Alisa Hitchings

LA101H Section 013

3/4/10

Rhetoric of Being an American

Throughout time orators have given speeches which become an integral part of history,

resounding through the ages. Upon reading Harold Ickes speech What is an American? this

was my first impression; that these words seemed to sum up the feeling of a time so completely. I

imagine listening to these words would ensure they stayed with the listener. This analysis will

cover why this speech is so effective rhetorically, even reading it decades later, using the appeals

ethos, pathos, and ideology.

What is an American? was given in May, 1941 by Harold Ickes, the Secretary of

Interior. It addresses the war against Hitler and the Nazis taking place in Europe at the time,

which America had yet to join. America stood debating whether to get involved in a war that still

failed to affect them directly. Ickes covers these issues while presenting his opinion on what

course of action America should take. He leaves no doubt as to where he stands, imploring

America to step in and aid the British. His confidence in this plan of action is contagious.

Ethos is a strong factor in creating the appeals of Harold Ickes speech. The majority of

his ethos is a by-product of his station, ensuring little need for extra work in this area. The

audience would be well aware of Ickes station as the Secretary of the Interior. This position

establishes a potent ethos for Ickes, because of his obvious ties to America. When he details the

makeup of an American, he is credible as an American himself and an American who chooses to

serve his country. The listeners know that Ickes has spent countless hours serving the American

people through his office and therefore understands their ideals. Though this creates a strong

ethos on its own, Ickes goes one step further. He shows that he is well informed on the issue with

his choice of quote at the end. The quote comes from Hitlers Mien Kampf directly, proving that

Ickes is familiar with the enemy. He chooses a quote on the bravery of the British people that

Hitler included in his book, which the American people can help throw back in his face. This use

of Hitlers own words against him furthers his cause. By using this quote, and a brief one by

Winston Churchill, Ickes ensures that the audience believes his ethos. He proves to them that he

is well versed, not only in being an American, but in the situation he asks his people to enter.

The beginning of the speech draws the audiences attention in immediately with the

intense wording. Some ideas are almost caustic, practically offending the listeners. Why have

some of us been behaving like scared chickens? Ickes asks. The use of scared chickens causes

the audience to flinch, wondering if they fall under this umbrella. The next section groups the

audience together as Americans and creates a shared sense of affront. For years it has been

dinned into us that we are a weak nation; that we are an inefficient people; that we are simple-

minded. For years we have been told that we are beaten, decayed, and that no part of the world

belongs to us any longer. These harsh statements use pathos to instill anger amongst the

members of the audience, not at the speaker, but at those who would say such things of the

American people. Due to their anger, the listeners pay closer attention, wondering how Ickes will

address these wrongs. The following comments on how some Americans have fallen to these

view on such people and drawing the audience in with the strong language. When Ickes says I

say that it is time for the great American people to raise its voice and cry out in mighty triumph

what it is to be an American. The vehemence cultured earlier is shifted into pride in being a
great American. Those who felt affronted by previous ideas now feel pleased that they are

Americans and stand in triumph against the naysayers Ickes called out. Throughout the speech

the language remains potent, keeping the listeners attention. It is most prominent in the

beginning, but Ickes never slacks in cultivating pathos through his word choice.

A particularly successful section toward the end of the speech reminds the audience of

previous fights for freedom, and compares these to the fight the British are engaged in. He cites

famous struggles throughout history and the globe, creating a sense of unity in all those who

crave freedom. We, free, democratic Americans are in a position to help. We know that the

spirit of freedom never dies. We know that men have fought and bled for freedom since time

immemorial. This beginning of the section implies that as Americans we are almost required to

help, since we know what it is to fight for our freedom. Ickes creates a feeling of the endlessness

of the struggle for freedom, but also says that those who fight for freedom do not give in. As

such fighters for freedom, Americans have the obligation to ensure other nations can reach the

same liberty. We recall the heroic figure of Masaryk and the gallant fight for freedom of the

Czech people. Citing another well known bid for freedom spreads the ideals from something

entirely American to a fight the entire world is familiar with. The audience sympathizes with

these other freedom fighters, and begins to draw the connection with the fight at present in

Britain. The section spread the ideology of America to other countries, therefore wrapping them

in a net of brotherhood and creating a pull to help them.

Perhaps the prevailing rhetorical appeal, even over pathos, is the appeal to American

ideology. At every stage of the speech Ickes refers back to the title of the speech What is an

American? He uses the widely accepted ideologies of Americans to appeal to his audience,

constantly referencing these ideas. Ickes refers to the ideals of justice and freedom saying An
American is one who loves justice and believes in the dignity of man. An American is one who

will fight for his freedom and that of his neighbor. He knows that Americans pride themselves

on these principles, and that appealing to this will draw the audience in. The previous statement

sets the stage for the switch to the purpose of Ickes speech, which continues in Americans have

always known how to fight for their rights and their way of life. Americans are not afraid to

fight. They fight joyously in a just cause. This clever use of ideals his entire audience will agree

with to transition to his real purpose works flawlessly. Still discussing ideology, he has now

introduced the idea of fighting for those principles Americans insist they believe in. When he

begins to call for action, aid to Britain, the switch is smooth. Ideology to hypothetically fighting

for it to actually fighting for it; his logically move from each step to the next is sound. The

combination of logos in his flow of ideas and the weaving in of American ideologies creates an

effective argument.

Harold Ickes speech What is an American is successful due to the artful use of

rhetorical appeals. Pathos, ethos, logos, and ideology are all employed with skill by the orator to

engage the audience. I can image the audience talking after the speech about how they agreed

with Ickes, and how valid his points were; probably with enthusiasm. Hearing, or seeing, the

speech would only make it more effective, especially if Ickes were as strong an orator as he

seems in the textual version. If any of the rhetorical devices had been left out the speech would

not have been nearly as successful. The careful blend of the rhetorical appeals created a current

pulling the reader to the conclusion Ickes wanted, leaving one out would damped the effect.

Knowing the outcome of the war, and our choice on whether to get involved, I wonder how

much this one speech influenced public opinion. Judging by the rhetorical strength, Ickes could

have had an important effect on Americas decision.

Bibliography:

Ickes, Harold. "What is an American?" The History Place. N.p., n.d. Web. 1
Mar. 2010.
<http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/ickes.htm>.