Essay On Jfk Inaugural Address

John F. Kennedy won one of the narrowest election victories in the history of the United States to become president. Out of nearly 69 million votes cast, he triumphed over Nixon with only 118,550 votes. Cold War tensions dominated the campaign of 1960 and heightened nationalistic sentiments. To add to it, the Soviets take a lead with the launch of Sputnik. Many in prominent positions of government spoke of their fear of the U.S. being left behind. Early in the campaign, JFK had already capitalized on the Cold War rhetoric after declaring that the U.S. would resist communism around the world. Measuring both the Cold War tensions and his narrow victory, he would look to embolden the nation while sending a message of peace and prosperity to the

The tradition of giving the inaugural address dates back to George Washington himself. In his case, only the senate received Washington’s address. Later presidents, however, would broadcast themselves through loudspeakers to large audiences and, soon enough, directly on television. The purpose of an inaugural address is to set forth a vision for the nation and outline some attainable goals for the presidency. This particular address was not just for the people of the United States, but also a message to the world. The United States found itself in a precarious position as it vied for geopolitical dominance with the Soviet Union. Both factions looked to one-up the other in the arms and space race with an increasing nuclear arsenal and rocket launches. Therefore, in his address, Kennedy spoke about curbing the intensification of the Cold War. We can observe an example as he recites, “A struggle against common enemies of man, tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.” His idealistic rhetorical approach inspires emotions not just for U.S. citizens, but for the entire

One of his primary goals as a new president was to transition smoothly into his position, as well as garner as much support as he can. His starting line illustrates the idea perfectly. He begins with: “We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end as well as a beginning.” He masterfully links a very prevalent ideal of freedom to his inauguration as president, while his rhetoric provides a distinctly reassuring feature. Another popular use of ideals by politicians is appealing to the poor. He refers to a large majority of struggling people in the U.S. by saying, “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” His rhetoric is wide-ranging, as the beliefs of the entire nation are wide-ranging. He appeals to nationalistic sentiments, speaks to the struggling, and calls for peace across the