Inaugural Addresses by U.S. Presidents

Inaugural addresses by U.S. Presidents

John F. Kennedy's inaugural address: An overview of key concepts

John F. Kennedy's inaugural address is remembered as one of the most poetic inaugural speeches of the 20th century because of its famous phrase "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Kennedy was a new, young, Democratic president elected during the height of the Cold War. He followed an older but popular Republican war hero in the form of Dwight Eisenhower. Kennedy wished to strike an idealistic, yet mature, intelligent, confident tone in his speech that proved his administration could handle the challenges of dealing with the Kremlin but was turning a page to a new chapter of American history.

Despite the need to look strong, Kennedy's words were always tempered with the principle of engagement, the idea that world stability was fostered by nations -- even enemies -- finding common ground through dialogue. Kennedy stated that United States was willing to deal with nations that were willing to engage in dialogue in a fair and meaningful fashion, without deceit or duplicity: "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." Although he did not refer to the Soviet Empire explicitly, Kennedy was obviously invoking the U.S.S.R. And the nuclear capability both major powers possessed at the time.

Long before the detente of the 1970s, Kennedy indicated that he would be willing to engage with Moscow and suggested that the threat that could be unleashed by nuclear war ensured that both superpowers had a mutual interest in talking to one another. This also reflected the relatively more moderate leadership of the Soviet Union at the time, compared with its Stalinist past. Although Nikita Khrushchev was hardly a conciliatory presence, given his antics such as promising to 'bury' the U.S. In a speech to the United Nations, Khrushchev was more reasonable and less totalitarian in his approach to governing than Stalin. Furthermore, the deterrent principle of MADD or mutually assured self-destruction ensured that both sides had an interest in negotiating, particularly given the U.S.'s fears regarding the Russian space program.

Thus Kennedy's speech was clearly addressed not just to Americans and American's friends but also American enemies. He wished to make America seem the more moderate of the two superpowers, and the more willing to deal with the other side in a fair and equitable fashion: this was part of America's creation of its own image as a democratic and diplomatic nation. However, to avoid criticism about seeming 'soft on communism' or weaker than his predecessor Kennedy's speech was occasionally militarist note, believing that the Soviets (and American anti-communists) would mainly respect strength. "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." Kennedy wished to suggest that it was in the national interest of both nations to talk and engage in diplomacy or official dialogue -- even while America was steadily building up its military arsenal and interventionist efforts in the name of anti-communism.

Kennedy was not hypocritical in confirming his interest in diplomacy yet justifying a military build-up in the name of peace -- rather, his words reflect the difficulty of his mission in giving the speech (on reason it was so carefully phrased). Kennedy wished to draw a line in the sand and say that the Soviet Union could not extend its sphere of influence beyond its current borders, and tip the balance of power of the two superpowers by acquiring new nations. A bipolar balance of power, the idea that the world was equitably controlled by either one of two superpowers, was the reality of Kennedy's world. Kennedy did not want to antagonize a nation with a nuclear capability, and he also wanted to demonstrate to the international community that the United States had peaceful intentions -- and to persuade the American public that some sort of rapprochement with the Soviets was demanded. But he also needed to take a stand against further Soviet territorial encroachment.