FIRST RHETORICALANALYSIS:

Period 8

10-12-22

AP ECE 11

Clare Heinze

1st Rhetorical Analysis Essay

On April 9, 1964, the first anniversary luncheon of the Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Foundation was held. This foundation is a nonprofit division of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library dedicated to the works of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Claudia

“Lady Bird '' Johnson; the First Lady of the United States at the time, was called for the anniversary occasion to deliver her speech in dedication of Eleanor Roosevelt to the foundation. Claudia Johnson was able to pay tribute to Eleanor Roosevelt by applying repetition of Roosevelt’s natural ability to involve herself in beneficial situations for others, incorporating specific historic imagery to highlight her great qualities, and embracing a laudatory and uplifting tone to inspire the members of the foundation.

Johnson begins her tribute to Roosevelt by introducing her through memories she has of Roosevelt; specifically as an individual who does not require praise for her great qualities and achievements. She was one who sought to do good for others without a moment of hesitation. Johnson incorporates repetition in the stories she tells regarding Roosevelt’s natural ability to find advantageous results for others; demonstrating “the spirit of Eleanor Roosevelt.” Johnson is able to do so by repeatedly using the saying “and so” in the descriptions that she provides of Roosevelt giving aid to others. This is because Roosevelt

“thought of the suffering individual;” for example, “she saw an unemployed father and so she helped him.” She “saw dictators hurling the world into war, and so she worked unflinchingly for peace.” Or she “saw a neglected Negro child, and so she educated him.”

This phrase of “and so” provides a repetition factor and emphasizes how Roosevelt would see a problem, and go and solve it.

Building off of Roosevelt’s efforts to better those around her, Johnson moves to a more connotational outlook of Roosevelt. She does so by including examples of historic imagery and using them to highlight her great qualities. Johnson pulls in a quote from President Wilson who stated that “...some people in Washington grow in office, while others merely swell.” The inclusion of this quote in her speech provides the audience with an illustration of what can happen to those who gain power in Washington. Johnson demonstrates how Mrs. Roosevelt did not give in too any temptations of faculty; how she “steadily grew under the compulsions and inspirations of her great office.” Johnson also pays most tribute to the fact that Roosevelt was still reaching for greatness after her great personal loss, and how she “went bravely forward in a new career as a spokesman for America and a servant of world peace.” By inserting a particular example of imagery, those listening can create a picture for themselves of how just and exceptional Eleanor Roosevelt truly was.

To close the speech, Johnson lays a final outline of Roosevelt’s contributions to their foundation and ties her ideas together with a call to action. Behind this call to action is a very laudatory and uplifting tone applied to motivate all of the foundation’s members. Johnson purposely begins the summary of her speech by directly calling individuals out She wants Roosevelt’s accomplishments and achievements to not only be recognized, but to be repeated in the following years to come. Johnson restates how Roosevelt has “already made her own splendid and incomparable contribution to that foundation.” She then pulls audience members in by addressing them personally, “Let us go and do likewise, within the measure of our faith and the limits of our ability.” Johnson hopes that this tone combined with Roosevelt’s values will encourage members to “...pluck out prejudice from our lives, to remove fear and hate from where it exists, and to create a world unafraid to work out its destiny in peace.”

Claudia “Lady Bird'' Johnson successfully celebrated Eleanor Roosevelt in her speech given at the first anniversary luncheon of the Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Foundation through her application of repetition concerning Roosevelt’s instinctiveness to help others, the inclusion of historic imagery to shine light on Roosevelt’s best attributes, and her enthusiastic and laudatory tone to inspire the members of the foundation. Her overarching message is to communicate how the people of our world should be more like Eleanor Roosevelt herself. Johnson’s hope is that those who got the opportunity to listen can take examples from Roosevelt’s principles and actions, and use them to better themselves, and more importantly, those around them.