PEOPLE JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY, JFK “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Born in 1917 into a family of Irish origins (his great-grandparents migrated to Massachusetts to escape the devastating potato famine that struck their homeland), John Fitzgerald Kennedy became the youngest president ever elected in 1960. He had run for the Democratic Party and, on Election Day, he narrowly defeated the Republican Richard Nixon. Kennedy’s time in office was marked by social and political turmoils in both domestic and foreign affairs. Some of the biggest challenges his administration had to face include: • The Bay of Pigs Invasion; • The Civil Rights Movement; • The Cuban Missile Crisis; • The Space Race. Kennedy died well before the end of his mandate: he was shot during a motorcade in Dallas on 22nd November 1963. 1 Read these excerpts from Kennedy’s inaugural speech and identify where President John F. Kennedy... ... stresses the importance of wealth equality. ☐ ... hopes that both USA and Russia would work together on space exploration. ☐ ... refers to former colonies that became independent after World War II. ☐ ... wishes that the international community would work together to stop the arms race. ☐ ... refers to political power given to a representative of the American youth. ☐ ... warns people who would like to seize power and establish a dictatorship. ☐ A. “We not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let both friends and enemies around the world know that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and peace and proud of our ancient heritage. We will not allow anyone to show disrespect for those human rights to which this nation has always been , and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.” dare bitter committed B. “To those new states that have finally gained their freedom, we promise that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away just to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom – and to remember that, in the past, those who wrongly tried to obtain power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.” C. “To the people who live in poor villages around the world and find it hard to get out of the poverty trap, we promise to do our best to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required – not because the communists may be doing it, not because we look for their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” D. “Let both sides, for the first time, make serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms – and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate , make use of the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce.” Adapted from: disease https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/historic-speeches/inaugural-address