TOW #11- Nonfiction: Bill Clinton's August 17 speech to the American public: Monica Lewinsky

         In 1998 a sex scandal known as the Lewinsky scandal emerged when a sexual relationship was revealed between the president of the United States, Bill Clinton, and a white house employee, Monica Lewinsky. This world wide controversy led to a chain of perjury and eventually an impeachment of the president during his second term. Bill Clinton gave a public speech admitting to his affair to the nation on August 6, 1998. Throughout this speech, Clinton's use of personal anaphora and apologetic diction all contribute toward creating the sincere and humble speech he aimed to deliver as a president who has recently lost the trust of his followers and in grave danger of being impeached.

          Clinton wants to regain the trust of Americans and help them understand that he acknowledges the fault in what he has done. Upon acknowledging the events that took place and what he would like moving forward, Clinton speaks in first person beginning almost every sentence with "I did", "I know", "I can" and so on. By starting with "I", he makes his speech seem more personal when speaking to citizens everywhere. He is also trying to get off of the pedestal he is put on as a president and transform himself into a simple person who has made a mistake. He wants to make the public feel closer to him and feel like they can relate and sympathize for him. This is further achieved through an anaphoric use of the term "you". These terms are extremely effective when Clinton initiates, "I am speaking to you", making the viewer feel a connection to him as a person and not as a president. The president also used a massive amount of apologetic diction in order to show his audience the remorse he feels for his "scandalous" behavior and perjury. Clinton explains to the nation that his affair, "...constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on..." his "...part for which..." he is "...solely and completely responsible." Not only does he admit to what he has done, but he takes complete responsibility for it and damages it caused. In a nation where most people most likely see his as a selfish and greedy man at the moment, he is taking the first step toward attempting to receive their empathy, admission. He refrains from explaining his personal feelings toward Lewinsky or his personal life being exposed, he simply takes responsibility which has a much more positive effect.
          Bill Clinton successfully delivers a speech to the public admitting his faults in having a sexual affair with Monica Lewinsky. Although the nation viewed him as an untrustworthy president, he manages to humble himself and appear apologetic for the what he has done through his use of remorseful diction and personal anaphora.