Final answer:
John F. Kennedy's speech on June 11, 1963, after African American students enrolled at the University of Alabama, uses the rhetorical appeal of ethos by referencing the authority of the scriptures and the American Constitution to underscore the moral issue of civil rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rhetorical appeal illustrated in John F. Kennedy's statement, ‘We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as old as the scriptures and is as clear as the American Constitution,’ is ethos. Ethos is a rhetorical appeal to authority and credibility, often invoking a set of moral values or ethics.
In this statement, Kennedy invokes the authority of the scriptures and the American Constitution to emphasize the moral righteousness and legitimacy of the civil rights movement, striving to establish credibility with his audience by aligning the civil rights issue with deeply held moral principles and constitutional values.
Throughout his presidency, Kennedy worked to address civil rights for African Americans, including the utilization of federal troops to mitigate resistance during the desegregation process. His speech following the enrollment of African American students at the University of Alabama represented a firm stance in favor of civil rights, reflecting his commitment to ensuring racial justice.
The use of ethos in his addresses was a common tactic, analogous to that used by civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., who often referenced religious and patriotic ideals to bolster their positions.