In honor of Presidents' Day, Harvard Kennedy School commemorates John F. Kennedy's legacy by remembering its reinterpretation of John F. Kennedy's inaugural address on January 20, 1961.
On January 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th president, and uttered the most notable inaugural line in history. “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” In under 14 minutes, President Kennedy delivered a moving speech that left a lasting impact on every American, including MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell.
After taking the oath of office at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Kennedy told the country that day, “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.”
In honor of Presidents’ Day, Harvard University tweeted a link to a new version of Kennedy’s inaugural address–a video released two years ago celebrating the 50th anniversary of Kennedy’s legacy. Titled “Let the Word Go Forth,” the video, produced by the Harvard Kennedy School, commemorates the Kennedy presidency and recreates his inaugural address featuring many familiar faces and voices.
You can watch the full video below.