Home > History Group > Discussion Board

how did it make you feel and think

Honestly? Not that much. Historically, the address is important. It shows Kennedy's awareness of the historical situation in which he takes office. One section in particular shows the Cold War looming:

" But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course—both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war."

This is a man who is aware of the threat of weapons. At the same time, it shows an awareness of a particularly American lineage, and some awareness of practical limits. Finally, I love this statement: " My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

However, this over-commits the U.S. It promises interventionist foreign policy. It leads directly into Vietnam more actively. And, on a separate note, the way Isaiah is evoked shows a failure to understand Communism.

I remember watching the inaugural address when I was young and I was very impressed with it at the time. You have to remember that the Cold War was almost at its high point and people were frightened. The speech more motivational in nature than informative. Kennedy realized that, after eight years of the relatively stoic Dwight Eisenhower, the American people needed to be rallied and made to feel things were going to be OK. In an age where several of my neighbors were building bomb shelters so they would survive a nuclear attack, Kennedy promised to take us to the moon. His famous line, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but you can do for your country" foreshadowed the creation of the peace corps. Suddenly, Americans felt they could do something about their circumstances instead of cowering in their bomb shelters. It's true that Kennedy was blocked by Congress and did not deliver as much as he promised. It took Lyndon Johnson, who had much political experience as Senate Majority Leader, to push through many of Kennedy's programs after Kennedy's assassination. But in 1960, all of that was somewhere in the future and on the day of his speech, Kennedy brought hope to million of Americans.

A superb piece of rhetoric, JFK's words were as inspiring was as his delivery.  Yet, in the context of this speech and what has occurred, there seems a tragic twist.

For instance, Kennedy reminds the American people of the first revolution with insight that a great social revolution was beginning.  And, while such a revolution was within the "rights of man" of the constitution, other U. S. involvements have been  questionable (e.g. The involvement in another country's civil war--Vietnam). 

Kennedy challenged not only the South ("those new States we welcome to the ranks of the free"), but also the rest of the world:  "Let every nation know...that we shall pay any price, ...oppose any foe...to assure the survival and the success of liberty.  In light of the U.S.'s becoming "policeman" of the world, this country has gone beyond the intentions of the first president George Washington who strongly urged America to not get involved in "foreign entanglements."

Perhaps the most prophetic words were his  most quoted:  "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country."  For, nowadays tragic consequences have come from people not asking this question of themselves; their self-serving interests have led to the present-day collapse of the economy, crime,etc. 

Certainly citizens of the United States would have done well to have heeded Kennedy's profound question.

When it came to foreign policy there was little difference between the Democrats and the Republicans in the 1960 election, both candidates were 'cold warriors'. Kennedy's victory and the inaugural address he gave confirmed his 'cold warrior' position for all the world to hear. I think the literary techinque of meter was genius in the speech: 

         "Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty" 

Kennedy's speech inspired Americans to see that the 'idea' of America was in their reach. The idea that to aspire to the ideals of the founding fathers had profound effects on many Americans. Kennedy renewed something that had been lost in America. No one could actually put their finger on what was lost, however it was Kennedy who had tapped into the possibility that what was lost could be found....Again. 

"The torch has been past to a new generation" was a good example of the dividing line that separated pre-1960 America.  By then WWII had been over for 15 years, and yet America still was very much in the same era as far as culture.  Beginnings of change were coming in the 1950s (music, civil rights, etc.), but the 1960s was definitely different.  You might say that in the 1960s the torch had been passed and it was used to set fires, both for good and ill.

As far as the line "Ask not what your country can do for you...." it seems to have fallen an many deaf ears.  With the Vietnam War and Watergate, not many people seemed to want to do anything for their country.