
Many will never forget the feeling of what it was like to go through the horrible and devastating event on September 11, 2001, and others will never have to know what it truly felt like to live in that time. In George W. Bush’s speech, “Address to the Nation on the Terrorist Attacks”, President Bush sends a message to every American later that day at eight thirty p.m. In order for Bush to keep everyone contained and away from any more danger, he gives this speech and tries to answer everybody’s questions such as, “What is happening next?” or “Is this the end of the world?” in a mannerly fashion. Obviously not knowing exactly what would happen next to America, Bush skillfully uses persuasive devices such as tone, simple syntax and propaganda to ensure every one of their safety at the time.

One of the first things Bush does in his speech is set the tone. He wants to make the people feel as safe as possible considering the circumstances and the only way he can do that is by being calm. Since America was in panic and had no idea what to expect next, Bush reassures them in a calming way that everything will be okay. He reassures them first about their safety saying, “Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks” (468). He also sounds determined to not only make sure that the country is safe, but also that no more violence and attacks will happen and kill innocent people. He wants to let the people know that the whole world is not against them, but in fact a lot of countries are with them. He expresses this to the people when he says, “America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world and we stand together to win the war against terrorism” (468). By including other countries and making people understand that this will be resolved, Bush’s determination helps calm the nation’s anxiety about what could happen next. At the very end of his speech, Bush once again reassures the people about their safety and how, “America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time” (468).

Another way Bush comforts the nation is through simple syntax. In the beginning he uses short sentences such as, “Moms and Dads” (467) and “Friends and neighbors” (467) referring to those who lost their lives in the terrible incident. Bush uses this technique to not only make people realize that it wasn’t just people who died, but that they also had families and friends. Although he makes it more depressing by reminding everyone how special the lost ones were, he comforts the listeners because when people are grieving, they want to see emotions from others who are mourning as well. Once he starts talking about why there was an attack in the first place, he says, “But they have failed. Our country is strong” (468). His tone shifts to determination rather than sorrow. This shows his feelings about the attack and how he is determined and will find a way to fight back. With that being said, he also mentions, “Our military is powerful, and it’s prepared” (468). His short and simple statements have great effectiveness on his speech and allows the people to feel safer and more understanding of the situation. 

To further more comfort the people, he connects with them using the propaganda technique of bandwagon. He repeatedly uses the words “I” and most of all “we” and “are” to make the nation feel as a whole and as a family who is all suffering together. In the quote, “America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world” (468), Bush makes them feel proud for being American and how there are others out there who are jealous of the American “freedom” and “opportunity” that they don’t get to have. Bush also uses biblical allusions to tranquilize many of the people and make it more personal. The first thing Bush asks the people for are prayers. He then includes himself and says, “And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me.’” (468). Any biblical reference will always make people feel relieved and calmer knowing that there is one Man who can protect them.  

In a short and understandable speech, Bush is able to control the environment with his calm and determined tone talking about the Nine Eleven devastation. Not only does this affect the nation mentally, it also affects it emotionally. Bush communicates with the people in an encouraging way through the use of literary techniques to enforce the security and safety of the nation. One of the quotes he ends his speech with is, “None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world” (469) which allows the country men and women to feel like they are at his level and he is just another American and not simply the President of the United States. 
