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    John F. Kennedy Delivering His Inaugural Address

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    Aghogho Biakolo
    In his 1961 inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy called on Americans to defend freedom around the world and to work with allies and adversaries alike to reduce tensions and pursue cooperation. He pledged to help end poverty, protect human rights globally, and strengthen international organizations like the United Nations. Kennedy asked citizens to sacrifice for their country as it entered a long struggle against tyranny, poverty, disease, and war.

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    John F. Kennedy Delivering His Inaugural Address

    Uploaded by

    Aghogho Biakolo
    31 views2 pages
    In his 1961 inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy called on Americans to defend freedom around the world and to work with allies and adversaries alike to reduce tensions and pursue cooperation. He pledged to help end poverty, protect human rights globally, and strengthen international organizations like the United Nations. Kennedy asked citizens to sacrifice for their country as it entered a long struggle against tyranny, poverty, disease, and war.

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    In his 1961 inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy called on Americans to defend freedom around the world and to work with allies and adversaries alike to reduce tensions and pursue cooperation. He pledged to help end poverty, protect human rights globally, and strengthen international organizations like the United Nations. Kennedy asked citizens to sacrifice for their country as it entered a long struggle against tyranny, poverty, disease, and war.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    31 views2 pages

    John F. Kennedy Delivering His Inaugural Address

    Uploaded by

    Aghogho Biakolo
    In his 1961 inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy called on Americans to defend freedom around the world and to work with allies and adversaries alike to reduce tensions and pursue cooperation. He pledged to help end poverty, protect human rights globally, and strengthen international organizations like the United Nations. Kennedy asked citizens to sacrifice for their country as it entered a long struggle against tyranny, poverty, disease, and war.

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    JohnF.

    Kennedy'sInauguralAddress
    FromWikisource

    VicePresidentJohnson,Mr.Speaker,Mr.ChiefJustice,PresidentEisenhower,
    VicePresidentNixon,PresidentTruman,ReverendClergy,fellowcitizens:

    Weobservetodaynotavictoryofpartybutacelebrationoffreedom,symbolizing
    anendaswellasabeginning,signifyingrenewalaswellaschange.ForIhave
    swornbeforeyouandAlmightyGodthesamesolemnoathourforbears
    prescribednearlyacenturyandthreequartersago.

    Theworldisverydifferentnow.Formanholdsinhismortalhandsthepowerto
    abolishallformsofhumanpovertyandallformsofhumanlife.Andyetthesame
    revolutionarybeliefsforwhichourforebearsfoughtarestillatissuearoundthe
    JohnF.Kennedydeliveringhisinaugural
    globethebeliefthattherightsofmancomenotfromthegenerosityofthestate
    address
    butfromthehandofGod.
    (46.18MB,15m38s,help,fileinfoordownload)
    Wedarenotforgettodaythatwearetheheirsofthatfirstrevolution.Letthe
    wordgoforthfromthistimeandplace,tofriendandfoealike,thatthetorchhasbeenpassedtoanewgenerationof
    Americans,borninthiscentury,temperedbywar,disciplinedbyahardandbitterpeace,proudofourancientheritage,and
    unwillingtowitnessorpermittheslowundoingofthosehumanrightstowhichthisnationhasalwaysbeencommitted,andto
    whichwearecommittedtodayathomeandaroundtheworld.

    Leteverynationknow,whetheritwishesuswellorill,thatweshallpayanyprice,bearanyburden,meetanyhardship,
    supportanyfriend,opposeanyfoetoassurethesurvivalandthesuccessofliberty.

    Thismuchwepledgeandmore.

    Tothoseoldallieswhoseculturalandspiritualoriginsweshare,wepledgetheloyaltyoffaithfulfriends.Unitedthereislittle
    wecannotdoinahostofcooperativeventures.Dividedthereislittlewecandoforwedarenotmeetapowerfulchallengeat
    oddsandsplitasunder.

    Tothosenewstateswhomwewelcometotheranksofthefree,wepledgeourwordthatoneformofcolonialcontrolshallnot
    havepassedawaymerelytobereplacedbyafarmoreirontyranny.Weshallnotalwaysexpecttofindthemsupportingour
    view.Butweshallalwayshopetofindthemstronglysupportingtheirownfreedomandtorememberthat,inthepast,those
    whofoolishlysoughtpowerbyridingthebackofthetigerendedupinside.

    Tothosepeopleinthehutsandvillagesofhalftheglobestrugglingtobreakthebondsofmassmisery,wepledgeourbest
    effortstohelpthemhelpthemselves,forwhateverperiodisrequirednotbecausethecommunistsmaybedoingit,not
    becauseweseektheirvotes,butbecauseitisright.Ifafreesocietycannothelpthemanywhoarepoor,itcannotsavethefew
    whoarerich.

    Tooursisterrepublicssouthofourborder,weofferaspecialpledge:toconvertourgoodwordsintogooddeedsinanew
    allianceforprogresstoassistfreemenandfreegovernmentsincastingoffthechainsofpoverty.Butthispeacefulrevolution
    ofhopecannotbecomethepreyofhostilepowers.Letallourneighborsknowthatweshalljoinwiththemtooppose
    aggressionorsubversionanywhereintheAmericas.AndleteveryotherpowerknowthatthisHemisphereintendstoremain
    themasterofitsownhouse.

    Tothatworldassemblyofsovereignstates,theUnitedNations,ourlastbesthopeinanagewheretheinstrumentsofwarhave
    faroutpacedtheinstrumentsofpeace,werenewourpledgeofsupport,topreventitfrombecomingmerelyaforumfor
    invective,tostrengthenitsshieldofthenewandtheweak,andtoenlargetheareainwhichitswritmayrun.

    Finally,tothosenationswhowouldmakethemselvesouradversary,weoffernotapledgebutarequest:thatbothsidesbegin
    anewthequestforpeace,beforethedarkpowersofdestructionunleashedbyscienceengulfallhumanityinplannedor
    accidentalselfdestruction.

    Wedarenottemptthemwithweakness.Foronlywhenourarmsaresufficientbeyonddoubtcanwebecertainbeyonddoubt
    thattheywillneverbeemployed.

    Butneithercantwogreatandpowerfulgroupsofnationstakecomfortfromourpresentcoursebothsidesoverburdenedby
    thecostofmodernweapons,bothrightlyalarmedbythesteadyspreadofthedeadlyatom,yetbothracingtoalterthat
    uncertainbalanceofterrorthatstaysthehandofmankind'sfinalwar.
    Soletusbeginanewrememberingonbothsidesthatcivilityisnotasignofweakness,andsincerityisalwayssubjectto
    proof.Letusnevernegotiateoutoffear.Butletusneverfeartonegotiate.

    Letbothsidesexplorewhatproblemsuniteusinsteadofbelaboringthoseproblemswhichdivideus.

    Letbothsides,forthefirsttime,formulateseriousandpreciseproposalsfortheinspectionandcontrolofarmsandbring
    theabsolutepowertodestroyothernationsundertheabsolutecontrolofallnations.

    Letbothsidesseektoinvokethewondersofscienceinsteadofitsterrors.Togetherletusexplorethestars,conquerthe
    deserts,eradicatedisease,taptheoceandepthsandencouragetheartsandcommerce.

    LetbothsidesunitetoheedinallcornersoftheEarththecommandofIsaiahto"undotheheavyburdens...(and)letthe
    oppressedgofree."

    Andifabeachheadofcooperationmaypushbackthejungleofsuspicion,letbothsidesjoinincreatinganewendeavor,nota
    newbalanceofpower,butanewworldoflaw,wherethestrongarejustandtheweaksecureandthepeacepreserved.

    Allthiswillnotbefinishedinthefirstonehundreddays.Norwillitbefinishedinthefirstonethousanddays,norinthelife
    ofthisAdministration,norevenperhapsinourlifetimeonthisplanet.Butletusbegin.

    Inyourhands,myfellowcitizens,morethanmine,willrestthefinalsuccessorfailureofourcourse.Sincethiscountrywas
    founded,eachgenerationofAmericanshasbeensummonedtogivetestimonytoitsnationalloyalty.Thegravesofyoung
    Americanswhoansweredthecalltoservicesurroundtheglobe.

    Nowthetrumpetsummonsusagainnotasacalltobeararms,thougharmsweneednotasacalltobattle,thoughembattled
    wearebutacalltobeartheburdenofalongtwilightstruggle,yearinandyearout,"rejoicinginhope,patientintribulation"
    astruggleagainstthecommonenemiesofman:tyranny,poverty,diseaseandwaritself.

    Canweforgeagainsttheseenemiesagrandandglobalalliance,NorthandSouth,EastandWest,thatcanassureamore
    fruitfullifeforallmankind?Willyoujoininthathistoriceffort?

    Inthelonghistoryoftheworld,onlyafewgenerationshavebeengrantedtheroleofdefendingfreedominitshourof
    maximumdanger.IdonotshrinkfromthisresponsibilityIwelcomeit.Idonotbelievethatanyofuswouldexchangeplaces
    withanyotherpeopleoranyothergeneration.Theenergy,thefaith,thedevotionwhichwebringtothisendeavorwilllight
    ourcountryandallwhoserveitandtheglowfromthatfirecantrulylighttheworld.

    Andso,myfellowAmericans:asknotwhatyourcountrycandoforyouaskwhatyoucandoforyourcountry.

    Myfellowcitizensoftheworld:asknotwhatAmericawilldoforyou,butwhattogetherwecandoforthefreedomofman.

    Finally,whetheryouarecitizensofAmericaorcitizensoftheworld,askofusherethesamehighstandardsofstrengthand
    sacrificewhichweaskofyou.Withagoodconscienceouronlysurereward,withhistorythefinaljudgeofourdeeds,letus
    goforthtoleadthelandwelove,askingHisblessingandHishelp,butknowingthathereonEarthGod'sworkmusttrulybe
    ourown.

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