Compare And Contrast Franklin D Roosevelt And Jfk Inaugural Address

Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy were both memorable presidents who delivered inspirational speeches in some of America’s, and the world's darkest hours. These men inspired generations with their speeches to be involved in historical events and conflicts that would determine the future of America, and freedom around the world. Both Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” speech and Kennedy’s inaugural address both wanted to inspire the people to help achieve world peace. But however, due to the historical context of their times, their purpose and definition of freedom differs from each other.

Roosevelt delivered his Four Freedoms Speech on January 6th, 1941. Two years after world war two had begun. Germany had already invaded Poland along with

Kennedy gave his Inaugural Address. His speech that motivated the entire nation of the United States and inspired thousands. Different from Roosevelt, Kennedy gave his speech about two decades after world war two. He gave his speech during the peak of the cold war. The world was close to total destruction by war and by the feared nuclear bomb both sides of the cold war had and stockpiled. In Kennedy’s speech, almost the opposite to Roosevelt, he wanted to stop stockpiling and creating weapons of war, for fear we could one day destroy all mankind by war. “Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we off not a pledge but but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.” 12. Also with wanting to stop creating and stockpiling weapons, Kennedy wanted to encourage that together as a world, we should work together for the betterment of mankind, rather than focus on rivalries and war. “Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead if belaboring those problems which divides us… Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.” 16-18. Kennedy wanted to promote world peace and the safety of the U.S and mankind through lowering the amounts of weapons, rather than Roosevelt who wanted to achieve the same goal through creating more weapons. Also different from Roosevelt's speech, Kennedy never really defined freedom. He mentions it and says how important it is for generations to defend freedom, but he never goes into detail on what freedom really