U.S. President John F. Kennedy delivered his first and only inaugural address at 12:51 (ET) Friday, January 20, 1961,1 immediately after taking the presidential oath of office administered by Chief Justice Earl Warren.2
The address is 1364 words and took 13 minutes and 59 seconds to deliver, from the first word to the last word, not including applause at the end, making it the fourth-shortest inaugural address ever delivered. It is widely considered to be among the best presidential inauguration speeches in American history.3
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Background
John Kennedy was nominated as the Democratic candidate for the presidency in the 1960 presidential election, defeating Republican candidate and then Vice President Richard Nixon. In doing so he became the youngest man elected U.S. president and the first Roman Catholic president.
Drafting
After defeating Republican candidate Richard Nixon, Kennedy began collecting thoughts and ideas for his inauguration speech in late November 1960. He sought suggestions from various friends, aides and counselors, including suggestions from clergymen for biblical quotations. Kennedy then made several drafts using his thoughts and those suggestions.4
The eve of the address was marked by heavy snow, but plans made to cancel the address were overridden.2 After attending the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown, Kennedy headed towards the U.S. Capitol building accompanied by President Dwight Eisenhower to the inaugural ceremony.2
Inauguration Day
Robert Frost attended the inaugural ceremonies, and brought a handwritten poem titled Dedication meant for the President. Although Frost had planned to read aloud a typed copy of the poem at the ceremonies, the sun glare reflecting off the heavy snow that fell the night before made it difficult to read.56 He then recited by memory the The Gift Outright, and handed the original handwritten version of Dedication to John and his wife Jacqueline, who framed the poem and wrote on the back: For Jack. First thing I had framed to be put in your office. First thing to be hung there.5
Notable passages
"Inaugural address of John F. Kennedy"
- "...the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God."
- "Let the word go forth.....that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans."
- "Let every nation know... 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."
- "The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life."
- "Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate."
- "And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country"
- "For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed."
- "All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin."
- "...let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own."
Reaction
Legacy
See also
References
- Clarke, Thurston Ask Not : The Inauguration of John F. Kennedy and the Speech That Changed America. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 2004. ISBN 0-8050-7213-6.
- ^ "White House Diaries". John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
- ^ a b c "John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address". Bartleby. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
- ^ "American Rhetoric". Retrieved on 2008-07-07.
- ^ National Archives and Records Administration. "John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, 1961". Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
- ^ a b "Robert Frost's Original Poem for JFK's Inauguration Finds Way to Kennedy Presidential Library". John F. Kennedy Library and Museum. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
- ^ Lesley Frost Ballantine (1969). "The Poetry of Robert Frost". Henry Holt and Company, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
External links
- John F. Kennedy Library and Museum
- Library of Congress, Presidential Inaugurations
- Text, Audio, Video of Address
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- This page was last modified on 19 November 2008, at 20:40.
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