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President
John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
(January 20,1961) Historyguy Home>Presidents
of the United
States>John
Kennedy >Kennedy's
Inaugural Address Also, when reading or listening to
Kennedy's Inaugural Address, remember
that the nation was only about 15 years
removed from World War Two, (a war that
all five of the aforementioned
presidents took part in, one way or
another), and was currently in the
midst of a great global struggle for
world dominance (and possibly for
survival of the nation), called the
Cold War. This Cold War was against the
powers of world Communism, led by the
Soviet Union and the People's Republic
of China. Though most Americans knew
little about the as yet minor war
in Vietnam, Kennedy's call to
action is seen by many as a challenge
to the Soviets that the U.S. would stop
them anywhere in the world. At the time
of Kennedy's death two and half years
later, nearly 16,000 American troops
would be in Vietnam. Text of
President Kennedy's Inaugural Address,
January 20,
1961. "Vice President Johnson, Mr.
Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President
Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon,
President Truman, reverend clergy,
fellow citizens, we observe today not a
victory of party, but a celebration of
freedom—symbolizing an end, as
well as a beginning—signifying
renewal, as well as change. For I have
sworn before you and Almighty God the
same solemn oath our forebears
prescribed nearly a century and three
quarters ago. 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.
And yet the same revolutionary beliefs
for which our forebears fought are
still at issue around the
globe—the belief that the rights
of man come not from the generosity of
the state, but from the hand of
God. We dare not forget today that we
are the heirs of that first revolution.
Let the word go forth from this time
and place, to friend and foe alike,
that the torch has been passed to a new
generation of Americans—born in
this century, tempered by war,
disciplined by a hard and bitter peace,
proud of our ancient heritage—and
unwilling to witness or permit the slow
undoing of those human rights to which
this Nation has always been committed,
and to which we are committed today at
home and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it
wishes us well or ill, that we shall
pay any price, bear any burden, meet
any hardship, support any friend,
oppose any foe, in order to assure the
survival and the success of
liberty. This much we pledge—and
more. To those old allies whose
cultural and spiritual origins we
share, we pledge the loyalty of
faithful friends. United, there is
little we cannot do in a host of
cooperative ventures. Divided, there is
little we can do—for we dare not
meet a powerful challenge at odds and
split asunder. To those new States whom we
welcome to the ranks of the free, we
pledge our word that one form of
colonial control shall not have passed
away merely to be replaced by a far
more iron tyranny. We shall not always
expect to find them supporting our
view. But we shall always hope to find
them strongly supporting their own
freedom—and to remember that, in
the past, those who foolishly sought
power by riding the back of the tiger
ended up inside. To those peoples in the huts and
villages across the globe struggling to
break the bonds of mass misery, we
pledge our best efforts to help them
help themselves, for whatever period is
required—not because the
Communists may be doing it, not because
we seek their votes, but because it is
right. If a free society cannot help
the many who are poor, it cannot save
the few who are rich. To our sister republics south of
our border, we offer a special
pledge—to convert our good words
into good deeds—in a new alliance
for progress—to assist free men
and free governments in casting off the
chains of poverty. But this peaceful
revolution of hope cannot become the
prey of hostile powers. Let all our
neighbors know that we shall join with
them to oppose aggression or subversion
anywhere in the Americas. And let every
other power know that this Hemisphere
intends to remain the master of its own
house. To that world assembly of
sovereign states, the United Nations,
our last best hope in an age where the
instruments of war have far outpaced
the instruments of peace, we renew our
pledge of support—to prevent it
from becoming merely a forum for
invective—to strengthen its shield
of the new and the weak—and to
enlarge the area in which its writ may
run. Finally, to those nations who
would make themselves our adversary, we
offer not a pledge but a request: that
both sides begin anew the quest for
peace, before the dark powers of
destruction unleashed by science engulf
all humanity in planned or accidental
self-destruction. We dare not tempt them with
weakness. For only when our arms are
sufficient beyond doubt can we be
certain beyond doubt that they will
never be employed. But neither can two great and
powerful groups of nations take comfort
from our present course—both sides
overburdened by the cost of modern
weapons, both rightly alarmed by the
steady spread of the deadly atom, yet
both racing to alter that uncertain
balance of terror that stays the hand
of mankind's final war. So let us begin
anew—remembering on both sides
that civility is not a sign of
weakness, and sincerity is always
subject to proof. Let us never
negotiate out of fear. But let us never
fear to negotiate. 14 Let both sides explore what
problems unite us instead of belaboring
those problems which divide us. Let both sides, for the first
time, formulate serious and precise
proposals for the inspection and
control of arms—and bring the
absolute power to destroy other nations
under the absolute control of all
nations. Let both sides seek to invoke the
wonders of science instead of its
terrors. Together let us explore the
stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate
disease, tap the ocean depths, and
encourage the arts and
commerce. Let both sides unite to heed in
all corners of the earth the command of
Isaiah—to "undo the heavy burdens
... and to let the oppressed go
free." And if a beachhead of cooperation
may push back the jungle of suspicion,
let both sides join in creating a new
endeavor, not a new balance of power,
but a new world of law, where the
strong are just and the weak secure and
the peace preserved. All this will not be finished in
the first 100 days. Nor will it be
finished in the first 1,000 days, nor
in the life of this Administration, nor
even perhaps in our lifetime on this
planet. But let us begin. In your hands, my fellow
citizens, more than in mine, will rest
the final success or failure of our
course. Since this country was founded,
each generation of Americans has been
summoned to give testimony to its
national loyalty. The graves of young
Americans who answered the call to
service surround the globe. Now the trumpet summons us
again—not as a call to bear arms,
though arms we need; not as a call to
battle, though embattled we
are—but a call to bear the burden
of a long twilight struggle, year in
and year out, "rejoicing in hope,
patient in tribulation"—a struggle
against the common enemies of man:
tyranny, poverty, disease, and war
itself. Can we forge against these
enemies a grand and global alliance,
North and South, East and West, that
can assure a more fruitful life for all
mankind? Will you join in that historic
effort? In the long history of the world,
only a few generations have been
granted the role of defending freedom
in its hour of maximum danger. I do not
shrink from this responsibility—I
welcome it. I do not believe that any
of us would exchange places with any
other people or any other generation.
The energy, the faith, the devotion
which we bring to this endeavor will
light our country and all who serve
it—and the glow from that fire can
truly light the world.. And so, my fellow Americans: ask
not what your country can do for
you—ask what you can do for your
country. My fellow citizens of the world:
ask not what America will do for you,
but what together we can do for the
freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens
of America or citizens of the world,
ask of us the same high standards of
strength and sacrifice which we ask of
you. With a good conscience our only
sure reward, with history the final
judge of our deeds, let us go forth to
lead the land we love, asking His
blessing and His help, but knowing that
here on earth God's work must truly be
our own." "The
History Guy" is a Registered Trademark. Contact
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Video of President
Kennedy's Inaugural Address, January 20,
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