Question

Chancellor Kohl, Governing Mayor Diepgen, ladies and gentlemen:

Twenty-four years ago, President John F. Kennedy visited Berlin, speaking to the people of this city and the world at the City Hall. Well, since then two other presidents have come, each in his turn, to Berlin. And today I, myself, make my second visit to your city.

We come to Berlin, we American presidents, because it's our duty to speak, in this place, of freedom. But I must confess, we're drawn here by other things as well: by the feeling of history in this city, more than 500 years older than our own nation; by the beauty of the Grunewald and the Tiergarten; most of all, by your courage and determination. Perhaps the composer Paul Lincke understood something about American presidents. You see, like so many presidents before me, I come here today because wherever I go, whatever I do: “Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin.” [I still have a suitcase in Berlin.]

Our gathering today is being broadcast throughout Western Europe and North America. I understand that it is being seen and heard as well in the East. . . . To those listening in East Berlin, a special word: Although I cannot be with you, I address my remarks to you just as surely as to those standing here before me. For I join you, as I join your fellow countrymen in the West, in this firm, this unalterable belief: Es gibt nur ein Berlin. [There is only one Berlin.]

–“Tear Down This Wall” speech,
Ronald Reagan

Which rhetorical appeal does Reagan use in this passage?

How does Reagan create this rhetorical appeal?

Answer 1

Primary appeal: pathos (emotional appeal), with supporting ethos (establishing credibility).

How he creates it:
- Personal connection and nostalgia: the light, memorable line “Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin” makes him seem personally tied to the city and evokes fondness and continuity.
- Vivid, sympathetic imagery: mentions of “the beauty of the Grunewald and the Tiergarten” and “your courage and determination” paint an appealing, human picture that stirs pride and admiration.
- Direct address to East Berliners: speaking to them specifically (“Although I cannot be with you… I address my remarks to you”) creates intimacy and solidarity, generating empathy and hope.
- Use of German phrases (“Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin,” “Es gibt nur ein Berlin”): signals respect and shared identity, heightening emotional resonance and moral certainty.
- Inclusive language and historical framing: references to earlier presidents and broadcasts “throughout Western Europe and North America” link past commitment to a broader, ongoing struggle—this both comforts and rallies listeners.
- Ethos support: his position as president and his invocation of history and previous presidents bolster his trustworthiness, making the emotional appeals more persuasive.

Together, these techniques build emotional unity with both West and East Berliners and strengthen the moral urgency of his message.