JOHN F.

KENNEDYS 1961 INAUGURAL ADDRESS: AN ANALSYSIS

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John F. Kennedys 1961 Inaugural Address:

An Analysis

Ryan Coker

University of Texas at San Antonio

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Speaker and Subject Identification

Biographical information. John F. Kennedy was born in 1917 to a wealthy family in

Massachusetts. His father, Joseph Kennedy, was a successful banker who acquired a large

amount of economic power through stock trading during and after WWI before transitioning into

politics, serving as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and as an ambassador

to Great Britain. Joseph was very competitive in his professional life, and attempted to instill his

sense of duty and work ethic into his children, showing an interest in their wellbeing and day to

day activities that was atypical of parents of the time. As a result of their parentage, all four of

the Kennedy brothers, including John, went on to serve in the military. Of the three that survived

their military duty, their eldest brother, Joseph Kennedy Jr., died in WWII, each of them went on

to have a successful career in politics. JFK served as a Navy Lieutenant during WWII before

entering into politics. In 1947 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in

Massachusetts 11th district, a position he held until 1953, when he assumed a seat in the United

States Senate. He served as senator until being elected President and taking power in 1961. His

youngest brother, Ted Kennedy, would later acquire this same senate seat in 1962. Kennedy

served as president from 1961 to 1963, when he was assassinated in Dallas (Biography.com

Editors, 2016).

Subject and relationship to speaker. As with all U.S. presidents, Kennedy gave an

inauguration address on the date at which he took over the office from his predecessor.

Kennedys presidency lay deep within the period of the cold war, well after the development of

the nuclear bomb and nine-and-a-half years before the moon landing, and the subject of his

inauguration address reflects the tumultuous period in which he was elected. The 50s and 60s

were also a time during which technological advancement had accelerated greatly, largely in part
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due to the constant competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, and as such was also a

time of great hope for the American people. This simultaneous feeling of fear and excitement is

no more greatly exemplified by any comment in his address than by a single line issued near the

beginning of his delivery: The world is very different now, for man holds in his mortal hands

the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. (Kennedy, 1961)

President Kennedys address outlined and highlighted many of the beliefs and political attitudes

that he would hold going into office.

Audience and Occasion Analysis

Description of occasion. As mentioned before, JFKs inauguration address served as his

first message to the American people as president, something that has become a ceremonial

display for almost all presidents upon their assumption of office. These presentations are built to

lay the groundwork for a new Presidents image going forward as well as serving as figurative

affirmation for their election supporters. I chose to observe this speech over the others due to my

previous experience with JFKs speeches, he is often considered to be a talented orator, and a

great number of his public speeches are lauded as some of the most inspirational ever given by a

president.

Audience analysis. For the most part, Kennedy presented to a voluntary audience,

though it is also safe to assume that a large portion of the audience was made up of members of

the press who were there as a part of their job and many others, especially those featured in the

background of the recording, were members of previous presidential administrations who

attended as a matter of ceremony. JFK specifically refers to then-Vice President Lyndon Johnson,

the chief Justice of the Supreme Court Earl Warren, former President Dwight Eisenhower, former
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Vice President Richard Nixon, former President Harry Truman, and Reverend John Barclay. In

addition to this, many members of the audience were able to view the speech live from their

televisions. The inauguration was held, as most have been, at the U.S. Capitol building in

Washington D.C. The size of the crowd present at the Capitol was estimated to be around 20,000

(Mehltretter, 2009), but as the speech was televised, many millions of additional viewers

watched the event live. The location was relatively comfortable for those in attendance, but as

attendance grew in subsequent inaugurations, the events were moved to the Western Front of the

Capitol.

Unfortunately, statistics were not recorded for the audiences demography and so

relatively little information is available. A few pieces of information can be inferred, however,

utilizing knowledge of the time of his election. While the live audience is key in ones analysis,

Kennedy was well aware that his presentation would be broadcast around the country, and his

was the first to be broadcast in color; while information about his live audience is scarcely

available, there are many things that he would need to keep in mind regarding his voter base. It is

safe to assume that much of his audience was made up of adults, though this election would

likely have been disproportionate made of younger adults than previous inaugurations had been;

JFK was the youngest president ever elected and in his inauguration, he made reference to the

idea of a new generation seizing power. The nationality of the audience was predominately

American, as foreign individuals would have little reason to be present for the inauguration of an

American leader. Presence of nonwhite Americans may have been higher than usual at this

inauguration; Kennedy won the nonwhite vote by a significant margin compared to the white

vote. He also won the vast majority of support from his own party, which is unsurprising.
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Additionally, he won the Catholic vote by a significant margin, and lost the protestant vote by

almost as much. (Gallup, 1960, 1964)

Structure of the Speech

General and specific purpose. The purpose of President Kennedys speech is to inform,

specifically to inform the American people of the tone and fundamental goals that his

administration would have.

Central idea. The central idea of his presentation, though peppered with flowery

language, is clear in its intent and can be best summed by this line from his introduction: we

shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, [and] oppose any

foe to ensure the survival and success of liberty. (Kennedy, 1961)

Main points and supporting material. He begins the body of his speech by affirming

that the United States would continue to act as friends to its former allies and countries that it

shares a close cultural connection to. He adds to this point, stating that with cooperation between

the U.S. and its allies, would continue to allow them to hold a significant amount of power, but

without that cooperation there is little [they] can do. (Kennedy, 1961) This claim is likely in

reference to the western European nations that also opposed Soviet communism and its spread,

and serves as a request to the American people to allow the nation to continue its relationships

with foreign governments.

This covert assertion regarding the communist states leads him into his next point which

is an innocuous, but seemingly halfhearted, justification for Americas continued participation in

the various anti-communism proxy wars we were involved in at the time, most notably, the

Vietnam War: to those new states who we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word
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that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more

iron tyranny. (Kennedy, 1961) He acknowledges that the populations of many victims of these

proxy wars do not necessarily align with U.S. interests, but hopes that these people will continue

to fight for their own freedom, though with modern hindsight, this comes across as disingenuous

as often times, the leaders propped up by these events were extremely authoritarian in their

governance. He concludes with an analogy to vilify opposing governments propped up by the

Soviets, claiming that those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger, ended

up inside. (Kennedy, 1961)

He quickly moves on to discuss global poverty, pledging to continue to support those in

poorer nations to help [them] help themselves. (Kennedy, 1961) To this end, he claims that it

must be done because it is the right thing to do, denying that it is in response to similar Soviet

efforts or that it is the result of political expedience. He turns his attention then to the U.S.,

informing us that If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few

who are rich. (Kennedy, 1961)

His next point is an address to central and South America specifically. It was feared, at

the time, that a rapidly developing South America could become the target of communist

expansion, especially having lost Cuba to Soviet influence less than two years earlier. In the

spirit of the Monroe Doctrine, Kennedy promised defense of South American nations from

influence from the Eastern Hemisphere. Declaring that this hemisphere intends to remain the

master of its own house. (Kennedy, 1961)

He finishes his body with his longest and most well-articulated point. He first buckles

down on the United States commitment to the U.N. Kennedy requests, both from the people of
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America and from the leaders of the Soviet and communist states, that the U.S. and U.S.S.R. join

together to avoid total nuclear annihilation of the human race. He begins by arguing that the

doctrine of mutually assured destruction must be maintained in order to ensure safety and peace,

but he adds that despite this, it is important to acknowledge that nobody feels particularly

comfortable or happy with the fact that both sides are sufficiently capable of ending the world.

He extends an arm out to the Soviet Union for scientific advancement and proposes to allow a

mutual agreement to reduce and regulate the continued development of nuclear weaponry.

(Kennedy, 1961)

Organization and development. Kennedys presentation, though rife with different

points and subjects, does not feel overwhelming or unclear. His transition from introduction to

body is almost imperceptible in its efficiency, and his main points are all well-defined, beginning

each with an oath or request to a different group. The introduction was rather lackluster,

unfortunately, as it was initiated with the swearing in ceremony, severely muting his ability to

open with an effective attention getter. His conclusion contains his famous Ask not quote, a

line he is still remembered for today. Less remembered however, is his clincher, but knowing

that here on earth, Gods work must truly be our own. (Kennedy, 1961) This is both a fantastic

way to end a speech rife with promises of action and policy, but also a subtle nod to the

American protestant, whose religious organizations seriously opposed Kennedys devout

Catholicism.

Delivery of Speech

Vocal delivery techniques. JFK is often remembered fondly as a fantastic orator and

many of his speeches have stood the test of time when many of his other presidential
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contemporaries did not. The speeches of Kennedys short lived presidency, with hindsight in

mind, are far more symbolic than they are literal, within his inaugural address, he specifically

references fighting poverty; the issue of poverty went largely unaddressed for his tenure and the

war on poverty did not begin until his Vice President, Lyndon Johnson, ascended to the

presidency following Kennedys assassination. (MacAskill, 2011) Despite this warm nostalgia

surrounding his speaking, this vocal presentation, in my opinion, is sorely lacking. When

comparing the address to many of his other speeches, his inaugural presentation pales in

comparison. His speaking sounds strained and unrehearsed, something which is unacceptable

and transparent when giving a speech from manuscript. He can be seen reading from his

manuscript frequently and regularly, each time ceasing his speech. While this is occasionally

natural, reading 10 or so syllables before stopping mid-sentence and resuming a second later

turns his oration from one of natural eloquence to a Shakespearean verse without meter, a

constantly broken tempo with little consistency in delivery. This is a great shame, of course,

because the content and verbiage of his manuscript is excellent and inspiring. His transitions are

flawless, though lacking clear demarcation, flowing from topic to topic without abnormal

hesitation or obtuse transitionary phrase. This, perhaps, is the main reasons that this speech in

particular is remembered so positively.

Body language and visual aids. His body language, unfortunately, is severely limited

and his visual aids are nonexistent. This is not necessarily his fault, as the large presidential

podium restricts his ability to gesticulate in clear sight of the recording camera. This is more

pronounced, however, from the vantage point of the live audience, who sit at a much lower

elevation than the podium. Though, throughout the whole of his address, the only hand gesture

made is a repetitive downward pointing action from his right hand; his gestures seem natural and
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genuine and effectively convey the gravity of the message that they accompany. His facial

expressions stand unobstructed, however, and they do not seem forced and are often appropriate

to the message he is sending, though he is forced to maintain a squint and looks somewhat

strained, this is likely the result of the low and uncomfortable temperatures. Despite this, as one

newspaper noticed, he chose not to wear a hat, unlike many of his background audience. (Harris,

1961) Visual aids are traditionally not present in inaugural addresses, especially in 1961, when

visual aids were not a simple to generate as spending a few minutes seated at a desk on

PowerPoint and this speech is a reflection of that.

Effectiveness of Speech

Audience response. Throughout Kennedys inaugural address, the crowd interrupted

with applause 12 times, with the most thunderous response, according to John Harris from the

Boston Globe, following Kennedys request that we forge against these (sic) enemies a grand

and global alliance that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? (Harris, 1961) It is not

customary to hear jeers from the crowds of inaugurations, even at those of presidents who are

controversial and unpopular, so it should be understood that the reaction from the audience was a

positive one. With this in mind, though, it is interesting to note that many editorials at the time

included a large amount of information on the weather. Harris had an entire section in his article

dedicated to it entitled: Snow Snarls Event. (Harris, 1961) In 2011, in celebration of the 50th

anniversary of the inauguration, The Guardian wrote a piece on the contemporary reaction that

also included reference to the weather, pointing out that their own writer focused as much on

the weather as the speech. And that their reporters opted to speak about the weather over

Kennedys now historic Ask not what your country would do for you ask what you can do for

your country. (MacAskill, 2011)

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Overall Effectiveness. The significance of the speech was not missed by the men and

women of the 60s. Despite the oversaturation of weather references present in the publications

of the day, Harris began his article with a glowing endorsement of the president and his speech.

Washington President John F. Kennedy started off his administration with high hopes

today, acclaimed by the nation and the entire globe for his inaugural appeal that both

sides in the Cold War begin anew the quest for peace. (Harris, 1961)

Max Freedman of The Guardian wrote:

"Mr John Fitzgerald Kennedy became the thirty-fifth President of the United States at

noon today in a ceremony whose mingled simplicity and solemnity lost none of its

grandeur because the city was numbed by a storm that left six inches of snow on the main

streets and chilled the festive gaiety of Inaugural Day." (MacAskill, 2011)

He also proclaimed that "Rarely has the anthem of courage been sounded so resonantly or so

bravely in recent years." Something that Ewen MacAskill, a modern contributor to The

Guardian, noted as being inappropriate. basically that there should be no editorializing in

news reports. That seems to have passed by Freedman (MacAskill, 2011) This praise is a

clear indication of the effectiveness of the address, as well as its lasting impact on the American

psyche.
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References

Biography.com Editors. (2016, March 24). John F. Kennedy Biography. Retrieved from

Biography.com: http://www.biography.com/people/john-f-kennedy-9362930#related-

video-gallery

Gallup. (1960, 1964). Gallup.com. Retrieved from Gallup:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/9454/election-polls-vote-groups-19601964.aspx

Harris, J. (1961, January 1). Kennedy offers world new start for peace. Retrieved from Boston

Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/1961/01/21/kennedy-offers-world-new-start-for-

peace/LfKWMYTLBWeWmT9blR7UPL/story.html

Kennedy, J. F. (1961, January 21). 1961 Inauguration Address. Washington, D.C., United States

of America.

MacAskill, E. (2011, January 20). JFK's inauguration speech: 50 years on. Retrieved from The

Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jan/20/jfk-inauguration-speech-

guardian-archive

Mehltretter, S. A. (2009, January). JOHN F. KENNEDY, "INAUGURAL ADDRESS" (20

JANUARY 1961). Retrieved from University of Maryland Archive:

http://archive.vod.umd.edu/internat/jfk1961int.htm