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Understanding 9/11tv President Kennedy 1961 Inauguration CSPAN January 15, 2017 3:00pm-3:33pm EST
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whole change of government, if you will. reagan was a transformational president. that made his election and swearing-in more ironically, at his second inauguration in 1985, it was so cold. it was like zero and windy. the weather was terrible. they had to cancel the outdoor and move to the rotunda of the capital building itself for only members of the house and senate and platform guests were allowed to come in. they had to cancel the parade. it was too dangerous to have people outdoors in the kind of weather. that one was a memorable one for another reason. >> thank you very much. >> thank you. 1961, senator20, john f. kennedy, at from
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massachusetts was sworn in as the 35th president of the united states. in about 15 minutes we hear president kennedy's inaugural address. first we see the inaugural ceremonies and oath of office. ♪ >> members of the house of representatives were proceeded by kenneth r. harding, deputy sergeant at arms in charge of the mace. this is an indication that it really was cold. ♪ representative joseph w. martin, former speaker and minority leader and presently representative from massachusetts. ♪ senator edward dirkson, minority leader, senator mike mansfield majority leader lead the members , of the united states senate.
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♪ former president truman escorted by senator clinton anderson. ♪ more members of the united states senate. former senator from rhode island, theodore francis green. robert kennedy, who was to be the next attorney general. ted kennedy, another brother of the president to be. ♪ members of the united states supreme court arrive on the stands.
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♪ mrs. eisenhower and mrs. nixon, followed by mrs. johnson and followed by mrs. kennedy. ♪ [applause]
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♪ [applause] [cheers] ♪ >> the joint congressional inaugural committee having escorted, now seat the presidential parties on the
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platform. [applause] [cheers] >> mr. president, mr. vice president, distinguished guests and fellow citizens of this great representative republic, we are here today to inaugurate the 35th president of this union of free people. it is my high honor to begin this event by presenting the united states marine band under the direction of lieutenant colonel albert sholper, which will play a special arrangement of a song we all cherish. "america the beautiful."
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>> the crowds remained hushed until the completion of "america the beautiful." ♪ [applause] >> will the audience now rise as his eminence, richard kushing, announces the invocation.
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>> in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost, amen. in this year of our lord, 1961, we ask thee almighty god to enlighten us and we may know as men our personal responsibility. and we may know as americans our political, social and humanitarian responsibility. and we may know as citizens of the world our global responsibilities through our souls and our fellow man. that we may know as children of god our responsibilities to the father of mankind. enlighten us, oh lord, that we may know how to combine all of
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these responsibilities into a continuing principle of responsibility. >> and now ms. marion anderson will sing our national anthem, banner," accompanied by the "the star spangled banner," -- "the star spangled banner," accompanied by the united states marine band. ♪ >> ♪ o say, can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
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o'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? and the rockets' red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? [applause]
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>> his eminence, arch bishop jabobus will now lead us in prayer. >> in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost, amen. almighty and all merciful lord, by whom all powers and authorities are ordained, who taught us that relist -- rulers are ministers of god to us for all that is good. who demands of us that we offer supplications, prayers, intersessions and thanksgiving for all who are in authority, hear us, oh lord, for that we,
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bowing and inclining our heads beseech they mercy upon the faithful servant, our beloved president, john fitzgerald kennedy. >> the speaker of the house of representatives will now administer the oath of office to the vice president-elect. [applause] >> will you repeat after me. i, lyndon baines johnson.
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vice president-elect johnson: i, lyndon baines johnson. >> do solemnly swear. vice president-elect johnson: do solemnly swear. >> that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states against all enemies, foreign and domestic. vice president-elect johnson: that i'll support and defend the constitution of the united states against all enemies foreign and domestic. >> that i'll bear. -- true faith and allegiance to the same. vice president-elect johnson: that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. >> i take this obligation freely. vice president-elect johnson: i take this obligation freely without any reservation whatever. >> i will faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which i am about to enter, so help me god. vice president-elect johnson: that i will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of which i'm about to enter, so help me god. [cheers]
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[applause] >> the reverend dr. john barkley will now lead us in prayer. >> let us pray. eternal god, our father, we pause again to acknowledge that in thy presence we are living and moving, and in the alone we have our being. we are thankful for the great and good men raised up by thee to lead us in the past. bless these leaders of recent decades still with us who have led us through these tumultuous times. to live out their years with the consciousness of the admiration and appreciation of a grateful people. >> now i have the honor to
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present one of america's most distinguished poets who will deliver an original composition, mr. robert frost. [applause] >> robert frost, one of america's great living poets, gave from memory one of his own poems entitled "gift outright." >> the oath of office will now be administered to the president-elect by the chief justice of the united states. ♪
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>> you, john fitzgerald kennedy, do solemnly swear. president-elect kennedy: >> i, john fitzgerald kennedy, do solemnly swear. >> that you will faithfully execute the office of the president of the united states. president-elect kennedy: >> that i will faithfully execute the office of president of the united states. >> and will to the best of your ability. president-elect kennedy: and will to the best of my ability. >> preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the united states. president-elect kennedy: >> preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the united states. >> so help you god. president-elect kennedy: >> so help me god. cheers] [applause]
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president kennedy: vice president johnson, mr. mr. speaker, mr. chief justice, president eisenhower, vice president nixon, president truman, reverend clergy, fellow citizens, we observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom symbolizing an end as well as a beginning, dignifying renewal as well as change. for i have sworn before you and almighty god the same solemn oath our forebearers prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago. the world is very different now, for man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all
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forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. and yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe. the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of god. we dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. let the word go forth from this time and place to friend and foe alike that the torch has been passed to a new generation of americans born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter feat, proud of our ancient heritage and unwilling to witness or permit
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the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. [cheers] let everykennedy: nation know whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend , oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty. [cheers] this much wenedy: pledge and more. to those old allies whose
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cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. united there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. divided there is little we can do. we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder. to those new states we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron. we shall not always expect to find them supporting our views, but we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom. and to remember that in the past
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thought byoolishly riding the back of the tiger ended up inside. [applause] to those people in the huts and villages of half the globe, weuggling to make the bonds, pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves. requires,er period it not because the communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. if a free society cannot help in many who are poor, it cannot save a few who are rich. [applause] to our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge.
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to convert our good word into good deeds. in a new alliance for progress, to assist freemen and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. but this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the pray of hostile powers. let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the americas. and let every other power no that is hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house. [cheers] president kennedy: to that world assembly of sovereign states, the united nations, our last best hope, in an age were the instruments of war have far
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outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support to prevent it from m, toing merely a formu strengthen its shield of the week, and to enlarge the area in which it's written a run. -- writ may run. to those nations that would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request. that both sides begin anew the quest for peace. before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. we dare not tempt them with weakness. for only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that
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they will never be employed. but neither can to great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course. both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons. both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to order that a certain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war. so let us begin a new. remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. let us never negotiate out of fear. but let us never fear to negotiate. [cheers] [applause] president kennedy: let both sides explore what problems
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unite us instead of belaboring those problems that divide us. but both sides for the first time formulate serious and proposals-- precise for the inspection and control of arms. and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. [applause] president kennedy: let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science and set of its terrors. together let us explore the stars, conquer the desert, eradicate disease, cap the ocean depths, and encourage. commerce let both sides unite to head in all corners of the earth the command of isaiah to undo the heavy burden and that the
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oppressed go free. if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor. not a new balance of power, but a new world of law where the strong are just in the week secure -- weak secure in the peace reserved. all this will not be finished in the first 100 days. nor will it be finished in the first 1000 days. nor in the life of this administration. nor even perhaps in our lifetimes on this planet. but let us begin. [applause] president kennedy: in your hands, my fellow citizens, more
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than mine will rest the final success or failure of our cause. founded,s country was each generation of americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalties. the grace of young americans who answered the call of service surround the globe. now the trumpet summons us again. not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need, not as a call to battle, though in battle we are, but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out. rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, a struggle against the common enemies of man. tyranny, already, disease, and
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war itself. can we forge against these enemies a grant and global alliance? west,and south, east and that can assure a life for all mankind. will you join in that historic effort? [cheers] in the longnnedy: history of the world, only a few generations having granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. i do not shrink from this responsibility. i welcome it. [cheers] president kennedy: i do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. the energy, the faith, the
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devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it. canthe glow from that fire truly like the world. and so, my fellow americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. [cheers] president kennedy: my fellow citizens of the world, ask not what america will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. [applause] finally, kennedy: whether you are citizens of america or citizens of the same, ask of us here the high standards of strength and
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sacrifice which we ask of you. with a good conscience, are only toryreward with histo the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking his blessing and his help but knowing here on works must truly be our own. [cheers] [applause] >> the benediction will not be nelsonced by rabbi dr.
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gleck. >> we turn to thee, o heavenly father, in deepest thanksgiving for this exalting day of free affirmation of our nation's ideals and unity, and a personal avowal of sacred obligation by our president and vice president in thy name. oh thou, to whom alone belong the dominion and the power, mayest thou ever be their stay and support. >> the rabbi ended his
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benediction on a note of prayer for the success of the incoming administration. >> in conclusion of the program, the united states marine band will play "the star-spangled banner." ♪
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