Fantasy-Theme Criticism

Fantasy-Theme Criticism 1

Literature: Rhetorical Analysis

Fantasy-Theme Criticism: Richard Nixon’s "Checkers Speech"

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Fantasy-Theme Criticism 2

Introduction to Fantasy-Theme Criticism of the "Checkers Speech"

Faced with one of the most challenging moments of his career in politics, Richard Nixon

found himself in the middle of hot criticism against his character and morality; a situation, which

would deem him unfit for the office of the deputy presidency, he was seeking. He was accused of

embezzling funds that had been collected for his personal campaigns. In a quick and lengthy

rejoinder, Nixon organized an address to the American people that was broadcast live on

television and radio for over half an hour. Based on the same rhetorical line of claims, he used

oratorical language that ended up producing three separate themes that ultimately appealed to his

audience and the citizens at large. These themes incorporated Nixon as an American Patriot, who

shared the “American Dream” strongly, by acting as a Role Model. This speech would later be

named the “Checkers Speech”. This paper uses Ernest’s Bormann's fantasy theme criticism to

reveal the use of rhetoric by the speaker in delivering the three themes of American Patriot,

“American Dream”, and Role Model, and ultimately appealing to the audience.

Background to the Fantasy-Theme Analysis of the "Checkers Speech"

The famous "Checkers Speech" delivered by Richard Nixon qualifies as a rhetorical piece

responding to a rhetorical situational challenge. As explained by Benoit, all rhetorical situations

comprise of a chief element known as exigence. This is defined as a conditional case of

imperfection that is also marked by a significant degree of necessity and criticality.

Hence, mort

communications from retors in response to rhetorical situations get generated from the habit of

the rhetor noticing the exigence and the probability that it can be influenced through an

appropriate communication. A further explanation of rhetorical situations indicated that the

responses from the audience of a rhetor responding to an exigence depend on numerous

. Benoit, William L. "The Genesis Of Rhetorical Action." (Southern Communication Journal,

vol 59, no. 4, 1994, pp. 342-355. Informa UK Limited), 343.

Fantasy-Theme Criticism 3

constraints, which relate to their distrust to the rhetor, inability to recognize the exigence, and the

display of poor oratory skills by the rhetor among others.

In Nixon’s case, his duty involved

generating a strong response that addressed the situational exigence, audience, and constraints,

which he achieved. To deliver the criterion of this achievement, this paper justifies the relevance

of the "Checkers" speech for rhetorical analysis, discusses the fantasy theme methodology of

coverage, analyze the contextual and historical backgrounds of the artifacts, criticize the artifact,

and evaluate the discourse of the rhetor.

Justification for the Fantasy-Theme Criticism of the "Checkers Speech"

Understanding the general background and source from which a piece of artifact or

rhetorical text emerged provides the valid ground for subjecting it to an analysis as a rhetorical

text. In the background off this text in the year 1952, the candidate for Deputy Presidency of the

United States of America faced accusations for the plundering of at least $18,235b that had been

donated to his campaign kitty by Californian businessmen. As reviewed by the existing

committee of the Republican National Committee, this situation posed a threat and possibly

embarrassing situation for the then presidential candidate, General Dwight Eisenhower. If the

“Checkers Speech had not been made, the highest probabilities were that the Presidential

Candidate General Dwight Eisenhower would have had to drop his deputy presidential candidate

for another one. This would have made situations unpredictable for both the “preferred deputy

president” and the “running mate” as presidential candidate. While the preferred deputy

president would have lost support and position, it is also clear that all his “lovers” were not sure

to vote for the presidential candidate after his departure.

. Ibid., 345.

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So, Nixon had to come out and speak against these allegations. In his own words, he

confessed; "if it hadn't been for the broadcast, I would have never been around to run for the

deputy presidency".

This statement and the general perspective of the potential deputy

president; who ultimately became deputy president in the ensuing election prove that such a text

is worth analysis and criticism as a rhetorical piece of information. Far and wide, the inclusion of

fantasy themes only broadens and specifies this explanation to the success of Nixon and his

presidential candidate. In all, the two are worth rhetorical analysis as they involve all the primary

and secondary elements that bestow the chief levels of rhetoric.

Methodology Constructing the Rhetorical Vision

According to Foss, fantasy themes normally arise from symbolic convergence.

Based on

the artifact, certain themes have emerged from the mass audience, including the media and their

subsystems, the general public and organized campaign messages. The manifestation of these

themes is brought out by the allegations and attacks directed towards Nixon. To be specific about

the fantasy themes within the context of this artifact, the thematic thesis involves the attacks

against Nixon while thematic antithesis involves the Nixon response to his attackers. The

rhetorical vision that came out through the fantasy themes is that Nixon represents a patriot, an

ideal American and a person of high moral character. Therefore, three fantasy themes emerged

from his speech, which includes Nixon as Patriot, American Dream, and as the Moral Model.

Fantasy-Theme Analysis

The article has applied a criteria symbolic convergence and development of fantasy

themes, leading to the development of the rhetorical vision. The motive behind this artifact was

. Nixon, Richard. Six Crises (New York: Doubleday & Company, 1962), 129.

. Foss, Sonja K. Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration & Practice (4th ed. Long Grove, IL:

Waveland Press, 2009), 101..

Fantasy-Theme Criticism 5

survival. Nixon was successful in saving his political career. By addressing antithesis of

emerging fantasy themes and responding to the situational exigency, Nixon came up with a

rhetorical message that was accepted and believable by his audience. He succeeded and was able

to continue being a dominant political force for many years. The presence of a shared reality

among individuals who share idealism in rhetorical themes is real.

The occurrence of

convergence of ideas can be noticed by an individualized commonality of an understanding of

reality in the text. According to analyst Bormann, the mere existence of common realities

contributes to shared acceptance and reality of the existent of accepted unison that convergence

exists in a text. The contribution of the mass audience and the convergence of text from the

rhetor contribute to the overall convergence of the text. The rhetorical vision of this rhetoric

situation get formed by the existence of the thesis; formed by the accusations against Nixon and

the faults initially traded on him. These get delivered in what could be referred to as a rhetorical

convergence analysis.

The rhetorical vision, which forms the foundational ground for the analysis of the artifact

are found in the emergent fantasy themes concerning Nixon’s candidacy. They question his

morality, economic uprightness, and trueness to the ‘American Dream”. In simple terms, these

foundational grounds formulate a common belief that Nixon should be questioned in his loyalty

and fairness to all that mean goodness for Americans. Noticeably, the public’s confidence in the

candidate has substantially diminished.

Many, who previously supported him, appeared to be on

the brink of withdrawing that support because of the fronted allegations.

. Bormann, Ernest G. "Fantasy and Rhetorical Vision: The Rhetorical Criticism of Social

Reality."(Quarterly Journals of Speech 58.4 (1972): 396-407), 402.

. Gonchar, Ruth M., and Dan F. Hahn. "The Rhetorical Predictability of Richard M. Nixon."

Today's Speech 19.4 (1971): 3-13.

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In the event that these are proven true; they would validate the potential vice president as

immoral, dishonest, and engaged in many irregularities. They would see him as a disloyal citizen

who is not a patriot. However, this fails to be the case. The candidate picks all the allegations

against him step by step. He analyzes them with what seems true and honest. In addressing the

theme of an American patriot, he appeals to the patriotic elements of the audience. In solving the

issues relating to the American Dream, he proves that his life has been actually about the

American Dream. Finally, in proving that he is a role model, the rhetor indicates beyond any

reasonable doubt in his speech, that by actions, he has complied with the two previous themes;

thus qualifies to be a role model for the society. To be specific about the fantasy themes within

the context of this artifact, the thematic thesis involves the attacks against Nixon while thematic

antithesis involves the Nixon response to his attackers.

Conclusion

The rhetorical vision that came out through the fantasy themes is that Nixon represents a

patriot, an ideal American and a person of high moral character. Therefore, three fantasy themes

emerged from his speech, which includes Nixon as Patriot, American Dream, and as the Moral

Model. In all, the artifact satisfies the contexts of rhetorical fantasy-theme criticism and analysis.

It is a rhetorical piece, and the answers given by the rhetor raise the expected fantasy themes.

Fantasy-Theme Criticism 7

Bibliography

Benoit, William L. "The Genesis of Rhetorical Action." Southern Communication Journal, vol 59,

no. 4, 1994, pp. 342-355. Informa UK Limited, doi:10.1080/10417949409372953.

Bormann, Ernest G. "Fantasy and Rhetorical Vision: The Rhetorical Criticism of Social Reality."

Quarterly Journals of Speech 58.4 (1972): 396-407.

Foss, Sonja K. Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration & Practice. 4th ed. Long Grove, IL: Waveland

Press, 2009.

Gonchar, Ruth M., and Dan F. Hahn. "The Rhetorical Predictability of Richard M. Nixon." Today's

Speech 19.4 (1971): 3-13.

Nixon, Richard. Six Crises. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1962.

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