4.05 Comparison/Contrast Between Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy
4.05 Comparison/Contrast between Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy
Presidents Kennedy and Obama were both men who changed the world when they become won the Presidency. While these men are quite similar, they are also very different. Their voices in the inaugural addresses that they both delivered are very influential.
There are four factors to consider in comparing and contrasting the inaugural address of both presidents. The aforementioned factors include historical perspective, manner of presentation, content, and as well as influence to the people and existing conditions. The first point is the comparison and contrast of both speeches in accordance with historical perspective. Simply put, the inaugural address of each government leader is influenced by historical factors at the time it was delivered before the public. In case of John F. Kennedy, the speech was given when the country just won the Second World War via brave spirits of American fighters who redeemed freedom through death and agony because of the bloodshed. On the other hand, Barack Obama delivered his speech amidst economic crisis that the country is facing with hopes of getting over it. In the first, the country is beset with economic problems that caused tremendous trials and difficulties. That is the reason why the tenor of Kennedy’s speech is focused on world unity against tyranny while the speech of Obama is geared more on economic progress within the country. The second point of this paper focuses more on the manner of presentation of both inaugural addresses. They both had different focus.In the speech, Kennedy focused on announcing his foreign policy agenda to different nations. While Obama put forward different and concrete measures in view of different existing problem. On the other hand, it was Kennedy who stressed that people should not think on what the government could do to the people but what the people could contribute to the country (Eidenmuller, 2001, p. 1). The content of
Presidents Kennedy and Obama were both men who changed the world when they become won the Presidency. While these men are quite similar, they are also very different. Their voices in the inaugural addresses that they both delivered are very influential.
There are four factors to consider in comparing and contrasting the inaugural address of both presidents. The aforementioned factors include historical perspective, manner of presentation, content, and as well as influence to the people and existing conditions. The first point is the comparison and contrast of both speeches in accordance with historical perspective. Simply put, the inaugural address of each government leader is influenced by historical factors at the time it was delivered before the public. In case of John F. Kennedy, the speech was given when the country just won the Second World War via brave spirits of American fighters who redeemed freedom through death and agony because of the bloodshed. On the other hand, Barack Obama delivered his speech amidst economic crisis that the country is facing with hopes of getting over it. In the first, the country is beset with economic problems that caused tremendous trials and difficulties. That is the reason why the tenor of Kennedy’s speech is focused on world unity against tyranny while the speech of Obama is geared more on economic progress within the country. The second point of this paper focuses more on the manner of presentation of both inaugural addresses. They both had different focus.In the speech, Kennedy focused on announcing his foreign policy agenda to different nations. While Obama put forward different and concrete measures in view of different existing problem. On the other hand, it was Kennedy who stressed that people should not think on what the government could do to the people but what the people could contribute to the country (Eidenmuller, 2001, p. 1). The content of
Cited: Eidenmuller, Michael E. “John F. Kennedy: Inaugural Address”. 2001. American Rhetoric. Retrieved July 11, 2009 www.bartleby.com/124/pres56.html Phillips, Macon. “President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address”. 21 January 2009 < http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/inaugural-address/. >