RFK's speech on MLK Assassination

Robert F. Kennedy's speech on Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Presented for Rhetoric of the 60's class. Speech analyzed using Neo-Aristotelian Theory and Situational Theory.

1. Brittany Archer Megan Getter RFK on MLK Assassination

2. Neo-Aristotelian Theory

3. Bobby Running for president Brother of JFK Served as attorney general under JFK

4. Major Events April 4, 1968 – MLK assassination Ghetto in Indianapolis Crowd of more than 1000

5. Audience Kennedy’s campaign rally All citizens of America People “who love peace all over the world”

6. Credibility Asks crowd to lower signs Pauses respectfully/waits for reactions Gives sad news

7. Situation Dr. King was assassinated Confrontations began to break out Segments of audience had heard

8. Main Purpose   Relates to pain, grief, and anger Asks to be compassionate and loving Urges to push beyond current circumstances

9. Evidence Compassionate and loving Vast majority want to be in harmony Racial injustice is a difficult obstacle T ime and cooperation to overcome

10. Main Points Sympathies with grief and anger Urges them to pull together Consequences V iolence S egregation P olarization

11. Language Short sentences Conversational tone - “yeah, it’s true” Building trust

12. Figures of Speech Anaphora Epistrophe Symploce Scesis Onomaton

13. Situational theory

14. Audience Kennedy’s campaign rally All citizens of America People “who love peace all over the world”

15. Situation Short amount of time Inability to compose a refined speech Disagreement over whether to speak

16. Limitations Supposed to be a campaign rally Changed mood immediately Paid respect to King Addressed them best way he could

17. Closing Remarks “ to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world”