Rhetorical situation

Speaker

The speaker of the “Silent Majority” speech is Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States. In his speech, Nixon explains the reasons why the US has become involved in the Vietnam War and reinforces the American presidents’ support for South Vietnam: 

President Eisenhower sent economic aid and military equipment to assist the people of South Vietnam in their efforts to prevent a Communist takeover. Seven years ago, President Kennedy sent 16,000 military personnel to Vietnam as combat advisers. Four years ago, President Johnson sent American combat forces to South Vietnam.

While Nixon presents his support for South Vietnam, he argues that he has a different approach than his predecessors’. He explains that he is “strongly critical of the way the war has been conducted” by Johnson, who “sent American combat for...