A Just Inquisitor

Estephanie Oblad
ELANG 150
Rhetorical Analysis A Just Inquisitor

A Just Inquisitor

Barbara Jordan was a pioneer in American politics. Despite having grown up in a poor

black neighborhood in Houston, Texas, she graduated from Boston University Law School in

1959. Seven years later, Jordan was elected to the Texas State Senate and became the first

African American woman in that position. Other instances where Jordan broke new ground were

when she became the first black woman to deliver a keynote address at a Democratic National

Convention and she became a member of the United States House of Representatives. One of the

highlights of Jordans career that exposed her brilliant rhetorical skills was in 1974, when she

delivered a speech known as, Statement on the Articles of Impeachment. In her speech, Jordan

called for the presidents impeachment for his illegal involvement in the Watergate Scandal. This

scandal began in June 17, 1972 when a break-in occurred at the Democratic National Committee

headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C. Five burglars were arrested

and further investigation revealed that the burglars were employed by the Committee to Re-elect

President Nixon. Later, several events unfolded where Nixon and his top aides were accused of

conspiracy and involvement in various illegal activities. Barbara Jordans intention was to prove

that Nixon had violated the Constitution and betrayed the American people with his participation

and later cover-up of illegal espionage.

Jordans exceptional rhetorical approach has given Statement on the Articles of

Impeachment a spot among the best speeches of the 20th century. She uses hyperbole to inspire

patriotism, establishes her credibility as a concerned citizen using anamnesis and supports her

reasoning with undeniable evidence.

Rhetorical Analysis A Just Inquisitor
Firstly, Jordan makes an effective use of hyperbole to influence the audience's feelings of

patriotism for the Constitution. In her speech she shows her strong conviction in the statements

in the Constitution to emphasize the offenses perpetrated by President Richard Nixon. Jordan

begins her speech by demonstrating that despite the fact that she does not feel like African

Americans were included in the Constitution when it was originally declared, she still believes

and trusts in the Constitution with total certainty. Jordan emphasizes the idea by using the

following words, My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total. And I am not

going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the

Constitution. Using the words whole, complete, and total help to convey a sense of

absoluteness. The Constitution and the declarations of the Founding Fathers define the national

structure of government and Americans consider them a part of their national identity. The

audience has confidence that Jordan will address them with the same principles found in the

Constitution because of her absolute reliance on American foundations. In the same manner,

diminution, subversion, and destruction convey a sense of damage. Even though the

Constitution wasnt literally being destroyed, she is using hyperbole to show that these are not

petty issues. She implies that Nixons wrongdoings represent an obliteration to the Constitution

and peoples trust. He was breaking something that Americans esteem highly.

Another example of hyperbole to emphasize the significance of Nixons encroachments

upon Constitutional Laws is presented when Jordan is about to conclude her speech and she says,

If the impeachment provision in the Constitution of the United States will not reach the offenses

charged here, then perhaps that 18th-century Constitution should be abandoned to a 20th-century

paper shredder! Jordan alludes to a paper shredder with the intention of creating a mental image

of the destruction of an invaluable document like the Constitution. Such dramatic representation
Rhetorical Analysis A Just Inquisitor
of the situation is the perfect culmination for a long list of cause and effect statements. She wants

her audience to feel gravely offended. Thus, the hyperbole in this instance is connecting the

audiences feelings of Patriotism with the Constitution being threatened by Nixons

misdemeanors.

Secondly, Jordan uses anamnesis to establish her knowledge not only of the Constitution

but also of the power of the government branches. Jordan had to establish herself as an unbiased

and law-abiding representative given that the U.S. House Judiciary Committee was mostly

Democratic and Nixon was a Republican President. The use of anamnesis helps Jordan to evoke

authority from the past by using excerpts from the Federal Constitution Conventions and quotes

from known political figures. Her impartial reasoning is reflected when she quotes Woodrow

Wilson in the following statement, Nothing short of the grossest offenses against the plain law

of the land will suffice to give them speed and effectiveness. Indignation so great as to overgrow

party interest may secure a conviction; but nothing else can. Jordan is eager to show that her

interest goes beyond political parties and she uses anamnesis to show her reasoning is strictly

based in the law and its procedures. The audience sees her as an objective inquisitor because she

is disregarding her role as a democrat.

Jordan also uses anamnesis to demonstrate her knowledge of the law. She uses founding

principles as an indication of her perception of the power of the government branches. Jordan

states:

The powers relating to impeachment are an essential check in the hands

of the body of the Legislature against and upon the encroachments of the

Executive. The division between the two branches of the Legislature, the

House and the Senate, assigning to the one the right to accuse and to the
Rhetorical Analysis A Just Inquisitor
other the right to judge, the framers of this Constitution were very

astute.

This statement uses familiar terms to set a foundation. Checks and balances is a well-

known term used in regards of the division of power among the branches of government. Jordan

knows how the system works and that in order for it to work properly it is necessary that one

branch assess the other so that no branch can use their power arbitrarily. She discusses the power

of the Senate and branches of government and how their role is to rectify and monitor the other

branches decisions and activities. Jordan makes use of these statements knowing that her

audienceboth the committee as well as the people who would televise the event has to make

a decision themselves. She appeals the audience to believe impeachment is necessary not only

because of her role as a congresswoman, but more importantly because she has proven herself as

a trustworthy citizen that loves the Constitution. By this point in her speech, the audience is

convinced that Jordan is knowledgeable and that her claim is appropriate for the situation.

Finally, Jordan uses evidence to support her statements for impeachment. It is remarkable

that she never directly requests for Nixons impeachment. Instead of being blunt, she makes

connections between circumstances that call for impeachment and the facts that prove that Nixon

has violated those precepts. She implements evidence by using quotes. This is where anamnesis

and evidence intersect providing a reliable argument. Jordan uses quotes from the Founding

Fathers and from Constitutional Conventions to define the situations that lead to impeachment

adding credibility to her logical argument.

Jordan builds her argument by presenting specific evidence. After indicating that they

might not receive any more cooperation from Nixon and due to the fact that the Judiciary

Committee had formerly refused to start a formal investigation on the case. Jordan proceeds to
Rhetorical Analysis A Just Inquisitor
quote James Madison, "If the President be connected in any suspicious manner with any person

and there be grounds to believe that he will shelter him, he may be impeached, then she

reinforces the definition with a piece of evidence, We know that the President met with Mr.

Henry Petersen 27 times to discuss matters related to Watergate, and immediately thereafter met

with the very persons who were implicated in the information Mr. Petersen was receiving.

Jordan is evidently using a pattern of definition followed by an incident that illustrates it.

Another example of the pattern is: The Carolina ratification convention impeachment criteria:

those are impeachable who behave amiss or betray their public trust, and she follows it with:

Beginning shortly after the Watergate break-in and continuing to the present time, the President

has engaged in a series of public statements and actions designed to thwart the lawful

investigation by government prosecutors. These statements begin to create a case in the

audiences minds. Jordan allows the audience to judge for themselves if impeachment is

necessary according to the information they already have. It shows a very basic but effective

approach by inviting the audience to connect the dots. The audience has a memorable image of

Nixon and his offenses, and consequently they are instigated to a course of action.

Barbara Jordan was indeed a woman committed to the Constitution. She used her passion

for it, her knowledge of the law along with consistent reasoning to move people in favor of truth

and ethics. Her conviction in what she knew to be just and her outstanding rhetorical skills, stir

her audiences own values and call for decision making against the threat of constitutional

damage. Despite the fact that her speech was given a little over forty years ago, she still sets the

example for us to be outspoken and defend the everlasting values and principles that give

structure to this society and this grand nation.

Rhetorical Analysis A Just Inquisitor

Works Cited

Jordan, Barbara. "Statement on the Articles of Impeachment." 25 July 1974.

<http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barbarajordanjudiciarystatement.htm>.