Infamy proved to be an appropriate choice of words as the tragic Pearl Harbor incident is still remembered and celebrated today as the turning point of World War II. In an attempt to convince a fellow congressman to officially declare war on Japan and gain the support of American citizens, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt actually appeals to the ethos, pathos, and logos of his audience in his address to the nation. It also uses the theme of infamy to emphasize the impact of the Pearl Harbor event. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The question at hand was whether or not America should join the war as the rest of the world had already done. At the time America was reluctant to enter another war as it wished to put World War I behind it and remain isolationist. However, President Roosevelt believed that the time had now come for the United States to stake its claim in the war. As president, he was also the “Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy,” so when it comes to combative reasoning he is no novice. Convincing Congress to go to war became an easy task thanks to Pearl Harbor and its techniques for encouraging the use of words and demonstration of moral convictions. He maintains an assertive and confident tone throughout his speech. Adding to his own credibility, the former president chooses to use a repetitive series of "Japanese forces" in a list of Japan's recent attacks. He does this to assure the nation and congress that Pearl Harbor was committed by Japan as an entire country. These facts demonstrate that it was not simply a small renegade fleet from Japan, but the “Empire of Japan,” the “Japanese government,” and the “Japanese.” His diction helps correlate the tone of the speech. As a result, during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech, emotions of anger, remorse and betrayal are evoked by himself to the audience. Use vivid, emotional words to elicit such feelings. To foreshadow the tone of the speech, use “infamy” to describe and capture the event. Furthermore, he describes the attacks as “sudden and deliberately planned” and a form of “betrayal” to remind America who the enemy is and rouse the nation to retaliate with confidence and strength. He also believes that such retaliation will lead to an "inevitable triumph" and an "absolute victory" in order to revive the shaken morale of the people. In all confidence, President Franklin Roosevelt does not address the opposing side directly. He makes it clear that “hostility exists” for those who may doubt. His proof of Japan's threat is the antagonistic country's previous assaults and betrayals. It becomes irrefutable that a threat exists against America's homeland. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Notably, and without fail, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was able to foster confidence in the nation in a matter of minutes. The mastery of rhetoric in his speech has a lasting impact to rival the infamy of Pearl Harbor.