Before You Read

In this video, John F. Kennedy Jr. takes the oath of office to become the 35th president of the United States. President Kennedy’s inauguration speech marks both a milestone in American politics both in terms of televised speeches bringing about a new revolution of political rhetoric and Kennedy’s speech itself being remembered as one of the most important speeches of the 20th century. Possibly most well-known among Kennedy’s rhetoric are his closing remarks declaring, “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

Introduction by the editors

John F. Kennedy Inauguration Speech

by John F. Kennedy

Watch the video John F. Kennedy Inauguration Speech.

John F. Kennedy Inauguration Speech is licensed under Public Domain: No Known Copyright.

Kennedy, John F. “John F. Kennedy Inauguaration Speech.” The Commons: Tools for Reading, Writing, and Rhetoric (2nd ed.), edited by Jill Parrott and Dominic Ashby, Eastern Kentucky University, 2026.