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Katherine Dillard

Professor Keith Vyvial

English 1302- Internet

7 April 2017

President Kennedy and a Peaceful Call to Action

The 1960s found America in a tumultuous whirlwind of political disillusionment,

controversy, and protest. Underlying the chaos of the 1960s was the political struggle, otherwise

known as the Cold War, a time when the country stood on the brink of nuclear war with the

Soviet Union. Across the nation, Americans held their breath fearing the threats of nuclear

warfare. 35th President of the United States John F.Kennedy inherited this chess-match and

undoubtedly felt the pressure of budding war and its resulting propaganda. Kennedy, a man of

deep conviction, opposed the Cold War and called upon the people to reevaluate their thoughts

towards the Soviet Union and its citizens. Several months before his assassination, Kennedy

addressed the students at American University declaring his hopes and plans for withdrawal from

the Cold War. On June 10, 1963, President John F. Kennedy outlined key reasons to exit the Cold

War through skillful usage of rhetorical devices.

President Kennedy persuaded the audience to see the Cold War in a different light by

emotionally connecting Americans to the Russian people. Often times, political sensationalism

commingled Americans hatred of communism with a dislike and disregard for the citizens of

Soviet Russia. Through usage of pathos, Kennedy illustrated shared commonalities in all cultures

and civilizations, Our most basic common link, is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all

breathe the same air, we all cherish our children's futures, and we are all mortal, (Kennedy).
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These words immediately resonated with the audience because they called out deep seated

emotions and convictions. This statement, even more, wrestled with the moral consciousness of

people at the time. It defined something Americans had greatly lacked during the Cold War:

common ground with the Soviet Union.