered this speech on september 23, 1952 while running for vice president on dwight d. Richard nixon s checkers richard nixon successfully used pathos throughout his checkers speech to appeal to the emotions of the american people. After practicing law and serving in the navy during world war ii, nixons political star rose quickly. Richard nixon and the checkers speech, 1952 america comes alive. Firstly, to win over his viewers, nixon did an implausible work by ensuring that all the three rhetoric devices are fully utilized. Richard nixons checkers speech by richard nixon on prezi. The communication was a speech delivered at the white house for nixons presidential inauguration. Sep 19, 20 although nixons cocker spaniel never lived in the white house, checkers became quite a celebrity after thensenator nixon mentioned the dog in a televised speech on sept. Easily recognized as the most hated president of all time, nixon was actually a brilliant man who knew how to appeal to the american people, which can be seen in his famous checkers speech. In one speech nixon had the daunting task of not only clearing his name of the allegation that he had.
Tragically, he died in 1964, five years before nixon took office, never having the opportunity to romp through the east wing with king timahoe, vicky, and pasha. Thee checkers speech rhetorical analasis essay 1487 words. Nixon, more commonly known for being one of the most hated presidents that the united states has endured, is exceptionally brilliant. Commonlit senator nixons checkers speech free reading. Outrage followed, and nixon took to the airwaves to answer the allegations and possibly save himself from being thrown off the ticket. Speech analysis of richard nixons first inaugural address 1. Richard nixon checkers speech analysis 1255 words bartleby. The title of the speech refers to the nixon s family dog, checkers, who was a gift but one which nixon declines to return. On september 23, 1952 richard milhous nixon sat down to address the largest television audience ever amassed by a politician gardener 18.
Analysis and recitation of richard nixon checkers speech. He was elected to the house of representatives in 1946 and made a name for himself on the house unamerican activities committee. After vice presidential candidate richard nixon was accused of having a secret trust fund for his campaign, his presence on the republican ticket became a serious threat to eisenhowers chances of victory. The puppy is what the speech was named after and also what people in 1952 related to. In one speech nixon had the daunting task of not only clearing his name o. By going over the heads of the press in directly appealling to the american people, this speech saved nixons. Richard nixons checkers speech was a response to accusations that he misused campaign funds for nonpolitical expenses.
He was an assistant to richard nixon traveling with him during his 1962 california gubernatorial bid. Nixon appears on national television to defend himself against reports that. Speech analysis of richard nixons first inaugural address. Nixon appears on national television to defend himself against reports that he had taken. It is the first great demonstration in america of the use and power of television to shape politics. Sep 22, 2012 the checkers speech wins this high rank for one standout reason.
Analysis of ethos, logos, and pathos in the checkers. The republicans went on to win the election by a landslide. Source after the fund ordeal was over, nixon founded a club called the order of the hounds tooth, and its membership consisted primarily of those close friends and family who helped him through the crisis. In his famous checkers speech, nixon laid out his personal finances in. Richard nixons checkers speech on september 23, 1952, as a candidate for vice president, richard m. Secondly, the use of logos, pathos, and ethos in nixon s. Richard nixons checkers speech by haylee morgan on prezi. Richard nixons checkers speech and the rocking, socking election of 1952 kevin mattson on. I contained all the crucial points that nixon was trying to stress. Checkers, on the other hand, was brought up by nixon exclusively for the emotional appeal. Full text and audio and video of richard nixon checkers speech. It marked the beginning of the television age in american politics.
Nixons checkers speech american experience official. The authentic history center 1950s speeches page 1. At this time, 1952, nixon was running for vice president with presidential candidate dwight d. Nixon is able to respond to the situational exigence through the rhetorical development of three major themes. He gave reporters a summary of his own personal taxes, which were. Segment from the cbc documentary series dawn of the eye, the history of television news. This speech came during the 1952 presidential election campaign.
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