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President George W. Bush’s “Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People” was done on September 20, 2001 at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. The President is speaking to all of America which includes all of Congress and its staff, news reporters, and all Americans that are watching television. This speech is nine days after the attack on the two World Trade Towers and is mainly about the current acts of terrorism, how America has put up with that terrorism, and the vaguely certain action that will be taken against terrorism. For Bush, his speech does declare war, but it also does more. It is geared towards persuading a nation divided from the previous year’s confusing and almost controversial election to trust Bush’s ability to lead America and to succeed in a war that will require more casualties and time than other wars. Bush must first persuade America to join and follow him as a leader. He must then restore faith and morale in the shaken country, and convince Americans to be willing to go forward to take a position against terrorism for the spread of justice. Watching Bushes speech on a video shows many characteristics of a good speaker. Even though Bush’s speech is a script to read, he does a good job in not making it just a script that’s read one line after the other. His body, voice, and eyes towards the audience are used in the way that a person that a person talking in a conversation might use their body and voice. His voice is calm and steady with conviction and necessary pauses that are generally at the end of the short paragraphs. He takes his time talking to the crowd which is relaxing to the listeners and is charismatic and determined on his part. His eyes are in contact with the audience in the crowd and on the television as if they are hooking to the audience, not as how a quick look just catches glimpses of an audience. Finally, when Bush receives applauses, he doesn’t smile or attract much attention so that he appears to have determined and content.
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