"Checkers"

Sources

Nixon, R. M. (2008). American Rhetoric: Richard M. Nixon - "Checkers" Speech. Retrieved January 19, 2017, from https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/richardnixoncheckers.html

Soniak, M. (2008, September 23). What was the "Checkers Speech" and why is it so important? Retrieved January 19, 2017, from http://mentalfloss.com/article/19676/what-was-checkers-speech-and-why-it-so-important

"Checkers"

Richard Nixon

Audience and Context

Speech Objectives cont...

Nixon is delivering this speech because he was accused of having a secret fund for his personal expenses and taking bribes. Richard Nixon is the right person because he needs to clear any accusations and misunderstandings made against him in order to stay on the Republican ticket.

The objective was achieved as Americans believed Nixon after hearing his speech and reviewing his audit. Americans viewed Nixon as one with the common people because he was an honest man who did not accept bribes, only the donation of a dog for his family.

Speech Opening: The speech opening includes Nixon addressing the crowd and why he is making the speech. He is making the speech because he is running for vice president and he wants to address the scandal that he was previously involved in.

Speech Body: In the body of the speech Nixon gets into specifics about the Watergate scandal. He admits to taking $18,000 from a group of supporters and he admits that it was wrong. Nixon agrees that taking the money was wrong, incidentally but not legally. He explains what he used the money for bettering California. He explains that he had plans that the normal allowance of a Senator would not allow. He later spoke of an experience in which a supporter gives Nixon and his family a dog for his daughter. Near the conclusion he also discusses incidents where american has already lost enough and shouldn't lose anymore.

Speech Objectives

Nixon’s goal was to persuade the public that his political decisions were not being influenced by campaign donations (no bribery).

The primary message is that Nixon did accept donations but only for the purpose of covering campaign expenses.

Background

Audience and Context cont...

In 1952, the New York Post ran the headline "Secret Rich Men's Trust Fund Keeps Nixon in Style Far Beyond His Salary" above an article claiming that campaign donors were buying influence with Nixon by keeping a secret fund stocked with cash for his personal expenses (some $140,000 in today's dollars). Outrage followed, and many Republicans urged Eisenhower to take Nixon off the ticket. Nixon took to action and used the media (television) to express his thoughts on the accusations.

Speech Conclusion: The conclusion was a political attack. Nixon made accusations about the finances of his opponents and challenged them to own up to their private scandals like he did.  He says that despite his explanation of his “smear” other smears will be made. Nixon believed that these “smears” would be made to try and weaken him and his platform. His final statement of his speech was that no matter what happens in the election he was going to fight to drive out the “crooks and communists”.

Delivery Skills and Technique cont...

Delivery Skills and Technique

Enthusiasm and Connection: Nixon tried to relate to the audience by explaining how he was not rich and had to struggle with expenses. He also referred to other newly wed couples who were listening to the speech.

Humor: Nixon says that there are legal ways to pay for expenses and one such way is to be rich. He goes on by saying, "I don't happen to be a rich man, so I couldn't use that one".

Ethos: "I say that it was morally wrong if it was secretly given and secretly handled. And I say that it was morally wrong if any of the contributors got special favors for the contributions that they made."

"I believe that it's fine that a man like Governor Stevenson, who inherited a fortune from his father, can run for President. But I also feel that it's essential in this country of ours that a man of modest means can also run for President..."

Delivery Skills and Technique cont...

Use of Stage Area and Gestures and Eye Contact:

Pathos: “It was a little cocker spaniel dog in a crate that he'd sent all the way from Texas, black and white, spotted. And our little girl Tricia, the six year old, named it "Checkers.”

Language: Nixon uses terms that have to deal with the government such as a GI policy and some information on finances. He was overall easy to understand.

Intangibles: GI policy and stenographer

Logos: "First of all, a Senator gets 15,000 dollars a year in salary." Nixon discusses the salary of a senator and how little of that amount goes to himself for his personal expenses.