Why Jfk's Inaugural Succeeded 5o1u5l

WHY JFK’S INAUGURAL SUCCEEDED? By Thurston Clarke

WHO IS JFK?

John “Fitzgerald” Kennedy

35th President of the United States May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963

WHO IS THURSTON CLARKE?

THURSTON CLARKE Born 1946 an American historian, author and journalist.

Educated at Yale University, Columbia University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

DEFINITION OF  Façade

De Rigueur

 Exhilaration

Pivotal

 Animosity

Seldom

 Contraption

Invocation

 Drone  Pollster

 Urgency

John F. Kennedy was known for his talent in writing his speeches

according to Thurston Clarke. It is said in paragraph 3 of the text, “he won the 1960 presidential election with only 49.7 percent of population vote , yet a Gallop poll taken soon after his inauguration

showed him with an approval rating of 72 percent. His own pollster, Lou Harris, put it at an outstanding 92 percent.”

For this reason, many people who run for presidential election, such as Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton, have tried to paraphrase lines from his speech in their own inaugural speech. Even the most recent offender, George W. Bush, translated a quote from his speech, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country” into “what you do is as important as anything government does…to serve your nation, beginning with your neighbor.”

According to the text, it is nearly impossible to imitate Kennedy’s style of writing speeches for each speech that he wrote was inspired from his personal experience in war. It is no wonder that his speech was “essentially autobiographical” and many people were able to relate on his experience. Due to this reason, he was able to unite the Americans. Because of his speech’s emotional impact, he awakened the deep emotional response from his people.

QUIZ  Explain how you understand the quote “Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your

country”.