What were Eugene McCarthy's motivations for opposing the Vietnam War? From the early 1960s until 1973, America was going through an anti-war movement. The movement had many leaders, supporters, and followers, including Martin Luther King Jr., Eugene McCarthy, and Robert F. Kennedy. The anti-war movement aimed to demand that the government end American involvement in Southeast Asia and halt the escalation of the Vietnam War. On December 2, 1967, Eugene McCarthy delivered his “Denunciation of the Vietnam War” speech at Chicago State, to the Democratic Party. He speaks out against the war to highlight the immoral and unnecessary battle the United States is waging. In his speech “Denouncing the Vietnam War,” Eugene McCarthy inspires his target audience during the anti-war movement by using the rhetorical devices of logos and personification. In his speech, Eugene McCarthy describes why fighting the Vietnam War was the wrong decision to make. First, he mentions how John F. Kennedy gave hope and courage to America and its people in 1963; on the other hand, in 1967, America was in a period of frustration and distrust due to the escalation of the Vietnam War. McCarthy says America is not the world police and should not make promises it cannot keep. Additionally, the United States was waging a pointless war in which no change was visible. “I see little evidence that the administration has set limits on the price it will pay for a military victory that is becoming less and less secure and more and more hollow and empty of promise” (McCarthy). Throughout the war, the United States made very little progress, although it had decisions p...... middle of paper.... Some citizens strongly opposed the idea that the United States should not become involved in foreign affairs because it would plunge the nation into a period of chaos as was the case during the Vietnam War. Works Cited Eisele, Albert. “Eugene McCarthy.” Commonweal, April 21, 2006: 10. Electronic library. Internet. February 21, 2014. “Eugene J. McCarthy.” Eugene J. McCarthy. California State University, nd Web. March 1, 2014. “Eugene McCarthy for President's 1968 Campaign Pamphlet.” 4President. 4President, nd Web. March 2, 2014. Hall, Mitchell. “The Anti-War Movement of the Vietnam Era.” History Magazine, 2004: 13. Electronic library. Internet. February 21, 2014. McCarthy, Eugene. “Denounce the Vietnam War.” Speech, December 2, 1967. Speech Vault. Speech safe. Internet. January 29, 2014. “Who is Eugene J. McCarthy?” » Saint Benedict College of Saint John's University. Saint Benedict College, nd Web. March 1. 2014.