Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Rhetorical Contributions

Alexis Ginsberg

Background Information• DOB: January 30, 1882• Place of Birth: Hyde Park, NY• Education:-Groton School (NY)-Harvard University-Columbia Law School• Family: Married Eleanor Roosevelt and had 5

children.• Political Affiliation: Democrat• U.S President (1933-1945)

FDR’S Rhetorical Techniques

• Persuasive Delivery• Connected directly with his audiences • Conveyed sincerity & goodwill to his audiences• Gestures• Spoke over the Congress to the people

FDR’S Rhetorical Innovations

• Frequent use of radio• Motion Picture

Newsreels• White House Press

Conferences LIVE

• Fireside Chats• “Annual Messages” to

Congress• LIVE Convention

Acceptance Speech

1932 Convention Acceptance Speech

“Let it be from now on the task of our party

to break foolish traditions. We will break foolish traditions and leave it to the Republican leadership, far more skilled in that art, to break promises.” -FDR

Rhetorical Importance of Speech

• Presence at the convention was symbolic• Broke with party tradition• Foreshadowed his future rhetorical

innovations• Focused on his opponent’s unpopular

policies• Emphasized partisan differences between

the two parties• Identified himself with past presidents

1933 Inaugural Speech

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

Rhetorical Significance• Persuasiveness• Emphasis on personal leadership -”They have made me the present instrument of their wishes. In the

spirit of the gift I take it.”

• Acknowledgment of dire problems -”Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.”

• Promise for government action• Ubiquitous references to Congress -”I shall presently urge upon a new Congress, detailed

measures for their fulfillment…”

FDR’S FIRESIDE CHATS

Reasons for Success

• LIVE• Announced prior

broadcast• Interrupted daily

programming

• Absence of media & congressional censorship.

• “Going public.”• Reach out to new

constituencies

Rhetorical Techniques• “Friend-next door”• Psychological focus• Public Opinion Surveys• “Catching Up” time• Personal Pronoun Use -“I” -“You” -“We”• Slow speaker

The War Years

• 1936: Isolationist Rhetoric

• 1937: Recognizes prospect of war and calls for “quarantine” of aggressors.

• 1940-1941: Salesman-in-Chief of War Rhetoric

War Message: Rhetorical Significance

“A day which will live in infamy.”

• FDR's response galvanized the American people.

• Direct with declarative phrases.• Uncluttered by convoluted language. • United the nation in the pursuit of

unconditional victory against the Japanese.