Berlin Wall Speech - Ronald Reagan

Opening:

This speech starts with a reference to leaders in Berlin, then talks about John F. Kennedy's visit to Berlin 24 years ago and now how Reagan will make his 2nd visit. This opening provides background info about visits to Berlin made by him and others.

Focus:

This speech focuses on the history of the city, starting before World War I and continuing through, promoting freedom over communism, asking for the tearing down of the wall and reduction of arms, and lastly near the end predictions and hopes for the future.

Closing:

This speech ends with a reference to God, "... God bless you all." and a thanks, "Thank you..."

Overall this was a very good speech. It had strong Pathos, Logos, and Ethos along with sufficient rhetorical devices and a powerful message that later ended a war and brought a wall down.

What was this speech?

This speech was a persuasive speech, promoting the loosening of tensions between the USSR and USA and calling upon Gorbachev, the leader of the USSR to tear down the Berlin Wall.

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Background info

Bibliography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall

http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-tear-down.htm

This speech was made near the end of the Cold War. The Cold War was a global tension between the USA and USSR. The Border, The Iron Curtain, between these countries ran through the middle of Germany separating it into East and West Germany. The capital, Berlin, was in the middle of Soviet controlled East Germany but still half owned by the West, which split the city in two down the middle. One night a wall was built along the border of West Berlin, blocking West Berliners from entering back, and Easterners from getting back. This wall stood as a symbol for the Cold War for 28 years. Under Ronald Reagan the wall fell in 1989; this speech was made two years before the fall.

Berlin Wall Speech - Ronald Reagan

Pathos, Ethos, and Logos

Pathos

Ronald Reagan used pathos in his speech many times. In his hopes for the future and powerful demands he touches on pathos strongly. His strongest use of pathos is the demand, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Overall his use of pathos is exceptional.

Ethos

Being the president of the United States of America, one of only two superpowers of the world, Reagan naturally has ethos. His ethos is also strong due to the fact that he was widely loved and respected and very influential in Berin where the speech was made. Overall his ethos may be the strongest part of this speech as it deals with war demands which need to be given by a qualified leader.

Logos:

The content of this speech was very persuasive and inspiring. It talked of a better future and of a wall free world. The speech also promoted a very popular and disputed idea at the center of the Cold War. Lastly the speech used many rhetoric devices while still giving the info in a concise way making it very efficient and easy to listen to. Overall the logos of this argument was very good.

Figurative Language and Rhetoric Devices

This speech uses idioms, such as "Or are they token gestures?" referring to the Glasnost, a new idea in the USSR. This speech also uses an appeal to pride as it references the success and prevalence of freedom. This speech also uses repetition, making commands for the USSR starting with "Mr. Gorbachev" as if speaking to him directly.