Analysis of the Evil Empire Speech Term Paper

Total Length: 660 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 0

Page 1 of 2

Neo-Aristotelian Analysis of Reagan's Evil Empire Speech

The speech that later on came to be widely referred to as the Evil Empire Speech was delivered to and before Annual Convention of the National Association of Evangelicals in March 8, 1983. It has been considered to be one of the most effective speeches that President Reagan delivered within a few minutes.

The speech was informed by the prevailing political situation, the moral discussions and even the religious discourse at the moment. At the moment, there was the contentious issue of nuclear arms race and the need to make the world a safe place for the present and future generations, the issue of the morality behind abortion was at all time high and the previous year there was the highest rate of infanticide than ever seen before. These were the three issues that informed the speech that President Reagan delivered before the church congregation.

Since he was addressing a Christian congregation, Reagan strived, and successfully so, to appeal to the pathos or emotions of the listeners by constantly making Biblical references. On the issue of abortion, Reagan indicates that all unborn babies should have their right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness respected. He also picks out the proposition by the opposition to have daughters give their parents the notice before abortion as a contravention of the traditional values and abrogation of the original terms of American democracy.

Reagan also successfully explored the appeal to the logos of the audience when he was addressing the issue of infanticide.

Stuck Writing Your "Analysis of the Evil Empire Speech" Term Paper?

He endeared himself to the audience when he gave a clear outline of the legal and structural approach that he had lined up to handle the issue of infanticide, which included the restructuring of the way the recipients of the Federal funds who provide health care services will operate and treat the handicapped infants. On tis, he declares that there is a great spiritual awakening in America hence the congregation and nation at large should not lose hope.

Regarding the nuclear weapons, Reagan points out that it is the moral obligation of each citizen to stand up against the intention of the Soviet Union to make America military and morally inferior. Here he contrasted the evil and the moral, with the Soviet Union being the evil empire that had to be stopped at all costs. He pointed out the need to have a reduction agreement of both the U.S. and the Soviet Union weapons knowing that since the U.S. had more military might, in such an arrangement, the U.S. still remained to win and be superior.

The speech, as discussed above met the tenets of a Neo-Aristotelian perspective of the discourse which mainly looks into the antecedent of the speech, purpose of the speech that the speaker hoes to achieve, the success of the intended purpose on the audience. Reagan crafted his speech based on the proposal by the opposition on abortion, the high rates of infanticide and….....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Analysis Of The Evil Empire Speech" (2016, March 09) Retrieved April 29, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/analysis-evil-empire-speech-2160194

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Analysis Of The Evil Empire Speech" 09 March 2016. Web.29 April. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/analysis-evil-empire-speech-2160194>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Analysis Of The Evil Empire Speech", 09 March 2016, Accessed.29 April. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/analysis-evil-empire-speech-2160194