On April 10, 1962, the United States was emerging from a recession in which the

nation’s largest steel companies raised their prices by 3.5%. John F. Kennedy, president at the

time, called for stable prices and wages as part of a programs of national sacrifice and held a

news conference in which he spoke of the issues regarding the hike in steel prices. In this

informative and powerful speech, John f. Kennedy employs parallel structure, cause and effect,

and statistics from his cabinet of advisors to demonstrate the severity of the rise in prices and the

effect it had on businesses and citizens of America in order to convey his message clearly Commented [1]: strong evidence. now explain effect
Commented [2]: of? be specific about his purpose
throughout the speech.

JFK begins his speech by introducing the problem at hand and speaks of the situation in

which steel executives, whose main priorities are money and power, “exceeds their sense of Commented [3]: vague

public responsibility” and the feelings evoked from the American citizens are shown. JFK

depicts the hardships America has endured in years past and employs parallel structure when

attempting to speak of the American society as unified and whole. His statements of “when we Commented [4]: why?

are” evokes pride in the group sitting and when he continues this parallel structure when Commented [5]: how?
Commented [6]: ?
introducing the effects this rise in prices would do to the economic aspect of daily American

lives, he provides a sense of understanding in respect to the live altered by this change. Commented [7]: awkward/vague

JFK continues to address the hardships in the economy by employing cause and effect Commented [8]: through

when stating that the rise in steel prices would not only increase costs to machinery and daily Commented [9]: organization that reveals the severe
impact
American goods, but it would handicap America’s “efforts to induce other industries and unions Commented [10]: have on

to adopt the responsible” costs and wage rules. This strategy gives way to JFK’s resentment in Commented [11]: clear result

the justification for increasing the steel prices. This cause and effect strategy also enlightened the

American mood as it places blame on the greedy steel executives in the business. His statements Commented [12]: yes + so what? discuss impact on
steel company
allow the American citizens to acknowledge the fact that this increase was to be non-inflationary
and the relationship among the industry and the union was the strengthen as they were to reach

an agreement that would make the increase of prices unnecessary.

Kennedy finally employs statistics throughout his confrontation in order to expand the Commented [13]: :)

severity of the issue at hand. The way in which JFK states the future decline in cost per ton of Commented [14]: vague

steel and costs for raw materials emphasizes to the audience his want for change and the actions

he plans to take in order to change this problem. He also chooses to include different groups

from both sides of the controversy. This inclusion provides perspectives from his cabinet in the Commented [15]: same side as president

administration and a steel union to highlight the way the issue is being handled and examined.

His statistics provide JFK’s view on the fairness of the rise and he determined that price and

wage decisions should be made privately, but the American people, as it is their lives being

affected, should be included in the decision and have a right to expect higher business

responsibility. Commented [16]: partially but he mostly condemned

the steel corp
Kennedy, in his early term, asked citizens and steel companies what they would do for

their country, and standing there taking in the events of the last 24 hours, he know their answer. Commented [17]: state it