John F Kennedy Inaugural Speech Essay

The first speech a person delivers can make or break other people’s initial impressions of

him or her, giving them a reputation that may overshadow other qualities, good or bad. The

crowd could love every word of the speech, and the speaker would revel in their everlasting

applause. On the other hand, it could leave a stinging impression on the audience that would

inhibit them from looking past this one particular speech if it did not suit their opinions. This

type of situation can be every politician’s greatest fear, knowing his or her words will be

remembered by so many people. Still, when being inaugurated, many American presidents have

used this opportunity to allow their listeners to remember exactly why they won the election.

Kennedy was able to use his

inaugural speech as a tool to proclaim to Americans and the citizens of the world the many tasks

he hoped to accomplish during his time in office, including world unity and help for the less

fortunate. His words continue to be relevant to all, as his goals are continuously met and

improved. The inaugural address of John F. Kennedy used many different rhetorical techniques

in order to explain his political beliefs and views on the current state of the world, which in turn

motivated others to join his mission to better the world, then and now.

When Kennedy became the President in 1961, he faced an era filled with tension, war,

and poverty. The Civil Rights Movement was heating up and spreading throughout the country.

Civil Rights protesters were being killed and harassed, and the expectation for Kennedy to do

something about it was mounting. On the international front, after the conclusion of two

These outreach programs designed to help destitute people in all

corners of the world show the extent of Kennedy’s inspiration on his generation and the ones to

follow. He was willing to dedicate as much time as needed to fully assist the needy people of the

world, not because it would gather attention or praise, but simply because it was and continues to

be the right thing to do. Kennedy acknowledged that “if a free society cannot help the many who

are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” With a society that is becoming more and more

defined by wealth and social status, it is infinitely relevant that a strong focus on helping those

who are less fortunate is held. Foundations as mentioned before that are rigorously dedicated to

this type of service exemplify how many people, American and otherwise, have converted their

“good words into good deeds,” just as Kennedy proposed.

Through repetition of phrases to emphasize major points and specific sentence structure

that enjoins that audience, President Kennedy was able to explicate what needed to be done to

improve the world and in what ways those improvements could be completed. As the