Tons o' Ethos, Some Logos, and a Smidge of Pathos

"First Fireside Chat" has a bit of everything going on in it, rhetoric-wise. (FDR was good like that.)

Ethos is the strongest type of rhetoric at play in this speech…probably due to the fact that the speech is meant to address community concerns for the country, and emphasize patriotism and proper behavior in society. FDR frequently drops references to America being strong and able, such as when he says "it has been wonderful to me to catch the note of confidence from all over the country" (66), or "together we cannot fail" (74).

(Suddenly we're filled with the impulse to have a red, white, and blue Rocket Pop and go light a sparkler…)

He also focuses on the patriotism of American citizens as well as the government. And we're not just talking about the "Hello friends" part of the speech. Ol' Delano also says "the success of our whole national program depends, of course, on the cooperation of the public—on its intelligent support and its use of a reliable system" (49), or "the national Congress—Republicans and Democrats alike—showed by this action a devotion to public welfare […] that it is difficult to match in all our history" (21).

The logos aspect of "First Fireside Chat" is mostly in Roosevelt's rational explanation of the banking system, and what Americans should do. He calmly tells us how banks work (tl;dr: money in the bank is much better for the economy than money hidden under your bed), and that America will move forward once people act with reason and don't hoard their cash.

He also mentions that "it is my belief that hoarding during the past week has become an exceedingly unfashionable pastime in every part of our nation" (45). Here, FDR appeals to our sense of reason and judgment by following up with "when the people find that they can get their money—that they can get it when they want it for all legitimate purposes—the phantom of fear will soon be laid" (46)

But because FDR knew that things are better in three's, there's also a small bit of pathos going on in "First Fireside Chat."

Pathos typically deals with pity or sadness, and Roosevelt uses a small portion of the speech to get the American public to empathize with him, as he empathizes with his subjects. He says "I can never be sufficiently grateful to the people for the loyal support that they have given me in their acceptance of the judgment that has dictated our course, even though all our processes may not have seemed clear to them" (67). He also says that the financial crisis is "your problem no less than it is mine" (73), implying that he's going through a rough spot as well.

The truth of that statement is a wee bit dubious—Franky D was in the White House getting his breakfast delivered in bed, while hungry people were standing in bread lines. But it's the thought that counts, right? Right?