Kennedy’s Love Affair

            In addition, Kennedy uses both hostile audience techniques. The hostile audience techniques are creating a common bond with the audience, and denying the true persuasive purpose. A common bond between the audience and Kennedy is made when he says “ You and I share many memories some of them have been glorious, some have been very sad. The opportunity to work with you and serve Massachusetts has made my life worth while,” (320). He strengthens the bond between him and the people by asking the people to face this decision with him and  to give him advice. In addition, he denies his true persuasive purpose when he says “I do not seek to escape responsibility for my actions by placing the blame either on the physical, emotional trauma brought on by the accident, or anyone else,” ( 319). Denying the true persuasive purpose allows the speaker to grab the attention of the people who wish not to listen. It makes the people believe they are not being ticked or persuaded to like him, when that is exactly what is being done. Thus, the hostile audience techniques used was very convincing and might have saved him his political career.

            Conclusively, Kennedy designs a very successful speech using persuasive strategies such as logical proof, emotional proof, and Kennedy’s use of hostile audience techniques.  Kennedy in the forms of facts, expert testimony, and quotations uses logical proof. In addition, emotional proof is evident when he creates a sense of pity in the audience, and his drive for self-preservation, and shows his love and loss towards Mary Jo. The Times magazine says “It was a slick, carefully written statement that was well-delivered, with uncanny echoes of the haunting of John Kennedy’s voice,” ( Times 14).