JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY DURING HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS IN 1961

USPA NEWS - As the youngest man ever to be elected president at the age of 43, John Fitzgerald Kennedy represented a new future and hope for the nation. During his Inaugural Address in 1961, he said 'Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden,...

As the youngest man ever to be elected president at the age of 43, John Fitzgerald Kennedy represented a new future and hope for the nation. During his Inaugural Address he said '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, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.'

'To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom ““ and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.'

'To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support ““ to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective ““ to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak ““ and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.'

'So let us begin anew ““ remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negociate out of fear. But let us never fear to negociate.'

'But this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.'

'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.'

On September 1960, John Fitzegarld Kennedy said 'I am not the catholic candidate for president. I am the democratic party's candidate for president who also happens to be a catholic. I do not speak for my church on public matters ““ and the church does not speak for me.' He was the first Roman Catholic President.

Source : John Fitzgerald Kennedy's Inaugural Address in 1961