Question

In his "Checkers" speech, which fallacy does Nixon use in his references to Communism, corruption in government, and American casualties of the Korean War?

appeal to pity

plain folks

appeal to fear

straw man

Answer 1

In his "Checkers" speech, Richard Nixon primarily employs the **appeal to fear** fallacy in his references to Communism, corruption in government, and American casualties of the Korean War. By highlighting these issues, he aims to evoke fear and concern among the audience regarding the potential consequences of his political opposition. This tactic seeks to bolster his own position by making the audience anxious about the dangers of the political situation rather than engaging in a substantive debate about policy or character.