Two of the most known tragedies to happen on American soil are the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 to multiple parts of the United States. Following these attacks in there respective year, Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and George W. Bush made public speeches, that although they both occurred during different time periods and pertained to different events were similar in there nature. Both Presidents utilized word choice and rhetoric to ease the minds of the American people following these tragic events.

When President Roosevelt relayed his speech to Congress on December 8, 1941 the words he chose to use in his speech exemplified and gave meaning to his thoughts on the situation and were used with the intent of persuading Congress to declare war on the Japanese. In his speech President Roosevelt utilizes the word deliberate multiple times to get across the point that the attack on the part of the Japanese was not just a spur of the moment event, but rather a thoroughly planned out and implemented attack in which they were trying to wreak havoc on America. " ... the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan" (Roosevelt, Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation). The use of suddenly in the quote as well in this quote brings across the point that America was ambushed and were not expecting of this attack by the Japanese. In President Roosevelt's speech he also addressed the fact that America was at peace with the Japanese prior to the attack, "The United States was at peace with that nation ... ". Roosevelt's use of was in this sentence means that the peace that existed between the Japanese and the United States of America no longer exist following the actions of the Japanese one-day prior. His use of was means that the peace between America and the Japanese was broken and due to this break in peace America should declare war on the Japanese. 

President George W. Bush in his live television speech during the evening of September 11, 2001 following the terrorist attacks that struck multiple parts of the United States of America also utilized effective word choice when addressing the nation following the attacks. 

Both Presidents in their respective speeches utilize the words deliberate and some form of inclusive first person pronouns. When discussing the attacks on American soil by others the use of the word deliberate, makes it evident that these attacks were planned out strategically and were done with the intention of causing havoc on the people of the United States of America. The use of inclusive first person pronouns like we, our, and us during each President's speech relays this idea that although the attacks may not have personally affected an American, because it was on American soil it effects all American's. In President George W. Bush's speech following the terrorist attacks he starts off by saying "Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack..." (Bush, Carolina Reader Fall 2015) Bush's use of 'our' in his opening of his speech allows the idea that these attacks are not only threating to the people that were first handedly impacted by them, but American's who had no immediate tie to the attacks. Bush's use of 'our' also makes it resonate with American's that it could have been anyone because this is not just one person's problem, this is our problem as a nation and because it is our problem America has to do something to fix the problem.  In President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech after the bombing of Pearl Harbor one of the first person pronouns he utilizes is 'us'. In his speech Roosevelt says "Non matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory." The use of us in this quote by Roosevelt, makes it known that all Americans are involved in the retaliation efforts of the American government following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The use of first person pronouns by both Presidents in their respective speeches, brings about this American unity and makes known that an attack on American soil does not just affect the immediate people attacked but all Americans. 

In President George W. Bush's speech following the September 11th terrorist attacks he effectively utilizes rhetoric to calm the American people and promote the idea of figuring out who was behind the attacks and bringing them to justice. President Bush utilizes the idea of American resilience to calm the people of the United States of America following the September 11th attacks. President Bush in his speech states "Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of American." President Bush in this quote addresses the fact that yes, the structures of the Twin Towers and Pentagon, may have fallen or been altered, but the terrorist can't mess with the foundation of the American people. Meaning that the American people will band together and muster through during the days following this attack and become stronger not weaker. He also says that "American was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining." President Bush's use of a beacon that won't stop shining, makes note of the American resilience as well, because the American light shined bright as a symbol of freedom and the attempt by the terrorist to cause the American freedom to be broken will not work. 

President Franklin D. Roosevelt also utilizes rhetoric in an affective way in his speech on December 8th following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In President Roosevelt's speech to Congress following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he utilizes his role as President to relay the idea that his thoughts to go to war, are not only his but also the thoughts of the American people, because he is a public servant chosen by the American people. "I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people ... " At the end of President Roosevelt's speech, he ask Congress to formally declare war on the Japanese Empire, but in an earlier passage states "The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation." Although it is a formality and President Roosevelt knows that he has to ask Congress to declare war, he utilizes the idea of the American people making up their mind to go to war to persuade Congress to go declare war on Japan. He utilizes this idea of being a public servant again, because like he is chosen to be the President, members of Congress are chosen to represent their constituents, and if they want to continue to represent their constituents it is in their favor to side with the people and declare war. 

The theme of Christianity shows up as rhetoric in both President Bush's speech and President Roosevelt's speech. In President Roosevelt's speech he says "With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph -- so help us God." This is the only time the rhetoric of Christianity or God is utilized in President Roosevelt's speech, but it is effective, because it is saying that with God on the side of the American people, they will triumph against the Japanese and going to war with them will not be in vain. The idea of Christianity is a little more prevalent in President George W. Bush's speech as he makes mention of Christianity and God multiple times throughout his speech. In President Bush's speech he quotes a piece Psalm 23 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me,", a very famous passage from the Christian Bible. President Bush's use of Psalm 23 brings attention to the fact that America is facing a dark time, due to these terrorist attacks, but with God by the side of the American people they will make it through. When ending his speech President Bush also says, "God bless America," his use of God bless America, can relate to the famous song God Bless America, but also ties into his use of God and Christianity in his speech; also tying into the theme that God will bring America through its current struggles. Both Presidents effectively utilize the theme of God and Christianity in their speeches, to ease the fears of the American people following the war, and giving them something to tie their stress too.  

Although the tragic moments of Pearl Harbor and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 could not be avoided American Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and George W. Bush effectively utilized word choice and rhetoric in their speeches following these attacks. 

