View Robert F. Kennedy's "Remarks on the Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr." delivered on April 4, 1968. While you are reading, listening to, and viewing the speech, pay particular attention to how the speaker addresses his audience and think about what thought went into the preparation and delivery of the speech. Consider, also, Kennedy's adaptation to the occasion. In an essay, discuss the following things:
• demographics, culture, and psychology: Consult at least two outside sources to determine who his audience was on that day and then use your critical thinking skills to determine what the demographics, cultures, and psychologies
would likely be.
• Referring to the speech text, explain how demographics would influence Kennedy's rhetorical choices.
• Referring to the speech text, explain how culture would influence Kennedy's rhetorical choices. In particular, explain how he adapted to cultural diversity.
• Referring to the speech text, explain how audience psychology would influence Kennedy's rhetorical choices. In particular, explain his efforts at identification (with specific reference to the text of the speech).
• How would you assess Kennedy's ethos in this speech?
occasion: Use your critical thinking skills to discuss the role of the occasion for the rhetorical situation in Kennedy's speech.
• Describe the occasion for the speech. (Remember, the assassination of Martin Luther King was a tragic event; the occasion refers to what was happening in Indianapolis before and during the speech.) How did the occasion change as the speech unfolded?
• What constraints did the occasion place on Kennedy's rhetorical choices? What resources did it provide? Refer to the text to explain how he accommodated the constraints and employed the resources.