Ethos, Pathos, and Logos Applied:
George W. Bush Speaking at 'Ground Zero'
In Aristotle's Rhetoric, he identifies three artistic proofs that make up the art of rhetoric. These
proofs include ethos (character), pathos (emotion), and logos (logic or words), which provide
resources of communication that are available to the public speaker or persuader (Simons, H. W.,
2001). In essence, these are ways in which things are proven to us. When these proofs are applied
to a modern day scenario, their true nature of helping us understand public speaking and persuasion
stands out. One of George W. Bush's speeches after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001,
will draw more light to Aristotle's proofs. This essay will define and apply ethos, pathos, and logos
to President Bush's speech at 'Ground Zero' on September 14, 2001. I will provide a background,
main analysis, and a discussion on the artistic proofs.
Background
George W. Bush has become notorious for being a poor orator. Many critics of Bush have bashed
him for his verbal mistakes and for his choice of wording (Lowry, R., 2001; Lumpkin, B., 2002).
He was even criticized for not speaking to the nation soon enough after the terrorist attacks on
September 11. However, on September 14, he gave one of the best speeches of his life. He spoke
only thirteen sentences and did so in only three minutes.
On September 14, Bush took a short helicopter tour of the devastated New York area and then
walked between the piles of rubble. He talked with volunteers, firefighters, and police officers.
Hearing chants of "USA! USA!" from the workers, Bush took hold of a bullhorn, climbed to the
top of a small pile of rubble, and put his arm around a fire fighter. Here is a transcript of what
happened:
CROWD: U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. I want you all to know -Q: Can't hear you.
THE PRESIDENT: I can't talk any louder. (Laughter.) I want you all to know that America today -that America today is on bended knee in prayer for the people whose lives were lost here, for the
workers who work here, for the families who mourn. This nation stands with the good people of
New York City, and New Jersey and Connecticut, as we mourn the loss of thousands of our
citizens.
Q: I can't hear you.
THE PRESIDENT: I can hear you. (Applause.) I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you.
(Applause.) And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon. (Applause.)
CROWD: U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
THE PRESIDENT: The nation sends its love and compassion to everybody who is here. Thank you
for your hard work. Thank you for making the nation proud. And may God bless America.
(Applause.)
CROWD: U.S.A.! U.S.A.! (The President waves small American flag.) (Applause.) (nando.net,
2001).
Analysis
Applying Aristotle's proofs to this situation will (1) clarify their definitions, (2) expose their utility,
and (3) draw insight to Bush's speech.
Ethos
Ethos refers to "the study of human character" and "the persuasive potential of the speaker's
character and personal credibility" (Herrick, J. A., 2001). According to Aristotle, this proof was
potentially the most persuasive, although, logos or logic may be considered most important today.
When one's character is seen as positive, we especially trust or have confidence in the person trying
to persuade us (Andrews, P. H., Andrews, J. A., & Williams, G., 2002). When the speaker is seen
as trustworthy, knowledgeable, and interested in the audience, the audience will likely accept what
the speaker says as true.
Bush's display of ethos during this speech was ubiquitous. Being a president that is willing to come
to the heart of the tragedy that had just occurred, automatically lifted his character to that of a
person who is caring, compassionate, and interested. His sense of eunoia or goodwill was seen
throughout his speech.
Bush's slight nonverbal actions also bolstered his sense of character. Throughout most of his
speech, he kept his arm wrapped around a lead firefighter working at the scene. The two men,
standing in front of onlookers and millions of Americans watching television, looked as if they
were good friends, glancing and nodding at one another. Interestingly, Bush's three minute speech
was completely audience centered, which has been known to affect ethos (Andrews, P. H.,
Andrews, J. A., & Williams, G., 2002). In all, his character and personhood came across as that of a
conscientious, concerned person. His character shinned when he eloquently stated, "And the people
who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon." Bush was persuading the workers and
the nation that our country is in safe hands and that we will find whoever did these terrible acts.
Pathos
Pathos refers to the study of human emotion, emotional appeals, and the act of "putting the
audience in the right frame of mind" (Herrick, J. A., 2001). This emotional side of the speech
usually influences our beliefs and has the potential to influence our actions. According to Aristotle,
pathos is evident when the audience is "roused to emotion by speech" (Aristotle, trans. 1982). The
issues of morality also come into play. Aristotle felt that there is a moral imperative for correct
judgment.
Before Bush even spoke a word, emotions were at large. The crowd was chanting, "USA! USA!" A
feel of patriotism and pride mixed with an odd sense of defeat and disgust surrounded the area and
nation. When a man shouted that he could not hear Bush speak, and Bush replied, "I can't talk any
louder," the crowd laughed, putting them in a state of emotional happiness. When Bush thanked the
workers for their treacherous labor, a sense of pride and heroism was felt.
Within pathos, Aristotle makes a distinction between fear appeals and pity appeals. He classifies
fear appeals as the fear of physical harm or death, fear of loss, or deprivation of freedom (Herrick,
J. A., 2001). When Bush yelled, "And the people who knocked down these buildings will hear all
of us soon," he was not creating fear in American lives, but he was appealing to the fears of
whoever knocked down the buildings. In addition, he used this fear appeal (aimed at the opposers)
to motivate, inspire, and persuade Americans that we will retaliate. Aristotle also classified pity
appeals, which suggest or state "that someone or something helpless is being harmed" (Herrick, J.
A., 2001). Bush's numerous statements, such as, "The nation sends its love and compassion to
everybody who is here", bring out emotions of pity and sympathy, placing America as the "helpless
and harmed." In addition, the war torn environment in which the speech took place added to the
emotional situation. Pathos was probably more influential than any of the other proofs in this
speech.
Logos
Logos has numerous definitions, but usually refers to the words used, logical content or reasoning,
or thought expressed in words (Herrick, J. A., 2001). Logos also means logical sense and may
suggest intellect or rationality. It is also the study of "the arguments typical of the reasoning
employed in practical decision making" (Herrick, J. A., 2001).
The concept of logos in Bush's speech may be the hardest of the proofs to understand at first sight
when looking at the speech. Looking at specific word use, Bush used an immense amount of
religious jargon. Phrases such as, "On bended knee in prayer" and "May God bless America,"
appealed to both emotions (pathos) and to ways of thought (logos) and religion.
Logos took place on another level as well. There was an argument that the country is united, still
alive, and ready to 'be heard.' When Bush commented that "The nation stands with the good people
of New York City, and New Jersey and Connecticut," he used logic to create an imaginary link of
unification between the people devastated around the county. On another side, he also made a
subtle argument by his threat to those who highjacked the planes and created such massive
destruction.
Discussion
Bush did not just use logos, pathos, or ethos alone. He used them in unison. He used them to create
a wholesome speech that was successful. Pathos was used expertly: the audience's feelings, needs,
and emotions connected with the speech. Logos, or logical sense was displayed to the listeners
throughout the nation. Ethos, or character and credibility, was also eloquently displayed by Bush.
Aristotle's artistic proofs are thousands of years old, however, they still have practical uses. They
(1) allow the audience to understand public speeches at a greater depth and (2) allow the speaker to
shape and mold her or his speech to one of success. In addition, according to Aristotle, they define
the study of rhetoric. I find Aristotle's artistic proofs to be one of the most useful contributions to
the study of rhetoric.