Category: Writers Block
Speech observation paper
In one of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's many fireside chats, there was one about backing up the banking system, which was one of his earlier speeches. This was a radio address given to the nation in a style of a friendly chat, that was suppose to console and inform people in the United States. He definitely spoke very well and knew what he was talking about.
His voice was lively and unique. He spoke in a formal, but informal way. His voice tone casual enough, but yet slightly formal. He spoke clearly enunciating every word stuttering only once or twice. It was easy to listen to as he had vocal variety and it held my attention as his words were stringed together almost seemlessly. An example from the speech would be when roosevelt states, "The answer is simple, and I know you'll understand it. Your government does not intend that the history of the past few years shall be repeated. We do not want and will not have another epidemic of bank failure" (fdr fire side chat on banking). The places he chose to pause made a difference with the slight raises and drops of his voice. This is one of the many examples of how he made use of performance, to captivate his audience.
His way of speaking in terms of content also was appropriate, which made the audience keep listening. He was careful to be simple with the language so a layman could understand it, but it was not so simple that it was outright insulting. He talked directly with and to the audience. It was directed to the people as the concepts were for the people. It felt like he was directly explaining to each and every citizen individually. He made use of the word "you" frequently in his speech and added key phrases that made people understand, feel comforted, and felt as if they were being understood. It was never expected nor surprising, it was more so, informative and soothing. When I listened to his speech, I put myself in one of the citizens position and imagined that, I too was scrambling to get all my money out of the bank, but realized it meant nearly nothing. I found his speech intriguing, helpful, informative, soothing, and just what I needed. At the beginning, before he started explaining all the interesting processes, what his administration did, and what will happen next, roosevelt started off with his signature phrase "my friends." After that he made it clear it was for the general population and made sure that people knew that it was all about their money not the irrelevant things that didn't matter to citizens, as in how banks work internally. He was clear that it was not a scientific speech that every word in this speech applied directly to the people. He also clearly addressed the situation and considered people's situation such as people who used state and locally based banks. He took in to account that he was speaking to the nation, most of which was not sitting in the whitehouse or knew how banking and money really scientifically worked. He considered that most of them were regular everyday citizens who knew little or nothing about that field. He sought to inform and comfort. He was detailed and thorough, yet basic, and was able to convey some excellent words to the people.
To close, I definitely think this was a great example of public speaking, and even more so, as I stand on the direct opposite side of politics from Mr. Roosevelt, but yet, I certainly do appreciate him as one of the greatest leaders in the United States. I also believe that he was one of the most effective leaders right after Ronald Reagan, because of his ideas in public speaking that shook the nation. He did not go up to just be the president. He was brilliant at speeches, and certainly didn't just say words that were based off his ideas alone. He engaged and influenced people by showing his relationship to them in his speech. He also made it clear what his ideas were and why he did them. He didn't have someone write his speeches, just throwing political terms around aimlessly, and hoped for the best whatever anyone thought. He was not just a president, but one of the few great citizens of the United States. His speaking connected with the people, it felt as if he was friends with the whole nation, his speech patterns trying to show he was ordinary as everyone else, he inspired in his speech by saying certain words making people feel that they really could. All these methods in his speaking moved and touched the nation, making them trust him. It was incredibly appropriate and effective. People who were alive when he was president certainly thought so, he won presidency three times quite easily. It was his words "you" and "my friends" that shook the nation. It was the kind, comforting, and soothing way that he spoke that made them love him and wanted him to lead them through twelve years of this nations history. It was how he demonstrated that he understood people and how he allowed himself to be understood that made people admire him and say yes to his policies. He wrote his speeches himself being careful what he said, consequently shaping the United States. This speech of his was no exception and even more at such a time of crisis for people.