John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Speech

Improved Essays
The Everlasting Flame
“We must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John F. Kennedy spoke these words and wholeheartedly embodied this idea. Throughout his life Kennedy sought to change the world for the better. He argued for peace and equality of man, and he fought hard to attain them. As president, the fire glowing within Kennedy seeped out to light the country. His charisma and youthfulness made him adored by the American people and his strength and determination inspired them to follow his lead, taking it upon themselves to institute change. In Kennedy’s inaugural speech, he addressed the change he wanted to make in the world, establishing a legacy he wished to fulfill. Fifty years later, after Kennedy has
…show more content…
Despite his brief presidency, John F. Kennedy left behind a long-lasting legacy marked by progress, harmony, and individual responsibility.
In John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, he is portrayed as an emblem of change and youth. Speaking to America, Kennedy embraces progress, inspires hope, and promotes responsibility. He strives for unification and conciliation in the United States and beyond. Although ethos is automatically established even before he steps into the spotlight, Kennedy further employs this appeal in referring to American heritage. Utilizing the all-encompassing pronoun “we” (Kennedy), he emphasizes the shared

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    In his reign as president he encouraged people and tried to make a positive impact. In his death he left a legacy of a president who was lost too soon and could have accomplished more if given the time to do so. Some people can still remember where they were when they heard the news of his death (John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, 2017). He was not immune to the problems with presidency but he was focused on making a change for the nation (John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, 2017). He encouraged people to put differences aside and work together for the good of the nation (John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, 2017).…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This time, he connected with the everyday citizens with Christian faith, and relates to their common beliefs in God to persuade his audience. By asking for God’s help in his task of working for American freedom, Kennedy created an appeal to the audience’s religion and common experiences, and gained the support of his listeners who also have a deep and emotional faith in God. Kennedy finished by giving the new American generation his word of confidence, and he stated that he does not “believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation” (3). Once again with the purpose of captivating the audience’s emotions, Kennedy created feelings of honor and self-worth in his American audience to give them the sense that with hard work, they could reach their goal. By putting his trust in this generation, Kennedy persuaded America to…

    • 1397 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1960s Dbq

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In Kennedy’s Inaugural address he states, “And so, my fellow Americans: Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country”. This address impacted the citizens because it inspired them to new possibilities. Also, it raised their goals of themselves, and of their nation. People joined the Peace Corps, Green Berets, and hundreds of people went to Washington to be part of the “New Frontier”. In addition, students went to law school or into programs with social benefit.…

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In his “Inaugural Address”, President John F. Kennedy uses pathos to convince the audience of the benefits of democracy and the spreading of its principles. Throughout his speech Kennedy uses specific techniques to arouse powerful feelings of nationalism within the listeners. One of these techniques is parallelism. He exclaims that this time in America is, “...symbolizing an end as well as a beginning…” because a new chapter in history is about to commence (2). He attempts to excite them at the prospect of changes that will strengthen the United States and diffuse Democracy to the other nations of the world.…

    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural address is still one of the most sought after a referenced addresses used today. It covers the parallel between 1776 and the founding fathers intentions for the United States, as well as addressing the similarities still in action and being fought for in John’s day. In the context of 1961, the United States was now roughly 15 years removed from World War II; however, the world was once again brought into another fight for peace through what was the Cold War era in Kennedy’s time. At the time of his election, the America people were living in fear of the potential End war-- as spoken of in his address-- since the creation of such technology has enabled humanity to have as John states “the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.” (Elements of Argument, 85).…

    • 1184 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    John F. Kennedy's Legacy

    • 1763 Words
    • 8 Pages

    "Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. " This is one of the many great quotes John F. Kennedy has said. If you didn't know this already I am the Vice President of the United States of America, Lyndon B. Johnson. We should all know who John F. Kennedy is, but the real question is do you know much about the extraordinary accomplishments JFK had in presidency. Here today I am going to let you guys know about those accomplishments and about his ongoing legacy.…

    • 1763 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    John F Kennedy Legacy

    • 1335 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In a haunting prediction of his future, John Fitzgerald Kennedy perfectly described his legacy when he said “a man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on”. The most distinctive feature that relates to John F. Kennedy is the phrase ‘a man may die’ due to his assassination, but his ideas and his presence still live in America. From every event that Kennedy endured in his presidency to the moment he was murdered, his life is preserved in the minds of those he influenced through the tasks he achieved as our nation’s 35th president. On May 29, 1917, John Fitzgerald “Jack” Kennedy was born as the second child of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Kennedy.…

    • 1335 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In contrast, Kennedy gives thought provoking questions, that causes one to reevaluate their stance. He asks questions such as, “...ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country. ”(Kennedy 513). Both of them use emotion to captivate their…

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In 1961, John F. Kennedy took the podium after being sworn in as the 35th president of the United States. People gathered around, despite the bitter cold, in hopes of hearing reassurance from their new national leader. At this time in history America was struggling with social inequalities, racial tensions, and a fight against communism. With the current issues in mind, Kennedy sought to invoke a sense of unity across the nation. Through the use of rhetorical devices such as strong dictation, emotional appeals, powerful language, and brevity, Kennedy was able to deliver and immensely effective speech that inspired and emboldened his audience.…

    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A saying to get his chance at being the President of the United States, to gain the trust of all the American citizens, and to put his foot down and place a mark to any other country that he isn’t joking, but he only means business and solutions. He stayed cool, calm, and collected, John F. Kennedy ends his speech announcing, “Knowing that here on Earth, God’s work must truly be our own.” he declares this to notify the citizens of the United States that the quest for peace won’t start or solve the planet’s problems, meaning Kennedy would not like to go to war with Russia, or anyone at all. He only plans to look for peace and solutions and he is the true definition of trying to make the world better, but making America Greater while doing so. In my opinion, Kennedy puts on an amazing show for his inaugural speech, and it will light a spark of greatness to his although short, but his great presidency and will be a role-model for the following presidents to come.…

    • 1046 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    It is also possible that Kennedy’s words were overly optimistic. Attempting to create peace in this world certainly seems to be an impossibility when one considers the number of conflicts and atrocities that take place throughout the world. Kennedy’s short time as president has, however, left an enduring legacy. The “Peace Speech” might not have had the enduring effects of creating an enduring optimism among Americans, but it did help to alleviate the fear that had crept into the life of many Americans’ lives. The consequences of the speech were not merely empty rhetoric.…

    • 1792 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    With a clever use of schemes and energizing use of tropes, President John F. Kennedy creates an inspiring and unifying tone that, through effective organization and appeals to pathos, conveys the purpose of his inaugural address to the engaged American public. Kennedy, being well known for his captivating appeals to pathos, uses this strength to carefully craft several aspects of his speech including the word choice and tone. To invigorate his audience and capture their attention, the president strategically organizes his speech in a way that it first fills the listeners with pride to be Americans and second addresses the more serious and action-taking matters that the audience would be more likely to carry out once patriotism was practically…

    • 1401 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During the climax of the Cold War, newly elected United States president, John F. Kennedy, delivered his inaugural address and presented his political agenda for the upcoming years as president. Kennedy’s purpose in his inaugural address is to unite nations and peoples across world to promote worldwide peace and international security. To achieve his purpose and inspire the audience, Kennedy employed a variety of rhetorical strategies. Throughout his speech, Kennedy uses juxtaposition to develop his claims and ideas while refuting opposing ideas.…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This new sense of responsibility further created a desire to restore peace and unity. In addition, President Kennedy reminds citizens of the foundation of their country: freedom. He states, “ask…what together we can do for the freedom of man” (464). By using the words “together” and “freedom,” President Kennedy generates a sense of patriotism. This patriotism in turn makes the citizens of America want to preserve their freedom as well as their country.…

    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kennedy utilized pathos throughout his speech by evoking patriotism to elicit the emotions of his audience and by portraying his personal views. The exploitation of pathos within the speech was one aspect that had formulated the legacy he has departed from. For instance, when he encourages the nations to work together to strive for a democracy rather than tyranny, and bolsters each citizen to take a role in progress towards peace, he is illustrating his usage of pathos. Kennedy states within his speech, “ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country”. This quote empowers the people due to the emotional facet of patriotism, telling the citizens they are called to be a part of a greater solution to fight against tyranny, poverty, disease, and war.…

    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays