There are no props per se, although the presence of his youthful wife in the background might be one 'prop' as a reminder that the torch had been passed to a younger generation, from the older generation embodied by the Eisenhowers. Kennedy's athletic physique dominates the podium. But he does not use aggressive body language, like stretching across lectern which might make him seem as if he were overreaching or too small for the space. Instead, Kennedy comfortably fills the space and commands attention through firm gestures, punching and pointing at the air with determination and a sense of calculation, not moving about for the sake of movement alone. In terms of overall effectiveness, this may be one of the most effective inaugural speeches given by a president in memory. Few other speeches can be quoted, in terms of its key phrases, more easily than Kennedy's. His language and also his unique voice and persona cause the words to remain in the listener's mind, almost like a song or a great poem. This suggests that the communication recognize the needs of the audience by conveying an image of strength, yet not a strength that was simply militancy -- it also commanded people's attention through its use of effective idealism. The speech made listening Americans feel safer because of Kennedy's confirmation that he would not let the Soviet Union run roughshod over American interests in the world. However, the speech also conveyed an image of compassion, as the president acknowledged the poverty and injustice at home that must be addressed as well as the national security needs of the United States. And even the harshest phrases are softened with the idea that Kennedy wants...
It is easy to listen to, because of its effective use of oratory and rhetorical techniques, like rhetorical questions, parallel sentence structure, and intense, physical images that paint a picture for the listener. This is especially important in an age before television was common in all households, to satisfy listeners far away as well as the immediate, watching audience of the speech in front of the Capital. Yet the speech also demands that young Americans press themselves to answer the call to liberty, to pick up the set-down torch of the previous generation, and bear the burden of giving back to their nation. The effectiveness of the speech was sufficient that Americans listened with pleasure not simply to the image of themselves they wanted to have of peaceful and freedom-loving people, but that they were also inspired to exceed their own comfort zones and the expectations they had for their future.
" The spectacular effect achieved by the Russians therefore had a significant effect upon the minds of citizens around the globe (Dick, March 24). The financial and political implications of the Apollo program became significant once the president made the decision to commit the United States to a Lunar landing. It was important to the president to set a goal that his country had a good chance of achieving before the
21st century is J.F. Kennedy's statement, "Ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country." Given in his poignant inaugural address in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 1961, this quote has inspired countless Americans in the years since his speech. Certainly, the word that best illustrates this quote is the word "country." The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines the noun, country, as
Kennedy Doctrine and the Cold War In his inaugural address as the President of the United States on January 1961, John F. Kennedy (popularly called "JFK") delivered a message that directly discussed the United States' official stance regarding its move to implement a foreign policy waging a "cold war" against Communist forces that have been gaining popularity in Asia, South America, and parts of the Middle East during this period. This
RULES: Blocks should not be thrown across the line. Scores are recorded to the nearest tenth of a second. 3. ONE-MILE RUN/WALK OBJECTIVE: To measure heart and lung endurance by fastest time to cover a one-mile distance. TESTING: On a safe, one-mile distance, students begin running on the count "Ready? Go!" Walking may be interpersed with running. However, the students should be encouraged to cover the distance in as short a
PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH: KENNEDY'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS Presidential Speech: Kennedy Presidential Speech: Kennedy's Inaugural Address On January 20, 1961 newly elected president John F. Kennedy delivered his inaugural address to a nation in the midst of an ongoing "Cold War" with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). In order to put this speech in context one must understand that the previous decades may be characterized as politically tense as the associated conflicts between the
Khrushchev on the Cuban Missile Crisis It was Saturday evening, October 27, 1962, the day the world came very close to destruction. The crisis was not over. Soviet ships had not yet tried to run the United States (U.S.) naval blockade, but the missiles were still on Cuban soil. In Cuba, work continued on the missile sites to make them operational. The situation could either be resolved soon, or events
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