By the end of 1961, Kennedy led America into what was to be the beginning of the Vietnam War, a long conflict that would cost many American lives. Due to his assassination in 1963, his didn’t live to see it through. In his speech, Kennedy encouraged Americans to be proud that they were of the few generations, “granted the role of defending freedom,” but by 1965, many were disillusioned with what they saw as a costly and pointless cause. Three years later in 1968, nearly all Americans abhorred the war efforts. President Kennedy had much to do, and unfortunately not much time to do it. For the immediate moment, his efforts to get the public behind him had worked well; even his first speech as President is remembered fifty years later. For better