JFK... 50 years ago today.

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, to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

This much we pledge -- and more.

:patriot:

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural2.htm

K&R

I remember listening to at least one speech he made on radio - as a young pre-teen, who read everything I could about him.

I've got the speech on a CD. But I'm listening to it on an old, scratchy LP. I'm not exactly sure why. Maybe it is because it was 50 years ago.

http://cspan.org/Events/50th-Anniversary-of-JFKs-Inauguration/10737419025/

(It has to links you can click on - the JFK speech and an event today.

Caroline Kennedy, in her speech, spoke of the event being John Lewis' and John Kerry's idea.

All the people spoke of their own reactions, and as it was 50 years ago some were interesting to picture. Nancy Pelosi spoke of being one of the few at today's event who was there. She was a Trinity College student and her father was a mayor of Baltimore. Reid spoke of being in DC, as a young law student with a part time job as a capital policeman and of seeing Caroline's pony. Lewis spoke of meeting JFK after the civil rights marches. Kerry spoke of being a 17 year old at a school where most were "Republican by birthright" and having given his first political speech arguing for Kennedy at a morning assembly. Kerry spoke of the students "voting" overwhelmingly for Nixon. He spoke of watching the inaugural on a tiny grainy black and white TV - then spoke of how JFK inspired people. Biden spoke of being an Irish Catholic high school student and the pride he felt. Even Boehner was ok - getting points just for showing up.

Here is a link to the CSPAN page which also has a link to JFK's speech. http://cspan.org/Events/50th-Anniversary-of-JFKs-Inauguration/10737419025/

Just old enough to know JFK.

The tragedy is that he was taken from us long before his time.