The collection I'm processing now is mostly research files and institutional records from a large civil rights organization. They had files on everyone and everything, so it's not really surprising to find a JFK folder or come across a few letters from Senator Kennedy. I meant only to flip through this little booklet containing his inaugural speech, but I ended up reading it carefully a few times. I know that the famous line from this speech is the "ask not what your country can do for you" bit, which is a great turn of phrase, but other moments in this address struck me as much more beautiful. And maybe a little bit heart-breaking. There is, of course, the obvious, great tragedy of JFK's unfulfilled promise (as a president and as a person), but the fact that his death was followed not long after by MLK's and Bobby Kennedy's compounds the tragedy into this whole, massive death of American idealism... And the kind of America Kennedy portrays with these words, it's an America I can really feel proud of and also feel I am a part of. Because the point of it, the idea of Liberty and Justice for All, is that it demands our engagement, even when we feel weary and disenfranchised.
These words:
... 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.
To those people in the huts 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 -- 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.
... 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.
Let both sides unite to heed, in all corners of the earth, the command of Isaiah -- to "undo the heavy burdens, and let the oppressed go free."
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 here 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.
One of my favorite things about this speech, now that I've looked into it a bit, is that he (JFK) actually wrote it himself. Politicians just don't do that anymore. You can see a draft in his crazy messy handwriting here (courtesy of NARA): http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals_iv/sections/jfk_inaugural_address.html#
Text of the speech, video and audio here: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm
