John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address

Paper Summary:

Analysis of the January 20, 1961 speech. Discusses the setting, purpose, and components of the address. Choice of language and delivery. Use of commonplace vocabulary. Kennedy's argument that the rights of man were historically given by God. Relevance of speech to contemporary world in light of 9/11. Quotes significant passages.

From the Paper:

"Analysis of John F. Kennedy s Inaugural Address,
Delivered Friday, January 20, 1961

The Situation
President Kennedy beat out Richard Nixon by an extremely small margin, and the campaign was a bitter one. The nation was also at war in Vietnam, there was a strong Cold War going on with Russia, and there was also some fear that Kennedy, the first-ever Catholic president might create a non-secular government. On the morning of the inauguration, it was snowing in Washington, and many people wanted to cancel the outdoor swearing in. Kennedy demanded that it be held outdoors as tradition dictated.

The Speech
The Beginning
The first part of the speech was designed to acknowledge and embrace a ..."

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