Composition

Dwight Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” speech is structured around the president’s proposal on how to start using atomic power for peaceful purposes. The title of the speech hints at the main topic of the speech. The word “atoms” brings to mind atomic power while “for peace” suggests that this kind of technology should be used for good, rather than for weaponry. 

The speech can roughly be split into five parts, according to the topics Eisenhower covers. The first part of the speech serves as an introduction where Eisenhower briefly discusses the recent conference between the United States, the United Kingdom, and France that he attended in Bermuda. Here Eisenhower stresses the honor and exhilaration he feels at addressing the assembly, as well as t...