Running head: JFKS SPEECH

JFKS Speech:
The Inaugural Address
India Soto
Ivy Tech

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JFKs Speech: The Inaugural Address
President John F. Kennedy addressed his inaugural speech on January 20, 1961. In his
address, he discusses that Americans have to fight for our freedom; he called for a reexamination of the cold-war, Americas countrys relation with Russia, and the meaning of peace
(Sorensen, 2007). Heralding the commencement of a new American administration and foreign
policy determined upon a peaceful victory in the west's long cold war struggle with the Soviet
Union over the world's future direction (Sorensen, 2007). After World War II, the United States
and the Soviet Union began a struggle for domination known as the Cold War (Cold, p. 1).
Americans were even frighten that Russia was going to bomb the United States. The Cold War
lasted for about 45 years, this struggle between the US and Soviets was from 1946 to 1991. In
his speech, Kennedy appeals to the emotions of the audience through references to patriotism,
repetition, and national struggles.
JFK begins his address by appealing to the emotions using patriotism. He uses many
aspects of this throughout the entire speech.
Kennedy (1961) 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 for Americansborn 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 are
committed today at home and around the world (p. 1)
This quote reminds the public what makes an American, and to show that the people take
pride in this country. Another quote from Kennedy (1961) is talking about patriotism is, Let us
never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate (p. 2). He is saying that the

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American people, do not back down and settle a situation out of a fear. The citizens of the
United States are strong enough to hold their ground and to never give up. That is why they
must not be frightened to negotiate, but to fight for what they want. If someone is patriotic, that
means that they are devoted to this country, and that it shows support and loyalty. Odds are it
will become contagious; it gets everyone emotionally excited.
Along with patriotism in John F. Kennedys speech, he also appeals to the audiences
emotions by describing the struggles that we face. According to Kennedy (1961) to those
peoples in the hurts and villages of half 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
(p. 2).
This quote not only shows that America is a caring country, but that the people can be
helpful because they care. Kennedy claims Americans of being aware of others who have
struggled.
With this next quote, he even shows that he understands what difficulties some have
encountered. Kennedy (1961) announced a struggle against the common enemies of man:
tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself (p. 3). This lets us know that he himself comprehends
what a person may go through. Understanding the people is going to make you more relatable to
them, and it is going to affect them.
In addition to patriotism and national struggles, President Kennedy uses repetition during
his inauguration address. Repetition is used throughout the speech, but what stood out to me the
most was when three paragraphs with, Let both sides (Kennedy, 1961, p. 3) were in his
address. He wanted America to be united and for everyone to be brought together. This will

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appeal to anyones emotions because showing repetition gives more meaning. It also promotes
that he is wanting to make it a clear statement. Kennedy wanted to emphasize the ideas of letting
both the United States and the Soviet Union get along.
Overall John F. Kennedys speech was appealing to the emotions by using patriotism,
awareness of struggles, and having repetition. Patriotism is what they stand for in America and
that is what is going to get through peoples minds the most. Being aware of struggles that one
has gone through is another way of speaking to your audience when you are trying to relay a
message. Using repetition is going to add remembrance and importance to what he was trying to
demonstrate. Those are just a few of the reasons why this address is so famous.

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References
The Cold War. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Oct. 9, 2015. Retrieved from
http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/The-Cold-War.aspx
Kennedy, J. F. (1961, January 6). Inaugural address. Retrieved from
http:www.cengage.com/custom/static_content/OLC/s76656_76218lf/kennedy.pdf
Sorensen, T. (2007, April 22). JFK's inaugural address was world-changing. The guardian.
Sep. 30, 2015. Retrieved from
http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2007/apr/22/greatspeeches1

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Cover Letter
To: L. Dawalt
From: India Soto
Re: Peer Review of Analysis Essay (Writing Project 2)
Class: ENGL 111
Name of Peer Reviewer: Leigha Underwood and Nathaniel Mallory
Date: 10-09-15

Part 1 - two strengths

Good quotes that compliment my essay and what I am trying to convey.

Great sentence structure and clear thesis

Part 2 two recommendations for improvement

Do not use 1st person, for example: we, our, ect.

Try to improve your vocabulary, for example instead of Kennedy said use the word
demonstrated.

Part 3 What changes did you make to your original essay, why? If you did not make changes
based on the recommendations of the peer reviewer, explain why.

I changed the words that were 1st person in my essay because analysis is not supposed to

be in 1st person.
Also I did improve my vocabulary to make it seem more interesting and show variety.