John Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th President on January 20, 1961 and with him was a hope of a young Americans born in the 20th century who would fight "common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself." His popular and graceful wife, Jacqueline Kennedy and two young children added to the Kennedy magnetism at home and abroad. He was also a master orator and his speeches inspired the many in the nation to be better Americans. In his inaugural address he directly confronted Americans calling them to become active citizens, stating "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
John F. Kennedy's presidency faced a number of trials from the 20th century including the prolongation of the Cold War, the building of the Berlin Wall, the Space Race, the beginning of the Vietnam War, and the American Civil Rights Movement. With each of these events in his presidency, he made memorable and quotable speeches—his words themselves made history.
As the Russian space program propelled Kennedy to invest energy into America's space program with the goal of landing on the moon by the end of the decade. He urged Congress to dedicate $22 billion to the Apollo Space Program. In his speech to Rice University he stated "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard." On July 20, 1969, the goal was realized when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took landed on the moon.
Once of his greatest speeches in Berlin after the Berlin Wall was erected to halt westward movement of East Berliners and keep them under communist control, Kennedy stated "Ich bin ein Berliner". The speech created a stir worldwide for its boldness against the communist bloc and is considered to be a landmark speech of the post-war era. It is also remembered in popular culture because some believe grammatically he stated, "I am a jelly donut."
JFK's position on Civil Rights was inhibited due to his need of the Dixiecrat vote; however, he supported integration and used the Federal Marshals to protect students and freedom riders. On June 11, 1963, President Kennedy intervened wheyn the Alabama Governor personally blocked the doorway to the University of Alabama to stop two African American students from enrolling. That evening made a famous civil rights address on national television and radio which was later used to propel Civil Rights Act of 1964.
This collection also includes hours of news casting from Kennedy's tragic assignation in Dallas, Texas November 22nd, 1963. Though the Warren Commission states that that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, many historians believe that there were other people involved in the murder of President Kennedy including the CIA, the FBI, the Russians, the Cubans, the Chinese, the Mason's, the MIB's, the Mafia, and of course vice president LBJ. Conspiracy theorists, film makers, historians, and others have always been interested in the assassination of a WWII hero, father, and husband and a president.
In these recordings there are glimpses of eye witness accounts which reference locations of possible assassination posts including the Texas School Book Depository, the grassy knoll, and other theories. This extensive collection of news stories gives a first hand and minute by minute account of the tragic assassination of John F. Kennedy. His death was one of the most dramatic and significant events of the 20th century.
John F. Kennedy's life left a mark on American national and international government policies, popular culture, and life. Though he didn't live to see many of his programs and policies to fruition, his speeches are well written and presented; they are considered iconic of the era.