On Another Cold, January Day -- 48 Years Ago... (My recollections of the Kennedy inauguration.)

As the inauguration of President-Elect Barack Obama looms large in our collective sights, I am reminded of another cold, January day -- this one back in the year 1961, when I was only 7 years old.

Second grade, Miss O'Reilly's class at Fremont Elementary School in Santa Rosa, Northern California:

Miss O'Reilly was an odd bird as I remember. She was high-strung and prone to small outbursts of temper (not the best personality for a second grade teacher, by any means) but, she was also artistic and a nature lover who spent every holiday and most weekends in the setting she loved the best: The deserts of Central and Southern California. This meant that our classroom was generously adorned with pieces of cactus driftwood and even tumbleweeds -- keepsakes from the land that she adored.

On Monday, January 16th, 1961, Miss O'Reilly informed the class that we would be having a "field trip" that coming Friday. On Friday, January 20th, we would assemble in our classroom at 8:00 am as usual but would immediately be led in a group across the street to the house of a friend of Miss O'Reilly's where we would spend the rest of the morning seated in the living room in front of her friend's TV set to watch the inauguration of the new president: John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

In retrospect, I can appreciate how excited and proud Miss O'Reilly must've been. Like herself, JFK was an Irish-American Catholic -- the first Catholic ever to be elected to the office of President of the United States. And we were excited, too... It was the first time in our young lives that we had ever been on a field trip to anywhere off school grounds -- even if it WAS only across the street.

On the day of the inauguration, having reminded us to be mindful of our manners, Miss O'Reilly led the class across the street, into the remodeled Victorian where her friend lived and where the large (and "new" for the time) black and white TV set was already tuned to the festivities.

One could easily tell from the drifts of snow everywhere and the steam that outpoured from the mouths of each of the speakers with every word and breath that it was freezing-cold that day in Washington DC.

We arrived just in time to witness the emminent American poet, fellow New Englander and favorite of President Kennedy's, the aged Robert Frost (well-known for his poem "Two Roads": "Two roads diverged in a wood and I, Took the one less traveled by..."), recite his poem "The Gift Outright".

Unbeknownst to many, Frost had actually penned a special, new poem for the inauguration entitled "Dedication" which he was unable to read due to the blinding, reflected light from the snow that day but, that mattered naught to us as we listened, spellbound, to his words:

 "THE GIFT OUTRIGHT

The land was ours before we were the land's.
She was our land more than a hundred years
Before we were her people. She was ours
In Massachusetts, in Virginia,
But we were England's, still colonials,
Possessing what we still were unpossessed by,
Possessed by what we now no more possessed.
Something we were withholding made us weak
Until we found out that it was ourselves
We were withholding from our land of living,
And forthwith found salvation in surrender.
Such as we were we gave ourselves outright
(The deed of gift was many deeds of war)
To the land vaguely realizing westward,
But still unstoried, artless, unenhanced,
Such as she was, such as she would become."

 -- Robert Frost (2)

(Photo credit below.)

Jackie was there in her fawn-colored coat and signature "pillbox" hat seated beside her husband. I remember thinking how handsome our new first family was and how seeing them there filled me with pride.

(Photo credit below.)

Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren then administered the oath of office to JFK. I remember so well the huge, steamy clouds of breath issuing forth from each of their mouths as they spoke.

Then Kennedy stood alone at the podium and delivered the most moving inaugural address I have ever heard -- before or since. I am reproducing it below along with some of my own observations/comments in brackets "[]" to aid some of our younger Gather members in appreciating what the impact of his words meant to us at the time:

"Vice-President [Lyndon Baines] Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice [Earl Warren], President Eisenhower, Vice-President Nixon, [Former] 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 -- signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forbears 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 forms of human poverty and all forms of human life [the atom bomb]. 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 [most recently WWII -- less than 20 years before], disciplined by a hard and bitter peace [a reference to the "Cold War" that had existed between Russia and the United States since the fall of Hitler], proud of our ancient heritage -- and unwilling to witness or permit 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.

[I still get goosebumps when I read or hear the above paragraph! When John Kennedy said "Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike..." it made every, single ear within the sound of his voice -- the world over -- give him their complete and utter attention. Such was the power of his manner of speaking... Such was the command over an audience that JFK had -- in spades!]

Let every 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 the success of liberty [a "gauntlet" to Russia].

This much we pledge and more.

To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share [England and France], 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 for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.

To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free [Alaska and Hawaii -- admitted the year before], we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely 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 foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside [Hitler, Stalin, Hirohito, etc].

To those people in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery [there were many of these -- even in that time], we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required -- 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 the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. [This statement reflects a generosity of spirit that we have sorely been lacking in the U.S. in recent years but which is an intregal part of the "Mission of Democracy".]

To our sister republics south of our border [Mexico and the rest of Latin America], we offer a special pledge -- to convert our good words into good deeds in a new alliance for progress to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty [the inception of "NAFTA"?]. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers [Cuba]. 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 know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house [Russia's support of Communist Cuba].

To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective, to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run [the Peace Corps].

Finally, to those nations who 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 they will never be employed.

But neither can two 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 alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.

So let us begin anew -- 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.

Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

Let both sides, for the first time, formulate 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 [the Cuban Missile Crises the following year somewhat diluted this sentiment for Kennedy, however, he did push for the partial-ban on nuclear weapons testing which came about in 1963]. (1)

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars [NASA], conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce.

Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah, to 'undo the heavy burdens . . . (and) let the oppressed go free'.

And 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 and the weak secure and the peace preserved.

All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration [tragically cut short by JFK's assassination], nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.

In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course.

Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. [Kennedy himself was a decorated hero of WWII for his brave deeds during the"PT 109" incident. See my article on this at http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977474684&nav=MyGather .]

Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need -- not as a call to battle, though embattled we are [the Cold War] -- 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, poverty, disease and war itself.

Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort? [Peace Corps]

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility -- I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it -- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. [This is my favorite line of the entire speech. When the words "...can truly light the world..." came out of John Kennedy's mouth, you wanted to jump up and shout "Halleluja!"!]

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country. [The most oft-quoted line of his entire administration -- mostly due to it being seized upon by "Reagan bootstrap economics" theorists.]

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do forthe freedom of man. [IMHO a MUCH better and more enlightened line than the previous one...]

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same highstandards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only surereward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own. (3)

(Photo credit below.)

As I remember, all us, Miss O'Reilly and her friend, as well, sat motionless and oddly quiet for quite a few minutes after these last words were spoken by President Kennedy and, after that -- up until the assassination -- I believe the majority of Americans believed every word and sought (in both large and small ways) to implement the sentiments our new president had expressed.

References:

(1) http://www.foreignaffairs.org/19840901faessay8393/robert-w-tucker/nuclear-weapons-and-the-u-s-s-r-the-nuclear-debate.html

(2) http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/tri050.html

(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inaugural_address_of_John_F._Kennedy

PHOTOS:

Robert Frost:
http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Video/060424/nn_bwilliams_frost_060424.300w.jpg

JFK and Jackie:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/presidents/inaugural/inaug_jfk_jackie.jpg

Chief Justice Earl Warren administering the Oath of Office:

http://edu.warhol.org/images/jfk-innauguration.jpg

Kennedy giving speech:
http://artofmanliness.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/ap_kennedy_050111_assh.jpg