The primary goal of presidential crisis rhetoric appears to be the unification of the people of the United States in support of presidential policy. John F. Kennedy's crisis speaking corresponded both to his conceptions of presidential leadership and to those of the people. If the President of the United States is seen as the personification of the people, no more illustrative example of this kind of identification can be found than in Kennedy's crisis rhetoric. In both the Berlin crisis and the Cuban missile crisis speeches, Kennedy joined the idea of his will and wishes for resolution of the crises with those of the people. He put himself in the position of moral leader and spokesman for the nation by casting the issues under discussion in the mold of basic democratic ideology. He fulfilled his role as public educator while simultaneously urging support for his policies. An analysis of his rhetoric reveals that it performed well in moments of crisis. His speeches succeeded in securing the approval of the people and he triumphed in demonstrating the courage he admired in great leaders. (FL)