Topic > John Kerry and the Vietnam War

On April 22, 1971, in Washington, D.C., John Kerry testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chaired by Senator William Fulbright in response to legislative hearings on proposals to end the Vietnam War. John Kerry was a former Navy lieutenant in Vietnam. During his service in the Vietnam War, Kerry was wounded three times and awarded the Purple Heart, Silver and Bronze Star medals for his heroism. John Kerry joined the Vietnam Veterans Against the War after returning to the United States. He established himself at the Capitol before a committee as the leader and spokesperson of this organization at the age of twenty-seven. His speech stressed the need for the immediate withdrawal of the American military from Vietnam. He also harped on the anger and betrayal of Vietnam War veterans during the war. Furthermore, he also stressed that Vietnam poses no threat to the United States. The war was just a Vietnamese civil war and not part of a global conflict against communism. Kerry's anti-war testimony received applause and recognition from the audience. His call also resonated with President Richard Nixon who ended the draft on January 27, 1973. Kerry effectively used the rhetorical strategies of logos, ethos, and pathos to deliver a compelling speech that persuaded Congress to withdraw the U.S. Army from the Vietnam War and saved countless lives. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay To be influenced, John Kerry used logos in various statements during his speech. He opposed Vice President Agnew's characterization of war protestors as "the criminal misfits of society", who betrayed soldiers during the war; soldiers were “our best men dying in Asia… to preserve liberties,” then he pointed out that “what he calls misfits stood up for us in a way that no one else in this country dared to do.” (John F. Kerry, April 1971) John Kerry also demonstrated the fact that “American tax money was being used for a corrupt dictatorial regime.” in South Vietnam instead of protecting their allies – the American people – from “death in those rice fields.” Kerry also established the logical argument that even though many American soldiers “had to die” (John F. Kerry, April 1971), President Nixon continued the war because he was afraid of being seen as “the first president to lose a war . " Finally, Kerry expressed his belief that the president should follow “the will of the people” and that “the will of the people says we should leave Vietnam now.” (John F. Kerry, April 1971) During his speech, Kerry He used his authority to speak on behalf of members of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. He consistently expressed himself in terms of “we,” “our,” and “us” rather than “I” or “me,” which was empowering. the authority of his testimony as well as supporting his argument also explained the purpose for which he had to speak out: "the fact that the crimes threaten this country, not the reds, not the redcoats, but the crimes that we are committing are what threatens him, and we need to speak out." He also expressed the feelings of veterans returning from the Vietnam War: “men who came back with a sense of anger and a sense of betrayal.” He then described their anger: "We are angry because we believe we have been used in the worst way by the administration of this country." (John F. Kerry, April 1971) Additionally, Kerry tried to convince the public that Vietnam posed no threat to the..