Jfk Inaugural Address

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Significance of John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, (1961) On January 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy delivered his inaugural address in which he announced that "we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty" (Kennedy 1961). During his inaugural speech, John F. Kennedy, the 35th president, gave a speech on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. with the sole purpose to inspire the nation. The fundamental intention of this speech was to call the nation to combat "tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself" and urged American citizens to participate in public service (Kennedy 1961). Moreover, President Kennedy’s inaugural speech was intended …show more content…

To do this, he hired a speechwriter, Sorensen, to study other inaugural speeches and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address we well. Sorensen was President Kennedy's special counsel, adviser, and primary speechwriter, the role for which he is remembered best. Throughout his inaugural speech, Kennedy makes clear his desire to use his office to dismantle the disadvantage of privation and poverty; he took vigorous action to contribute to equal rights and called for new civil rights legislation. He hoped for America to resume its old mission as the first nation dedicated to the revolution of human rights. Kennedy also addressed the Space war and the Cold War that was going on and how he was going to handle it (Wesson 1961). The legacy and the way the speech was taken were motivation and inspiration for America to rise again. President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address was a reflection of his personal beliefs and life experiences. As a combat hero and avid reader of great speeches throughout history, he recognized the power of words. Kennedy believed that democracy could only thrive when citizens contributed their talents to the greater good, and that it was the responsibility of leaders to inspire acts of sacrifice. When he urged Americans to "Ask not what your country can do for you," he appealed to their highest ideals, delivering a message that resonated deeply with the American people. Despite the grim reality of the nuclear age, Kennedy's speech lifted the spirits of his listeners, and it quickly became a sensation to all Americans to keep moving forward (JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 2023). In conclusion, President John F. Kennedy not only did he motivate America but he changed America and tried to make America great again even though, there were a lot of crises that needed to be