Read the excerpt from Ronald Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech.

Question

While we pursue these arms reductions, I pledge to you that we will maintain the capacity to deter Soviet aggression at any level at which it might occur. And in cooperation with many of our allies, the United States is pursuing the Strategic Defense Initiative—research to base deterrence not on the threat of offensive retaliation, but on defenses that truly defend; on systems, in short, that will not target populations, but shield them. By these means we seek to increase the safety of Europe and all the world.

Which type of appeal is used in this part of the speech?

an emotional appeal
an ethical appeal
an expert appeal
a logical appeal

Answer 1

In this excerpt from Ronald Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech, the type of appeal used is primarily a logical appeal. Reagan discusses the rationale behind maintaining the capacity to deter aggression, pursuing arms reductions, and the Strategic Defense Initiative. He presents a logical argument about the importance of defense that protects populations rather than targeting them, which aligns with reasoned thinking and logical conclusions aimed at increasing safety.

While there may be elements of ethical and emotional appeal as well, the focus on strategy and reasoning points to a logical appeal being the most prominent.