Speech Analysis -- essays research papers

This is the speech delivered by President Bill Clinton at the annual White House prayer breakfast on Friday, September 11, 1998, to an audience of more than 100 ministers, priests and other religious leaders. First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was also in attendance. The speech, written in long hand by the president, was delivered at the beginning of a day of tremendous political and personal turmoil surrounding the publication of the first report to Congress by Independent Counsel Ken Starr. The Starr Report, published on the Internet about 2 p.m. on Friday, laid the grounds for possible impeachment of the president, accusing Clinton of perjury, obstruction of justice and other offenses in connection with his sexual affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. If the President did in fact write this address himself, I am very impressed with his communication skills. Repeatedly throughout the speech, Clinton appeals to the forgiving nature of all those listening. Within the first few opening sentences, the President manages to gain sympathy by saying that he â€Å"was up rather late thinking and praying about what he ought to say†. Through a combination of this and stating that he himself wrote the speech, he has already gained support form his audience – which can set the tone for how they will react to the remainder of what he has to say.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  President Clinton then continues his attempt to put himself on the same ground as the American publi...