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In the speech given by Harry S. Truman, the main problem that he is attempting to address is the way the American public will react to the use of the bomb. Although the speech is announcing the bomb, Truman needs to use strategies to justify the use of the bomb as well. he manages to do this in multiple ways throughout his speech through the use of a rhetorical device know as Logos. He begins this by claiming, "By 1942, however, we knew that the Germans were working feverishly to find a way to add atomic energy to the other engines of war with which they hoped to enslave the world"(Truman). If the Germans were trying to make the same bomb, then Truman can say that the United States was merely participating in a "Battle of the Laboratories"; the U.S. needs to complete the bomb because the Germans are working on it as well. He also uses the word "enslave" in these lines to describe the actions of the Germans. This is very powerful use of negative diction; by stating that the Germans are attempting to "enslave" the world, Truman makes them appear as evil and as a threat to the United States and the world. But even with all of this evidence to prove that the use of the atomic bomb is justified, Truman needs to claim that the Japanese were given the opportunity to surrender. He does this through stating, "It was to spare the Japanese people from utter destruction that the ultimatum of July 26 was issued at Potsdam. Their leaders promptly rejected that ultimatum"(Truman). Since he states that America gave a chance to Japan to surrender, Truman enforces the idea that Japan has the option to not receive the bombing, but they take it anyways. This makes the United States appear more forgiving and benevolent despite that they bombed a city.
 * Logos **


 * Ethos **

Although logic is very important in the presentation of a speech, more rhetorical strategies can be used to persuade an audience or reinforce an idea of the speaker. Ethos is another technique that Truman used to establish the credibility of himself and the United States. One example of this strategy would be through his use of, "Normally, therefore, everything about the work with atomic energy would be made public"(Truman). In these few lines, Truman claims that the United States will go public with the future progression of atomic energy. This makes the United States appear open about a type of energy that is potentially very dangerous. If the United States isn't keeping secrets, then the nation appears more trustworthy and responsible. He also establishes credibility by stating, "I shall recommend that the congress of the United States consider promptly the establishment of an appropriate commission to control the production and use of atomic power within the United States"(Truman). This, as the previous line mentioned, makes the United States appear responsible over the source of atomic power and convinces the public that the new form of power can be controlled and is safe in the hands of America. Finally, Truman actually closes his speech by saying, "atomic power can become a powerful and forceful influence towards the maintenance of world peace"(Truman). This line suggests that the atomic power that the United States used to bomb a city could be used instead to maintain peace and keep people from war. This can make the United States seem very credible as Truman says that the power in their hands will be used for peace rather than harm, making the United States appear of good intent and as a trustworthy nation.


 * Pathos **

Another way to make a speech more persuasive is to implement a rhetorical strategy called Pathos, which Truman used to appeal to the emotional side of the American public. He starts to use this in the second paragraph of his speech where he states, "The Japanese began the war from the air at Pearl Harbor"(Truman). This line is perhaps one of the most emotional ones in the speech. By making people remember of the incident at Pearl Harbor and inciting their hatred for the Japanese, Truman makes the United States appear as the victims of the war and greatly tugs at the emotions of the American public. Another line in which Truman employs this same strategy is when he claims, "they have not themselves been in danger beyond that of many occupations, for the utmost care has been taken of their safety"(Truman). This line not only lets the audience know that nobody was harmed in the making of the bomb, letting the people know that what they care about most, other people, are neither harmed nor killed.

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