Tofel recounts sorensen s brilliance in penning kennedys famous inaugural address. Theodore chaikin sorensen, whose prose mingled with the thoughts and words of his close friend john f. Kennedy of massachusetts hired a twentyfouryearold from nebraska as his number two legislative assistanton a trial basis. Kennedy and ted sorensen does not include what may have been the greatest contribution sorensen made to history he drafted the letter to nikita. Supreme court held the large fitzgerald family bible as john f. Kennedy took the oath of office to become the nations 35th president. Kennedy as the 35th president of the united states was held on. Jfk s inaugural address was worldchanging it wasnt even his best, but kennedys inaugural speech was wise and courageous, writes. Kennedy prepare his address, aide ted sorensen read all the past such speeches. Sorensen served on the advisory board of the national security network. Jan 20, 2011 ted sorensen, kennedys counselor and speechwriter, died last fall.
Fdrs the only thing we have to fear is fear itself and jfks ask not. The event was sponsored by hunter college young democrats. In some ways, if youre hoping to pick up a thing or two by reading about other speechwriters, its probably a mistake to start with ted sorensens biography of kennedy sorensen. Ted sorensen on writing jfks speeches ted sorensen. To learn more about the rhetoric and oratory of john kennedy and ted sorensen, have a look at thurston clarkes ask not. As hed remarked to his close advisor, ted sorensen. Kennedy as the 35th president of the united states was held on friday, january 20, 1961 at the east portico of the united states capitol in washington, d. Nebraskan ted sorensen, kennedys speech writer by mike tobias, net news lincoln native ted sorensen was a longtime aide and speech writer for john f.
Theodore ted sorensen took a keen interest in politics and as a young man he had been influenced by the career of george norris. The speech was crafted by kennedy and his speech writer ted sorensen. Kennedys longtime adviser ted sorensen died this weekend at the age of 82. Oct 31, 2010 ted sorenson, kennedy adviser and speechwriter, dead at 82 theodore sorensen, a speechwriter and close adviser to president john f. Ted sorenson, kennedy adviser and speechwriter, dead at 82. Oct 31, 2010 ted sorensen, wordsmith aide to john f. Kennedys reading copy of the inaugural address, page. Ted sorensen, jfks unitarian speechwriter in kennedys inaugural address, he concludes saying, with history the final judge of our deeds.
Kennedy reportedly told his speech writer, ted sorensen, that he wanted this inaugural speech. Kennedy in 1953 and continued to work for him as an advisor and speechwriter until his assassination as president in 1963. This is the speech he delivered announcing the dawn of a new era as young americans born in the 20th century first assumed leadership of the nation. Kennedy used rhetorical devices in his inaugural address to show america that he was best for the job. Kennedys inaugural address, ahead of the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Kennedys inaugural address is frequently praised as one. Ted sorensen was born in lincoln, nebraska, and after law school moved to washington, d. The most memorable phrase from kennedys speech is, of course. Kennedy defeated richard nixon by a narrow margin and became americas youngest elected president.
Ted sorensen, i dont want people to think im a windbag. As preparation, at kennedys request, sorensen studied the most memorable presidential speeches of american history, including other inaugural addresses and abraham lincolns wartime gettysburg address. The net news special reporting project jfk revisited talks with nebraska historians and political scientists about the kennedy legacy, especially how we see and perceive the presidency. Kennedy served at the height of the cold war, and the majority of his work as president concerned relations with the soviet union and cuba. Sorensens kennedywere penned by those who occupied. Kenny recalled the splendor of the occasion and the forceful. Kennedys inaugural address, certainly, is one speech for which the 35th president is remembered. On january 20, 1961, john fitzgerald kennedy delivered one of americas few standout inaugural addresses and one of the finest speeches in american history. It wasnt even his best, but kennedys inaugural address was still worldchanging says ted sorenson, jfks primary speechwriter.
Kennedy 196163, serving as an influential innercircle adviser, special counsel, and speechwriter who. Overall, ted sorensen s kennedy offers a compelling journey for readers interested in and already somewhat familiar with john f. Kennedy had sorensen study president abraham lincoln s gettysburg address as well as other inaugural speeches. Jun 19, 20 the story behind jfks ask not inauguration speech. Kennedys administration, a writer and counselor who did much to shape the presidents narrative, image and legacy, died sunday in manhattan. Nov 01, 2010 theodore chaikin sorensen, whose prose mingled with the thoughts and words of his close friend john f. The man who actually wrote that speech, ted sorensen, died just three months ago. In late may, kennedy tasked ted sorensen with writing a speech that would do two things. John f kennedy or better known as jfk by his initials was the 35th president of the united states. I dont want people to think im a windbag he assigned sorensen the task of studying other inaugural speeches and lincolns gettysburg address to glean the secrets of successful addresses. Kennedy presidential library and museum analyzing the r hetoric of jfks inaugural address topic. Things with ted sorensen are more complicated than they appear. The draft allows us to see, in a new way, the evolution of the speech.
Prepared by the department of education and public programs, john f. Jan 15, 2009 jfk, fdr, and the secret history of how a great inaugural address is written presidents can get their due credit even when we know about their collaborators. Chief justice, president eisenhower, vice president nixon, president truman, reverend clergy, fellow citizens. Kennedy first hired ted sorensen as a researcher to help him while was. Kennedy once called him his intellectual blood bank. Jfk, fdr, and the secret history of how a great inaugural. Evaluated as a unique, if sympathetic, window into the last eleven years of jfks life and inner circle, this book is often outstanding. Nebraska native ted sorensens role in kennedy white house. A highlight of the new frontier was the june 26, 1963, speech in west berlin in which kennedy memorably declared, ich bin ein berliner. Kennedy, as well as one of his closest advisers, spoke at hunter college on presidential politics. A speech writer for the president sorensen accompanied jfk on his. Smarter faster big think is the leading source of expertdriven. Jfks inaugural address taken from the kennedy presidential library on january 20, 1961 a clerk of the u.
Some of kennedys most memorable speeches, from his inaugural address to his promise to place a. President kennedys inaugural speech addressed not only the american people, but. He assigned sorensen the task of studying other inaugural speeches and. Ted sorensen one of the last surviving members of john f. Kennedy and the speech that changed america, published by henry holt in 2004 and now available in a penguin paperback. Anaphora ethos pathos logos comparison antithesis metaphors and hyperboles kennedy uses. Inaugural addresses as a group are largely forgettable. Kennedy and a widely published author on the presidency and.
Kennedys inaugural address on january 20th, 1961 and it signifies his formal induction into the white house. Jfk s inaugural address was worldchanging it wasnt even his best, but kennedys inaugural speech was wise and courageous, writes the presidents primary speechwriter. Ted sorensen, noted in his memoirs, time and again kennedy. John fitzgerald kennedy may 29, 1917 november 22, 1963, often referred to by his initials jfk and jack, was an american politician who served as the 35th president of the united states from january 1961 until his assassination in november 1963. Sorensen, former special counsel and adviser to president john f. During his tenure, he had accomplished many things including the making of the peace corps. Kennedy is remembered for more than its tragic end 50 years ago. He also provided some assistance with president obamas 2009 inaugural address. Now, heres the thing about ted sorensen, whom kennedy called his intellectual blood.
Kennedy to create some of the most memorable presidential speeches. Ted sorensen will be paying special attention to barack obamas inaugural address on tuesday. Jfks inaugural address was worldchanging it wasnt even his best, but kennedys inaugural speech was wise and courageous, writes the. Ask not what your country can do for you jfk library. By invoking the american dream and extending its promise to the rest of the world, kennedys speech was an inspirational call to action that resonates even today. On january 18, 1961, ted sorensen s secretary typed a 14page final version which was placed in a black threering binder. Be that as it may, kennedys eloquent and often acclaimed inaugural address.
Kennedy presidential library and museum historical background and context fifty years ago on january 20th, a clerk of the u. Like all presidential speeches in the modern era, this speech was not solely the work of the president, but of a team of contributors, most especially ted sorenson. Very active in his campaign, sorensen spoke early on and frequently about the similarities between senator barack obamas and senator john f. Analyzing the rhetoric of jfks inaugural address jfk library. Ted sorensen, in full theodore chaikin sorensen, american lawyer and presidential speechwriter born may 8, 1928, lincoln, neb. Kennedys inaugural address inspired children and adults to see the importance of civic action and public service. This paper provides a rhetorical analysis of president john f. He then went on to obtain a law degree from nebraskas college of law. He assigned sorensen the task of studying other inaugural speeches. Born in lincoln, nebraska and graduate of university of nebraska law school sorenson went to work for senator john f. Sep 26, 2008 in his inaugural address, kennedy pledges to support liberty, commit to allies, avoid tyranny, aid the underprivileged throughout the world, and strengthen the americas. The art of wordswhat jfk can teach us about speech.
President kennedys dictation, taken down by his secretary on january 10, in a combination of shorthand and long hand. As sorenson was also s a major adviser of robert f. Kennedys speech in 1961 was one of the shortest but most powerful addresses made by a president. Inaugural address ask not what your country can do for you track info. Legendary kennedy speechwriter ted sorensen passed away on sunday at age 82. Irish memeories of late ted sorensen, kennedys speechwriter.
Kennedy in kennedys 1968 presidential campaign his speech which was held during rfks presidential campaign. Text version below transcribed directly from audio vice president johnson, mr. Presidential inaugural address delivered 20 january 1961 authenticity certified. Ted sorensen, who died on october 31 aged 82, was the strategist and political speech writer behind john f kennedy in his successful campaign for the american presidency in. Kennedy, is gone, and the family is absent from congress for the first time since 1946.
This was the 44th inauguration and marked the commencement of john f. As hed remarked to his close advisor, ted sorensen, i dont want people to. Kennedys administration, a writer and counselor who did much to shape the presidents narrative, image and. Kennedys inaugural address 1961 vice president johnson, mr. Jfk inaugural speech ethos, pathos, and logos historical context rhetorical devices this speech is historical because it is john f.
Kennedy hielt seine einzige amtsantrittsrede am 20. Overall, ted sorensens kennedy offers a compelling journey for readers interested in and already somewhat familiar with john f. Though not the shortest of inaugural addresses, kennedys was shorter than most at 1,355 words in length and, like lincolns famous speech, was comprised of short phrases and words. Included is the type of text it is, where it was first spoken, and the main objective. Kennedys administration, sorensen, 80, was jfks legal. Til ted sorensen was a speechwriter for president john f. Former clinton scribe mark katz remembers his eloquence. Aug 14, 2019 to learn more about the rhetoric and oratory of john kennedy and ted sorensen, have a look at thurston clarkes ask not.
Sorensen cited the 1961 inaugural address as one of kennedys. Some of kennedys most memorable speeches, from his inaugural address to his promise to place a man on the moon, resulted from such. He left the white house soon after jfks death, and in 1966 joined a new york city law firm, where, as a prominent international lawyer, he advised governments, multinational organizations, and major. He assigned sorensen the task of studying other inaugural speeches and lincolns g ettysburg address to glean the secrets of successful addresses. Sorensen was deeply involved in the creation of the speech, and others made important contributions as well. Kennedys inaugural address plot summary course hero. Jfks selection of advisors reflected the strengths.
Sorensen s assertion that kennedy is the sole author was based on sorensen s feeling that the ideas and values of the speech all reflect kennedys thinking, as. On april 21, 1968 ted sorensen, speechwriter for president john f. Ted sorensen, jfks unitarian speechwriter uu world magazine. Well known for the line ask not what your country can do for you, the speech offers. John f kennedy served in office from january 1961 to november 1963. Jfks selection of advisors reflected the strengths and weaknesses of his own policy experience. Kennedys inaugural address is undisputedly one of the greatest ever. He had delegated his aide ted sorensen to read all the previous presidential inaugurals, with the additional brief of trying to crack the. Nebraska native ted sorensen s role in kennedy white house went far beyond speeches. Kennedy to create some of the most memorable presidential speeches of the 20th century, died. The art of wordswhat jfk can teach us about speech writing by guest author. Featuring 100 milestone documents of american history from the national archives.
Sorensen developed leftwing political views and was member of the americans for democratic action. He helped draft the inaugural address where kennedy said, ask not what your country can do for you. May 22, 2008 ted sorensen on writing jfks speeches ted sorensen. This speech was delivered on friday, january 20, 1961.
Speech writer ted sorensen knew jfks ideas, and they cooperated closely on the speeches of the administration. Analyzing the rhetoric of jfks inaugural address topic. Analyzing the rhetoric of jfks inaugural address pdf. The finelycrafted final speech had been revised and reworked numerous times by kennedy and sorensen until the presidentelect was satisfied. Although kennedys main speechwriter, ted sorensen 19282010, credits authorship of the inaugural address to kennedy alone, the speech is the result of many minds working together.
1116 1318 1183 676 533 383 1313 461 335 580 933 1263 1182 594 1496 1586 785 1486 103 596 680 682 1392 411 1308 64 1267 445 755 656