John F. Kennedy Inaugural Speech

Who Wrote:

U.S. President John F. Kennedy delivered this, his Inaugural Speech, on January 20, 1961.

Audience:

His audience was first and foremost the average American citizen. His second audience was the free & sovereign nations of the world including our traditional allies, fellow republics of the Americas, and newly created nation-states. Our Cold War adversaries of the time, the Communist nations led by the Soviet Union, was his third audience.

Represent:

Kennedy represents change. He was the youngest person ever elected President and the first President to have been born in the 20^th century. “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and for alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans.”

But he is also saying to the world that America is determined to defend and promote freedom around the globe. “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 the success of liberty.”

What is being said and/or requested:

After a close election, Kennedy is seeking a national consensus which he believes would benefit the people of the world as well as American citizens. He feels that freedom is facing extreme danger from the spread of Communism around the world and that maximum effort is going to have to be expended to save it. He calls on Americans to defend freedom, saying “the energy, the faith, and 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.”

He believes that the goal of a better world can only be reached if everyone participates in the effort. “And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” He asks our allies and the world to join us in “… a grand global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind.”

He is requesting from our adversaries that “both sides begin anew the quest for peace.” He suggests that talking is better than fighting. “Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”

How is it being said:

Kennedy delivered the speech with determination, youthful energy, emotional vigor and in an active voice.

What proof and/or justification is being given:

With the invention & deployment of nuclear weapons, the modern world is too dangerous to not take this course of action. “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.”

Later in the speech he says the alternative could lead to mankind’s destruction. “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.”

What is the historical significance/relevance:

A change in strategy is being taken towards our Communist adversaries and the Soviet Union. Instead of only escalating competition that may lead ultimately to nuclear war, Kennedy is trying to put the two superpowers on a new path toward peace with his idea to “…bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.” This could be thru negotiations, treaties and the United Nations.

How the premise or theme fit into the historical context we are reading about in our textbook:

At the time of Kennedy’s inauguration, foreign relations are changing. The domination of international affairs by only the United States and the Soviet Union is diminishing. Nationalist movements dedicated to self-determination & human rights in the developing world is beginning to rise and move towards center stage.

Oklahoma Storm is Over

It's friday and instead of relaxing I get to play catch up in my classes after the power was out for 8 days! THANKS OKLAHOMA STORMS FOR STRESSING ME OUT RIGHT BEFORE MIDTERMS! I left a clip above my street was kind of like the last clip but 8 power poles were ALL the way down to the ground. I was driving at the time of the storm. I am lucky nothing fell on my car. It was way nastier than even the video makes it look. Everything was frozen like an ice cube and everyday it just weighed down more trees and power lines. So glad it is over. One night got down to 12 degrees and we still had no power. My boyfriend is a Physical Therapist and we went around to his patients houses and delivered candles, flashlights, and coffee and tea.

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Inaugural Speech; March 4, 1933

Who wrote:

This was the Inaugural Speech of President Franklin D. Roosevelt (President of the U.S.A. from 1933 to 1945); delivered March 4 1933

Audience:

It was presented primarily to the citizens of the United States.

But one paragraph is directed towards foreign governments (“…I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor…”). Two paragraphs are aimed at the Congress (“…in the event that the Congress shall fail…I shall ask the Congress for…Executive power to wage a war against the emergency…”).

Represent:

FDR's speech represented hope for the American people during the Great Depression. He is promising the country immediate relief from its suffering, a return to prosperity & good times, and reform of those institutions & practices which plunged the United States into the worst economic crisis in its history.

What is being said:

When Roosevelt was inaugurated in March 1933, the U.S. was at the climax of the worst depression in its history. The speech lays out clearly what the #1 goal of his administration will be (“Our greatest primary task is to put people to work.”). Roosevelt addresses many issues that face the country at this time. He focuses much of his speech on the Great Depression. He takes the financial community to task for encouraging a culture of greed during the 1920s. He blames the economic crisis on financiers and bankers. He declares this as the main reason for the economic collapse. He also discusses themes about the meaningless of materialism, unemployment, the greatness of the constitutional system, and the bright future America can look forward to if everyone pitches in to work hard for the common good.

How is it being said:

The speech is a rallying cry to the country to change its attitude from despair to optimism (“…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…”) and the tone is that of a can-do attitude (“This is no unsolvable problem is we face it wisely and courageously.”)

What proof:

Franklin proposed that employment gains "can be accomplished in part by direct recruiting by the Government itself, treating the task as we would treat the emergency of a war, but at the same time, through this employment, accomplishing greatly needed projects to stimulate and reorganize the use of our natural resources.” He gives a listing in the same paragraph of many actions that can be taken to solve the nation’s problems, but they will only work if they are immediately implemented (“…can never be helped by merely talking about it. We must act. We must act quickly.”).

Historical Significance:

Through his speech, Franklin acknowledged the fears, tragedies, hopes, and dreams that lingered in the American people. Roosevelt says the people have made their wishes known for a:

much larger, activist Federal government (“…registered a mandate that they want direct, vigorous action.”), and

more powerful Chief Executive who will set the agenda for Congress and lead the nation (“They have asked for discipline and direction under leadership. They have made me the present instrument of their wishes.”).

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Pictures

Second Day

First post!
I have to leave at 9am to catch a plane back to Lawton, Oklahoma where I am living. I am so confused! But I am just keeping up with the reading and class discussion questions.