JFK Inauguration Speech Background Info

John F. Kennedy Inauguration Speech

This speech is important because John F Kennedy was being inaugurated and many people felt he was going to be the change that they wanted to see in America. It was a time of hardship and war, where a man like Kennedy as president could work to unite and grow the nation of America. Not long after he was elected, John F Kennedy was assassinated.

I chose this speech because it was well written and well delivered. It resonated with the people of America at the time, as it still does today. Because he was assassinated, the speech itself becomes a timeless representation of this man, the aspiring uniter of America.

The tone of the speech is determined, patriotic, and powerful. It is encouraging and exciting, even breathtaking. Hope is evidently created. A nationalistic drive I’m sure can be found in the onlookers on that day. Looking back, the speech holds great sorrow and remembrance for the life of John F Kennedy.

Words such as Nation, You, God, The World, Man, Power, Same, We, Let the word go forth, tempered, and proud are all emphasized. He tends to emphasize many of the strong subject words, many of which are important or apply directly to the audience that he speaks to. Many dramatic pauses are taken advantage of, typically after each thought, allowing time for reflection and anticipation.

The strong subject words where people or things are directly referred to I definitely feel should feel loud. A soft tapering off should be used to accent the dramatic negative phrases in the speech.

There is much call to action in this speech. Kennedy addresses the people and proclaims “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed.” He is referring to the present America and how it is their time to make a change towards bettering the country and world that they live in. He emphasizes the people’s power, and the ability to make a difference.

This speech gives me goosebumps. It is a powerful representation of a man who served and died for his country. The timeless spirit of American is captured, and still remains relevant to this day.

What a breathtaking experience it must have been to have listened to the speech in person. People most definitely were captivated. A dramatic, overwhelming, sense of pride and togetherness must have united the audience.

This speech was in the here and now. It was timeless and was a single, unrepeatable event in itself. It is very unlikely there could be another interpretation of it.

John F Kennedy was elected president in the 1960 elections and won against Richard Nixon. Major events during his presidency included the Bay of Pigs Invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the building of the Berlin Wall, the Space Race, the African-American Civil Rights Movement, and early stages of the Vietnam War. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was charged with the crime, but he was shot and killed by Jack Ruby two days later, before a trial could take place.