Reading John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address | A Primary Source Close Read w/ BRI

As we approach the Inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, BRI Staff Kirk Higgins and Joshua Schmid look back at the famous inaugural speech of John F. Kennedy and discuss his timeless messages that still apply today. How did JFK ground himself in the past while still promising progression and change? And how did he define his responsibility in the context of world politics and in the tradition of the American presidency?

Primary Source Close Reading with BRI investigates some of the most pivotal speeches and documents that made America. In this series, join BRI staff Kirk Higgins and guests as they dissect how seminal documents, court cases, and speeches forged America’s development and impact our lives today.

BRI Resource: The Torch Has Passed to a New Generation: John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address and Responsibility

BRI Resource: Thirteen Days: John F. Kennedy, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Purpose

John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address

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About the Bill of Rights Institute:

Established in September 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that works to engage, educate, and empower individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. The Institute develops educational resources and programs for a network of more than 50,000 educators and 70,000 students nationwide.