If anyone ever tells you that speeches don’t matter, remind them of JFK’s Inaugural Address. After narrowly winning the presidency, his approval rating soared to 75% the next day, a feat many politicians today can only dream of. The enduring memory of his words attests to their impact. The debate over whether Kennedy or his speechwriter, Ted Sorensen, penned most of the speech suggests it was a collaborative effort.
There are four key reasons for its acclaim:
- Simplicity
- JFK, like Lincoln and Churchill before him, opted for simplicity in his language. Consider the nearly final paragraph as a typical example:
“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been tasked with defending freedom at its most perilous moment. I do not shy away from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe any of us would swap places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, faith, and devotion we bring to this endeavor will illuminate our country and all who serve it. And the light from that fire can indeed illuminate the world.
This paragraph’s 111 words are mostly simple, with only nine words exceeding two syllables, all of which are straightforward and common.
At 1,355 words, the speech is relatively brief, reflecting JFK’s desire to avoid being seen as long-winded.
- The ‘Big Picture’
- JFK’s address, unlike Obama’s second inaugural speech, was intended for both Americans and the global audience during the Cold War peak. Its international tone and global focus are immediately evident.
He employs anaphora, addressing:
- Our old allies sharing cultural and spiritual origins,
- The new states welcomed into freedom,
- People across half the globe,
- Our southern sister republics,
- The United Nations,
- And potential adversaries.
- Use of Antithesis
- JFK frequently used antithesis, contrasting opposing ideas within the same sentence, notably doing so three times in the speech’s opening sentence. The famous call to action for Americans, while technically chiasmus, serves as an example of antithesis.
- Alliteration
- Studies have shown alliteration aids memorability. JFK’s speech contains twenty-one instances.
- “same solemn oath”
- “man holds in his mortal hands”
- “for which our forebears fought”
- “to friend and foe alike”
- “whether it wishes us well or ill”
- “we shall pay any price, bear any burden”
- “the survival and the success of liberty”
- “faithful friends”
- “colonial control”
- “struggling to break the bonds of mass misery”
- “strongly supporting”
- “sovereign states”
- “writ may run”
- “before the dark powers of destruction”
- “the steady spread of the deadly atom”
- “sincerity is always subject”
- “peace preserved”
- “bear the burden”
- “a grand and global alliance”
- “high standards of strength and sacrifice”
- “let us go forth to lead the land we love”
JFK’s inaugural address is celebrated for its clarity, global perspective, rhetorical skill, and memorability, marking it as a significant moment in oratory history.