John Fitzgerald Kennedy was sworn in as the 35 th president of the United States on the 20 th of January 1961, he was the youngest person ever to be elected to the post and he was seen to be a symbol of change in the postwar political climate.
He was the first president of the television age, understanding the importance of reaching out to the population through the medium with his rousing speeches and rhetoric and acknowledged energy and youth. He also was at the helm through one of the most explosive periods of the cold war, culminating in the Cuban Missile Crisis and the initiation of the Space Race as well as the escalation of the Vietnam War.
His role in the Civil Rights movement and proposals led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and his assassination in Dallas on the 22 nd of November 1963 left the free world mourning the loss of one its most charismatic leaders.
Many of Kennedy’s speeches (especially his inaugural address) are considered iconic; and despite his relatively short term in office, and the lack of major legislative changes coming to fruition during his term, he is considered by many to be one of the great American presidents.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of his death, an occasion that gives the possibility to speak about this iconic figure in class. Here’s a list of materials.
LIVE STREAMING:
PODCAST:
INAUGURAL SPEECH:
GUIDED ANALYSIS:
ARTICOLO STORICO:
RISORSE JFK LIBRARY: