Rhetorical Analysis of Ronald Reagan free essay sample

Rhetorical Analysis of Ronald Reagan’s â€Å"Tear Down this Wall† Ra’Shell Ford Due 7/24/2011 Rhetorical Analysis of Ronald Reagan’s â€Å"Tear Down this Wall† On August 15, 1961, Communists began building a wall to keep Germans from escaping Communist-controlled East Berlin to West Democratic Berlin. There were guards, electric barbed wired fences, and of course the twelve foot concrete wall that prevented Germans from escaping. After the wall was built many Germans still tried to flee the west but not all were successful. The East Berlin Germans were now under total dictatorship of the Soviets. Many United States Presidents traveled to Berlin to share their views on democracy with the Communists, but the Communist weren’t persuaded. In 1987, Ronald Reagan used emotion, logic, and intellect to persuade the Soviets that tearing down the wall would help make Berlin prosperous. June 12, 1987, Ronald Reagan gave his famous â€Å"Tear Down this Wall† speech in Berlin. Many people in Germany were ready for freedom and others wanted it as well. We will write a custom essay sample on Rhetorical Analysis of Ronald Reagan or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Many people felt there should be peace within the city. Ronald Reagan wanted to persuade the Soviets and Communists that change and openness was a great thing. Ronald Reagan’s speech was a sort of challenge to Gorbachev (who was the General Secretary of the Communist Party), to tear it down as a symbol for increasing freedom. â€Å"We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace (Reagan, 1987). Reagan went on to say, â€Å"General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! † Regan used emotion to get into the minds of the audience and the attention Gorbachev by challenging basic ideas such as peace and liberalization ideas that everyone felt strongly about. Reag an believed that tearing down the wall would be necessary for the prosperity of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. He also believed that the Eastern and Western parts should be close together, so that all the people of Berlin could enjoy the same benefits of life. Having everyone united would bring in more power to the city. Reagan stated, â€Å"Where four decades ago there was rubble, today in West Berlin there is the greatest industrial output of any city in Germanybusy office blocks, fine homes and apartments, proud avenues, and the spreading lawns of parkland (Reagan, 1987). † He went on to say â€Å"Where there was want, today theres abundancefood, clothing, automobilesthe wonderful goods of the Kudamm. From devastation, from utter ruin, you Berliners have, in freedom, rebuilt a city that once again ranks as one of the greatest on earth. † Reagan used logic to give the east views of a more prosperous future that stood on the other side of that wall. Ronald Reagan was a very smart man. He used his words and tone to grab the attention of all those who stood before him. He used his intelligence to go to Berlin and make sure that his message was received. He was determined for change and was sure that he was the man to make that possible. Although he didn’t plan on taking over and controlling West Berlin, he presented information to the people in a way that they would want the best for themselves. Ronald Reagan’s speech proved to be very successful. He went to Berlin with a purpose to persuade and used emotion, logic, and intelligence. I’m sure many people are thankful for the speech at the Brandenburg Gate because within two years the wall which separated freedom and totalitarianism was destroyed. References Reagan, R.. (1987, June 12). Tear Down this Wall. The History Place. Retrieved from http://www. historyplace. com/speeches/reagan-tear-down. htm