FDR Inauguration Speech SPES

Quote:”...the only thing we need to fear is fear itself…”

Question: How does the quote mentioned support the overall rhetoric of the speech? in other
words explain the quotes purpose and what it adds to the speech’s tone, persuasiveness, etc.

Answer: The purpose of the quote is to give the people courage. By doing so it makes the
speeches tone more optimistic to persuade people that American can prosper in the face of
decline. For example in paragraph 1, FDR says,“This great Nation will endure as it has endured,
will receive and will prosper”. That sentence shows how FDR is optimistic and saying that we
the people of America can get through this. He also says how “the Nation will endure as it has
endured”. It's basically saying how America has gone through stuff as it has before. By
Roosevelt being optimistic about the future of America, it has given the people courage to do so.