Kelly Rouse

UNITY: together, as one nation, and one

people
Kelly Rouse
HU3130
Obama Analysis
02/12/2013

Kelly Rouse

Introduction
Obama has a lot of key points in his second Presidential
Inauguration, however I will focus on three in particular: equality, the
pursuit of happiness, and unity. His purpose of talking about equality is
to focus on gay rights, womens rights, and the rights of immigrants.
The pursuit of happiness was brought up because equality is an
important factor that contributes for everyone to have his or her
pursuit of happiness. Unity is the biggest theme that the speech holds.
Obama says a lot of words and phrases that were planned, so that the
American people would feel more united. I will explore how President
Obama used persuasion to evoke the American people that they voted
for the right candidate to lead the United States for yet another fouryear term.

Description of the Artifact

Barrack H. Obama was elected the 44th President of the United
States in 2008, but was sworn in in January of 2009. The artifact that is
being used in this essay is President Obamas second Inaugural
Address. Taken place at the U.S Capital Building on Monday January 21,
2013. He made some big arguments about gay rights, and renewable
energy sources. He mentioned how he will reduce the cost of health
care and the size of our deficit. The delivery of the speech was
powerful and memorized. At certain points during the speech, the

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American people would cheer and applaud him. At no time did they
boo or poor their negativity on him. There was a time that they even
chanted his name. An inauguration speech is a good artifact to analyze
because it tells us the Presidents goals and aspirations for the Nation,
and can be compared to many other Presidents inaugural speeches in
History. This speech could make or break a Presidents career. If it
doesnt inspire the American people, or comfort them and give them
hope, then there might not be a future for this individual as President
of the United States.

Description of the Method

The method I will be using to analyze President Obama
Inaugural Address is Neo-Aristotelian Criticism. It was the first formal
method of rhetorical criticism developed. Herbert A. Wichelns detailed
the method in 1925. He stated what should be included and covered in
the study of a speech. A critic, he suggested, should deal with these
elements: The speakers personality, the public character of the
speaker or the publics perception of the speaker, the audience, the
major ideas presented in the speech, the motives to which the speaker
appealed, the nature in the audience, the arrangement of the speech,
the speakers mode of expression, the speakers method of speech
preparation, the manner of the delivery, and the effect of the discourse
on the immediate audience and its long-term effects.

Kelly Rouse
The procedures of Neo-Aristotelian criticism type are: 1.
Selecting an Artifact, 2. Analyzing the Artifact, 3. Formulating a
Research Question, and 5. Writing the Essay. The most in depth part of
this process is Analyzing the Artifact. When analyzing the artifact with
Neo-Aristotelian criticism, is applying the five cannons of classical
rhetoric. They are: 1.Invention, 2.Organization, 3.Style, 4.Memory, and
5.Delivery (1).

Applying the Canons

Obamas major ideas were to bring the country together by using
certain words and phrases such as we, you and I, us, together, our,
citizens, and Americans. He uses these words to try and reach the
American people, in a way so we all feel united together, as one
nation, and one people. President Obama did this to make us feel
together, and that together, through logical decisions, we can do
anything.
Invention: Logos
Obama uses logos and develops a logical argument on how we
can make this country better and stronger through new ideas.
We must harness new ideas and technology to remake our
government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and
empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder,
learn more, and reach higher. But while the means will change,
our purpose endures: a nation that rewards the effort and
determination of every single American. That is what this
requires. That is what will give real meaning to our creed.

Kelly Rouse
He uses logical ideas to try and help our country grow to and be filled
with a better and stronger people, so that we can reconstruct our
country to be smarter and stronger. When he says, a nation that
rewards the effort and determination of every single American, he is
sending a couple different messages. What that phrase says is that if
the American people work hard, then their efforts will be rewarded in
the end. They need jobs so that they can support their families, and
create a comfortable and stable environment. The problem that some
Americans have is that they surrender after one try and expect OUR
government to take care of them. The thing is, that right now in our
time, the government will take care of them and give them a welfare
check each month. If OUR country keeps doing that, then we will
continue to slowly sink to our demise and add to our deficit. Another
thing that could be said about that phrase is that people that work
hard will not be looked over and this country will reward hard work and
determination. We must harness new ideas and technology to remake
our government, revamp our tax code, reform our schools, and
empower our citizens with the skills they need to work harder, learn
more, and reach higher. This will make a better name for Americans in
this world. It will UNITE us together, as Americans to make our schools
smarter, our people motivated to give everything theyve got, and to
make the American dream possible for all citizens. Therefor, our
citizens and the generations to follow will be well educated, have

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sustainable jobs and income, and live comfortably without worry. This
will change the way the world perceives us, hopefully in a brighter
light, and unite us as a human race here on earth.
Invention: Ethos
Obama wants something better for us as Americans, and it
shows through his character, intelligence, and goodwill towards men.
His character shined when he said, We recall that what binds us
together is not the colors of our skin, or the tenets of our faith or the
origins of our names. What makes us exceptional what makes us
American is our allegiance to an idea, articulated in a declaration
made more than two centuries ago. Black, white, brown, red, or blue,
OUR allegiance is still the same. Christian, Catholic, or Mormon, OUR
allegiance is still to the U.S.A. Whether our ancestors are from Europe,
China, Mexico, or Africa, we are all still Americans, all the same. Under
the Declaration of Independence we are all created equal, and have
the right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
For now decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay. We
cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle
for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate. We must
act, knowing that our work will be imperfect. We must act,
knowing that todays victories will be only partial, and that it will
be up to those who stand here in four years, forty years, and four
hundred years hence to advance the timeless spirit once
conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall.
No matter if we live four years, forty years, or four hundred years in
the future, we are all united in the fact that we are all Americans and
we can do anything we put our minds to if we work hard enough. He
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uses repetition with the three fours to put time in perspective and to
give the American people perception on how time does not change the
American spirit. President Obama is also trying to put into perspective
that we are all alike, and no matter what connects us together we are
all in harmony on this earth serving a purpose, regardless of
prejudices. Obama really exerts his intelligence on the American
people to try and get them to wake up and make a difference, because
one man cannot do it all alone.
No single person can train all the math and science teachers
well need to equip our children for the future, or build the roads
and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and
businesses to our shores. Now, more than ever, we must do
these things together, as one nation, and one people.
Here he is clearly stating that we need to work together in order to
be successful. No single person, puts into perspective that he; the
President of the United States of America, cannot accomplish these
things without US; the American people. Obama is shining with
intelligence with these words because; no one can build a strong
country and economy all by their selves. It takes a team of people, the
American people. No single person can train all the math and science
teacher well need to equip our children for the future, looks out for
our future generations to come. He also brings to light that it is
impossible for all of our teachers and students to learn from the same
person. This would cause all kinds of other problems because then we
would all be the same, and not be evolving by learning from multiple
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different teachers and seeing how differently other people think. We
progress as a society from learning from a variety of different
individuals.
Invention: Pathos
Obama uses a lot of emotional appeal on the American people.
Even by the way the camera switches frames to catch shots of a
certain group of people at a specific moment in the speech.
Our brave men and women in uniform, tempered by the flames
of battle, are unmatched in skill and courage. Our citizens,
seared by the memory of those who we have lost, know too well
the price that is paid for liberty. The knowledge of their sacrifice
will keep us forever vigilant against those who would do us
harm.
When he said this quote, the camera shots were showing men and
women in uniform, and the citizens in the crowed. The emotional
appeal here wasnt just verbal, but visual as well for the people
watching at home on the television. He tries to reach out to the
majority of the citizens, because we can be united when we are all
having the same feeling. When we hear those words, most of the
people feel sadness and remember all the loved ones we lost on 9/11,
and in the war with Iraq and Afghanistan. He states these points to
reach out and sympathize and show empathy for our countrys losses.
The price we paid for liberty, was the lives of those men and women,
and he says this to put in perspective that the lives of those young
people were lost for OUR freedom. The knowledge of their sacrifice
will keep us forever vigilant against those who would do us harm, is
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another way of him saying that because we paid this ultimate price, we
will be watchful our enemies always.

Delivery
There are a lot of things that contribute to the delivery of
President Obamas second inauguration. The manner of his
presentation of the speech, the cloths he was wearing, the articulation,
pronunciation, pitch, and rate of the speech. Another thing that comes
into play with delivery is bodily actions. Bodily actions include the
speakers posture, presence, movement, hand gestures, and eye
contact.
President Obama delivered his speech from pure memory. Not
once did he look down at a manuscript. This could symbolize the
importance of the speech. By memorizing it he could be sending a
message that he was prepared, confident, and knows what he wants
for the American people. Whether he wrote this speech himself or not
is questionable, but either way he knew what he wanted to say and he
said it with no hesitation.
He was wearing a black suit coat, a white collared shirt, a blue
tie, and an American flag pin on his left collar. The blue tie is the color
that symbolizes the Democratic Party and that could be why he is
wearing it. Blue is also a color of purity, showing that this is a new term
and a new time and we are going to do it right.

Kelly Rouse
Obamas bodily actions show a lot about his personality and the
way he wants to present himself. When he first walk up to the podium
he is smiling because he just took the oath, and I think that started
with a happy atmosphere with the audience. His posture is the same
throughout most of the speech; he stands up straight and carries
himself in a confident manner. He leans his torso forward every once
and awhile to be more dramatic, almost as if he is saying something
really important and to project his voice farther. Throughout most of
the speech he has a monotone, but powerful and serious pitch in his
voice. His eye contact moves around from left to right evenly engaging
and including everyone in the audience. Most of his hand gestures
were fists, which show strength, power, and sternness. The way he
acts and the way we perceive Obama is really important through the
delivery of his speech.

Contribution to Rhetorical Theory

Did Obama use the available means of persuasion to evoke the
intended response from the audience? Obama used logos, ethos, and
pathos in a way that made the audience cheer and applaud him. He
made logical points, showed character by using common sense,
intelligence, and goodwill, and used an emotional appeal to reach the
audience on a personal level. All of those parts put together, and done
well, can persuade any audience. Obama used these proofs to get the

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response that he wanted out of the American people. His delivery also
had a part in his persuasion. He looked, spoke, and gestured with
confidence. Overall Obama got the response that he wanted from his
audience because he had very strong points in his speech.

Works Cited

1. Foss, Sonja K.. Rhetorical criticism: exploration & practice.

Prospect Heights, Ill.: Waveland Press, 1989. Print.

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