Credits: Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AfNYztas2c
In light of the recent election, we will analyze Joe Biden’s victory speech from the 2020 election. Most politicans will give victory and concession speeches depending on the result of the election.
Joe Biden is currently the President of the United States. He is a member of the Democratic Party and his vice president is Kamala Harris. He previously served as Vice President under Barack Obama and a senator for Delaware. He was preceded by Donald Trump and will also be succeeded by Trump. After the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden delivered a victory speech. In this blog, we will focus on analyzing his tone, pace, emotional appeal and body language.
Biden’s tone throughout the speech is firm and compassionate. It is known that he struggled with stuttering in the past but in this speech, his speaking is confident and proud. He speaks with a calm cadence and paces his speech intentionally. He pauses after making important points like acknowledging that a record number of Americans had voted. This gives the crowd time to respond and ensures his speech doesn’t feel rushed. His tone becomes more urgent and he pauses for shorter periods when he addresses challenges like racism, COVID 19, and climate change.
His speech is also rich with emotional appeal. He uses lots of anecdotes and tries to relate to the audience. He specifically tries to sympathize with those who voted for his opponent, Donald Trump, and he urges people to stop treating “our opponents as our enemies”. He carefully avoids vilifying his opponents, instead framing the election as a battle for the soul of the nation that transcends partisan divides. Another way he connects with his audience is through personal stories or anecdotes. He makes a note of thanking his family at the beginning of his speech which brings a more personal feel to his victory. He referenced his late son, Beau Biden, which invoked empathy from the crowd. By sharing personal stories and referencing his family’s influence, Biden humanizes himself and reinforces his relatability.
Joe Biden maintains consistent body language during hsi speech. He is consistent with his eye contact, not focusing too long on one section but also not avoiding anyone’s gaze. This creates a sense of direct engagement. His gestures (ex. hand movements) are deliberate and open. He uses lots of extended arms and open palms which draw the attention of the audience. He also maintains a confident posture and has a serious but warm expression.
What can we learn from President Biden’s 2020 victory speech?
Effective public speaking is the culmination of a careful balance of tone, emotional appeal, body language, pacing and more. There are many aspects that go into a good speech. Consider adding personal anecdotes to your speech to make it more relatable to the audience or judge. Be careful not to speak to slowly or quickly and leave short pauses after important points. These are just a few examples of practices we can implement in our speeches to make them more effective.