Similarities Between Kennedy's Inaugural Address And Four Freedoms

Over the history of the United States, there have been endless speeches about the two ideas that this nation started off of, freedom and war. Two of these speeches come to mind when thinking about this relationship in regards to the 20th century, however. The two speeches, which both address the same ideas, speak about them in different ways. For example, the “Four Freedoms” Speech delivered by Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave this association the idea that freedom had to be preserved by being involved in an up and coming war, but the Inaugural Address by John F. Kennedy stated something different and said that we can fight for liberty but not fight in another war. The truth about the two speeches, however, is that these speeches each have their

At the time, many Americans wanted to isolate themselves from the war as they didn’t want to sacrifice anything, especially their sons lives. Mr. President had different opinions on the matter though, FDR thought that we should involve ourselves in the war by aiding the Allies, “Let us say to the democracies: ‘We Americans are vitally concerned in your defense of freedom. We are putting forth our energies, our resources and our organizing powers to give you the strength to regain and maintain a free world. We shall send you, in ever-increasing numbers, ships, planes, tanks, guns. This is our purpose and our pledge.’“ (Roosevelt). To help convince the nation to see the situation like he did, FDR decided on writing The “Four Freedoms” speech. FDR continued to deliver this speech on the appeal of preserving liberty, “Every realist knows that the democratic way of life is at this moment being' directly assailed in every part of the world--assailed either by arms, or by secret spreading of poisonous propaganda by those who seek to destroy unity and promote discord in nations that are still at peace.“ (Roosevelt); on defending freedom from dictators who threatened our democracy, government, and our independence. This is what he meant when he said

We were going through the Cold War, which meant that us and Russia were individually collecting an arsenal of world-ending bombs. As a new president, John F. Kennedy was getting inaugurated into office, he decided that he would make a statement about the silent war. JFK’s inaugural address focused on this issue of the constant threat of nuclear disaster, throughout the speech he would reference and comment about this, as well as the idea of our independence. His second and third paragraphs document this nicely. First, he speaks about the tradition of the inauguration, and on what it represents, “We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom--symbolizing an end as well as a beginning--signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.” (Kennedy). Then right after, he makes his first reference to atom bombs, “For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.” (Kennedy). The rest of the speech speaks about these two