John F Kennedy's Inaugural Address

Although John F. Kennedy only served a short tenure of less than one thousand days, he became one of the most beloved and well-known Presidents of the United States. In 1961, as the Cold War reached its culmination, America stood in a time of turmoil that struggled with racial inequalities and social injustices. Fearful and confused the American people yearned for a powerful yet compassionate leader. Kennedy provided this reassurance to the American people when he was sworn in as the 35th president of the United States. Despite being amongst International chaos, Kennedy’s inaugural address touched many as he sought to invoke unity within the nation. One of Kennedy’s best attributes as a President was his ability to give eloquent speeches that …show more content…
Being an Inaugural Address, Kennedy focuses on emotionally charged language such as “liberty” and “freedom” to establish a sense of patriotism amongst the audience. Specifically, this can be seen when he states, “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans.” This quote is a ploy to the public that times are changing, in search of unification. In addition, this quote makes the audience feel a sense of national pride about a brighter future for the United States. He continues this theme of unity by stating, “Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.” Through this statement, Kennedy aims to establish a sense of compassion for everyone. The importance of unity is stressed here rather than trying to divide nations through hate and disparity. This sense of compassion persuades the audience that they should look for practical resolutions. Therefore, Kennedy evokes different emotions of patriotism and compassion within this address to persuade the audience that they must unite through …show more content…
Kennedy’s inaugural address is revered as a rhetorical masterpiece that will always resonate in the hearts of Americans. This speech helped the people of that time endure hardships, while remaining a timeless piece that still carries significant validity. Within the speech, Kennedy appeals to credibility through his unselfish motives that suggest he will help make not only America but also the world a better place. Additionally, he appeals to logic as he provides a popular belief that everyone has duties to not only America but also to all of humanity. Finally, there is a level of emotion behind this address that evokes a sense of national pride for America while emphasizing compassion for one another. Overall, the implications of this speech far surpass a typical Presidential address. Within the speech Kennedy is able to connect many different societies and groups of people with diverse backgrounds. He does so, while emphasizing his ultimate goal of living in a world of peace and stability. It is clear that President Kennedy believed that the future of mankind depended on resolution of conflicts through unification for