John F. Kennedy's Inauguration 50 Years On

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, otherwise known as JFK, was an important figure in the lives of many during the 1960s. Due to this, many works have been written regarding the details of his assassination as well as his legacy. In every piece, a unique perspective of this appalling event is portrayed. The excerpt from the biography, “A Warm, Clear Day in Dallas” by Marta Randall, presents this event in the most concise yet informative manner and is the most compelling piece that portrays the legacy of JFK.

Once FDR’s Inauguration ceremony concluded, he was faced with the damaging effects of the banking crisis that have plagued the nation’s economy. FDR was only in office for a single day when he “called Congress into a special session” because he wanted to start facing the beast head on starting with the banking crisis. The Emergency Banking Act was proposed, developed and signed in a signal day on March 9, 1933. This newly enacted law was “drawn up under pressure and passed promptly in order to facilitate the reopening of the nation’s banks“(Preston, 585). The Emergency Banking Act stated that there will be “12 Federal Reserve banks” that will be issuing additional currency to people with good assets and the banks that will be reopened will

John F. Kennedy once said, “the energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it-and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.”, impactfully affecting citizens around the world. Furthermore, these were some of the famous words contributing to the start of a new era. While comparing John F. Kennedy’s Address, Inside Kennedy’s Inauguration, 50 Years On, and the documented photo of Kennedy swearing in, a conclusion can be drawn that styles of the three documents convey the legacy the famous, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Ongoing themes of patriotism, progression, international support, and a new era throughout Kennedy’s inauguration speech portray his legacy. Also contributing

On snowy, freezing cold January morning in 1961, five hundred thousand people lined Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. The temperature was only twenty-two degrees Fahrenheit and eight inches of snow blanketed the ground in the American capitol that morning, causing even more traffic than usual, but that didn’t stop these hundreds of thousands of people from attending John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s inauguration ceremony. Little did they know, they would be hearing one of the most famous and memorable speeches of all time. Out of all forty five presidents, the inaugural address that American citizens would remember more than all the rest was that of John F. Kennedy. But what made it so memorable? After all, each president has given at least one, sometimes even two or more, inaugural address. Kennedy’s speech was neither the most elaborate nor the longest; it had one thousand three hundred and sixty four words and took thirteen minutes and fifty five seconds to read and it used relatively simple language. The importance of the address laid not in the length or the intricacy, but in the theme and the rhetoric. With figurative language, themes of unity and freedom, and appeal to Ethos, Logos, and Pathos, Kennedy’s address became not only one of the most memorable inaugural addresses, but one of the most memorable speeches of all time.

It is the year 2325. I am a very prominent archaeologist who has just been summoned to a dig site because my colleagues have made a unique discovery. They have found a time capsule from the 1960s that was buried long ago. Very carefully, my colleagues and I unearthed this time capsule, and inside the time capsule we found five items that define the era of the 1960s. The very first item that we found was a news paper clipping about the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. John F Kennedy, affectionately known by his family as Jack, and by the nation as JFK; was the 35th president of the United States beginning in January 1961 up until November 1963 when he was tragically shot down during a motorcade in downtown Dallas Texas Dealey Plaza. The President was beginning to work on his presidential campaign for the next term, he had not officially made it known to the public but I have a feeling that many of the people just knew that he would run again and possibly take the win. This was traumatizing for his wife Jacqueline, not only because she witnessed his death, but because she very rarely went along with her husband on campaigns. As the Lincoln Convertible drove by Texas school book depository Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired three shots from the sixth floor, wounded President Kennedy and seriously wounding the Governor. President JFK was pronounced dead thirty minutes, later at the Dallas Parkland Hospital. JFK had many ideas in mind to help

Even though John F. Kennedy was well known as a man passionate about the United States, his family and friends recall the humanistic moments of Kennedy’s life, both of which are demonstrated repeatedly by the sources. One of the sources is Kennedys inauguration speech which showed is passion towards the United States and the feelings it evokes in the audience made it an important moment in history, the proud tone that Kennedy continues all the way through the speech also helps evokes emotion in the audience. Article two was a news article by Eleanor Cliff titled “50 years” that shows the memories from Kennedy’s family and friends 50 years later, the memories create a very nostalgic tone while also showing Kennedy passion and the importance of his inauguration at the same time. The photo of inauguration is comparable to the speech in a way that the photo shows the passion and the importance of the moment and the tone is dignified but also proud like the speech.

On June 26, 1963, the famous words “Ich bin ein Berliner” changed the world. These words, which in English mean “I am a Berliner,” were delivered by John F. Kennedy in West Berlin. His speech was viewed worldwide and brought national attention to the Berlin Crisis and the Cold War. Today, most people have heard about the speech, but may not know a whole lot about it. They may ask themselves the following questions:

John F Kennedy’s inaugural speech is widely considered one of the best speeches ever given. By the time Kennedy was elected, he had earned a degree from Harvard University, spent time in the Navy during the Second World War, and was already enjoying a successful political career serving in both houses of Congress. Kennedy delivered his eloquent inaugural speech to thousands of people on the steps of the Capitol building and millions more watching the broadcast on television which was the first to be shown in color. Something that I believe that he did better than other political speakers is that not only did he attempt to comfort his audience of the fear of the spread of communism, but he also successfully maintained the same tone throughout his speech; not only did that make his speech easier to comprehend and well received but it has continued to inspire generations since. Ultimately, the newly elected president delivered one of the most quoted and well known inaugural speeches to date.

John F. Kennedy one of the most influential presidents in history, inspiring “ a new generation of optimism in America”. Kennedy was the youngest president to come into office in 1960. Kennedy was the 35th president of America but was unfortunately assassinated on November 22nd 1963. The history of the U.S. could have been completely different if Kennedy were still alive, how many tragedies could’ve been prevented and how many opportunities John F. Kennedy could’ve opened up for the United States. Coming from a family of 9 children Kennedy worked his way up to the presidency to change and prevent a number of things while he was in office.

A leader’s legacy is portrayed in a multitude of ways: from the goals and dreams he sought for, from stories and memories of the people he’s touched, and from snapshots of his accomplishments. John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address of 1961, his most famous speech, “Inside Kennedy’s Inauguration, 50 Years On”, an article by Eleanor Clift that gives a detailed description of the president’s inauguration, and an image, “Inauguration of John F. Kennedy”, by the United States Army Corp, all convey the impact of John F. Kennedy in their own unique fashion. The legacy of John Fitzgerald Kennedy is expressed through a variety of similar and contrasting styles appealing to the same rhetorical appeals but further differentiated by their syntax and

White’s article provides more insights on how the image of President Kennedy was depicted to the irritation of ideological and political rivals. In his 1961 inaugural speech, Kennedy described

On January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy presented a world-famous inaugural speech. People all over the nation and world were overtaken with a feeling of new hope and inspiration. The three documents presented in this activity, John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech, Eleanor Clift’s “Inside Kennedy’s Inauguration, 50 Years On”, and the photo captured by the United States Army Signal Corps all convey the feelings felt during the moment of Kennedy’s inauguration. John Kennedy, Eleanor and the United States Army Corps all used different methods of style for influencing their audience, however they all had a similar purpose to draw out emotions from those reading and looking at their work.

"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names"(Brainy Quotes). John F Kennedy said this during one of his speeches, and ironically no one will ever forget the name of the person who murdered him, Lee Harvey Oswald, an enemy of the American Public. When Kennedy ran for office, he had to seem like the more experienced candidate and appeal to all of the people. During his speeches, Kennedy engaged his audiences and they hung on his every word. However, the tragic event of his assassination devastated the country and is something that is still talked about and remembered fifty years later. John F. Kennedy had a major impact on the 1960's and today through his election, influential public speeches, and his heartbreaking

Unlike Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961, Eleanor Clift’s, Inside Kennedy’s Inauguration, 50 Years On, used only pathos and personal accounts from citizens to narrate their similar overall style of unity persuasion. Clift added personal accounts such as one from Richard Goodwin stating, “Dick, did you see the Coast Guard contingent in the parade? There was not a single black face in that delegation, and I want you to do something about it right away.”, to emphasize Goodwins trust in Kennedy to unify races. This statement, concluded that the author had faith in Kennedy, and was persuading her audience to do so too. Pathos was also utilized briefly throughout the dialogue between Rep. Charles Buckley and Seigenthaler that articulates ”What’s the

January 20, 1961 will forever be a day that marks a special moment in time in which President John Fitzgerald Kennedy delivered one of the most memorable speeches in American History. His Inaugural address is one in which many famous quotes come from and one that is emulated in present speeches. In order to understand the importance of this inoculation one must understand the atmosphere of our nation at that time and what President Kennedy was trying to get across to his constituents. In this essay I will give you background information pertaining to the state our union in 1961; discuss the tone of the speech; and finally examine the impact that President Kennedy’s term played on our nation.