Nixon's "The Great Silent Majority" Term Paper

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Then he continued to express his understanding towards those who had been so vehement in their opposition of the war during the previous years.

After he explained the current state, he returned to the past in order to further prove his point. He began speaking about the origin of the war and America's early involvement in the overseas conflict, which many had no idea why we would have begun our involvement in the first place. He uses specific examples based on the actions of previous presidents, who were extremely popular within the eyes of the American public. He explains the actions of President Eisenhower and President Kennedy, who were both adored by the American public, as a way to show that his actions were just a follow through of those executed by previous great men.

Then after he has set up the justification for his plan, he explains what he really intends to do. He explored the possibility of American retreat, and what atrocities would have naturally occurred to our allies in the region who were depending on us for their very survival. This was the major reason he gave for his plan to continue involvement within the borders of Vietnam.

Conclusion

Nixon was very careful to set up his argument before he went to its main point. Because he was speaking to so many who completely disagreed with him, he was forced to first attempt to persuade their view using the horrible state Vietnam was in, along with how his plan coincided with the actions of other great men, whom the American public had completely trusted. Nixon's tone was somber, which was appropriate for such an occasion. He was telling millions of Americans that they might possibly be drafted and killed in Vietnam; therefore he had to have some tone of regret and remorse in order to maintain his credibility.

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Language

Nixon used plain and concise language during his speech. He also expressed a sense of urgency regarding America's continuation in a way to show the dire nature of the situation. He kept figurative language to a minimum due to the seriousness of the topic. He sues antithesis in the idea that he explains his own desire for peace, yet how that is impossible in the current state which the war was in. He constantly harkens back to his "quest for peace," yet it is just to butter up his plan to stay in the war.

Short-Term Affects

Many Americans were persuaded by Nixon's call to the "silent majority." They agreed with his initial desire for peace, but that it can only come about through a continued presence therefore ensuring that allies in the region would not be harmed. Polls went in his favor, surprisingly, after he took a complete 180 degree turn around on his position on the war, (Center for History and New Media, 2008).

Long-Term Affects

However, once more and more dirt smeared Nixon's credibility, many began looking at this speech as just another marketing ploy for Nixon to dupe the American public. Many believed he was being honest, but as time rolled on and the events of Watergate unfolded, this seemed to be just another well put together lie in order to avoid telling Americans his real intentions. This speech also kept up many of American's support for the war, which went on for several more years. This led to thousands more American and millions more Vietnamese deaths.

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