Question

Twenty-four years ago, President John F. Kennedy visited Berlin, speaking to the people of this city and the world at the City Hall. Well, since then two other presidents have come, each in his turn, to Berlin. And today I, myself, make my second visit to your city. We come to Berlin, we American presidents, because it's our duty to speak, in this place, of freedom. But I must confess, we're drawn here by other things as well: by the feeling of history in this city, more than 500 years older than our own nation; by the beauty of the Grunewald and the Tiergarten; most of all, by your courage and determination. Perhaps the composer Paul Lincke understood something about American presidents. You see, like so many presidents before me, I come here today because wherever I go, whatever I do: “Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin.” [I still have a suitcase in Berlin.] Our gathering today is being broadcast throughout Western Europe and North America. I understand that it is being seen and heard as well in the East. . . . To those listening in East Berlin, a special word: Although I cannot be with you, I address my remarks to you just as surely as to those standing here before me. For I join you, as I join your fellow countrymen in the West, in this firm, this unalterable belief: Es gibt nur ein Berlin. [There is only one Berlin.] –“Tear Down This Wall” speech, Ronald Reagan Which rhetorical appeal does Reagan use in this passage? How does Reagan create this rhetorical appeal?

Answer 1

Ronald Reagan used a rhetorical appeal known as Ethos. Ethos is one of the basic elements of basic discourse. When we refer to Ethos we are referring to the credibility of the person who is going to give the speech. President Reagan created this rhetorical appeal based on two situations: the previous presidential visits in Berlin on previous dates and the crumbling of Berlin wall.

Answer 2

The answer is "ethical appeal" and "by citing former presidents"