WHY WAS JFK'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS DEVOTED TO A GLOBAL THEME?
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 25, 1961, John F. Kennedy held his first press conference as President of the United States at the State Department Auditorium here in the Nation's Capital.
The President was asked the following question...
"Your Inaugural Address was unusual in that you dealt only with America's position in the world. Why, Mr. President, did you limit yourself to this global theme?
President Kennedy answered...
"Well, because the issue of war and peace is involved, and the survival of perhaps the planet, possibly our system. And, therefore, this is a matter of primary concern to the people of the United States and the people of the world.
Secondly, I represent a new administration. I think the views of this administration are quite well known to the American people, and will become better known in the next month. I think that we are new, however, on the world scene, and therefore I felt there would be some use in informing countries around the world of our general view on the questions which face...and divide the world."
JFK+50 NOTE:
Most remember the famous lines from JFK's Inaugural: "My fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," but in keeping with his global theme, JFK added: "My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can we do for the freedom of man."
SOURCES
"Kennedy and the Press: The News Conferences", Edited and Annotated by Harold W. Chase and Allen H. Lerman, Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1965.
"The Kennedy Press Conference, Always Good for a Laugh", New England Historical Society, www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/
"Transcript of President John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address (1961)," www.ourdocuments.gov/
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 25, 1961, John F. Kennedy held his first press conference as President of the United States at the State Department Auditorium here in the Nation's Capital.
The President was asked the following question...
"Your Inaugural Address was unusual in that you dealt only with America's position in the world. Why, Mr. President, did you limit yourself to this global theme?
President Kennedy answered...
"Well, because the issue of war and peace is involved, and the survival of perhaps the planet, possibly our system. And, therefore, this is a matter of primary concern to the people of the United States and the people of the world.
Secondly, I represent a new administration. I think the views of this administration are quite well known to the American people, and will become better known in the next month. I think that we are new, however, on the world scene, and therefore I felt there would be some use in informing countries around the world of our general view on the questions which face...and divide the world."
JFK+50 NOTE:
Most remember the famous lines from JFK's Inaugural: "My fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," but in keeping with his global theme, JFK added: "My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can we do for the freedom of man."
SOURCES
"Kennedy and the Press: The News Conferences", Edited and Annotated by Harold W. Chase and Allen H. Lerman, Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1965.
"The Kennedy Press Conference, Always Good for a Laugh", New England Historical Society, www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/
"Transcript of President John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address (1961)," www.ourdocuments.gov/
