Composition

Bill Clinton begins the “I Have Sinned” speech by addressing members of the audience and by welcoming them to the White House: “Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the White House and to this day to which Hillary and the vice president and I look forward so much every year”. From the beginning of the speech, Clinton implies that he has his wife’s support, an issue that could weigh a great deal in the public’s eye. 

The composition of the speech can be split into five parts, according to the issues Clinton addresses. 

In the first part of the speech, Clinton admits that he has sinned and asks for forgiveness from his “family (…) friends (…) staff (…) Cabinet (…) Monica Lewinsky and her family, and the American people”. In this part, he also ...