It is a frigid morning in the nation’s capital on the morning of January 20, 1961. The youngest man ever elected President of the United States is about to make the most important speech of his life. Just over two months since his controversial election, John F. Kennedy must use all of the eloquence at his command to reassure the nation the 43-year-old Irish Catholic is more than ready to take on the challenges of the 1960s, among them are the on-going Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, and the Cuban revolution which has created a Communist stronghold only 90 miles from Miami, Florida.
Climbing to the podium after taking the Oath of Office, he begins a speech for the ages. “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… 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, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, 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.
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.”
Kennedy talks in great length about the hopes and challenges of a new era in the history of America. To close he issues a challenge that we still hear today: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Flash forward to 2016, and (spoiler alert), President-Elect Trump must do something similar. I’ve written multiple times about how divided America’s political landscape is, and Trump will need to be able to craft a message that will unite Americans in a common cause (Making America Great Again, if you will). In 1960, Kennedy talked in great length about the need for America to advance the cause of peace and freedom in the world and to “explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce.”
There is a great necessity for Trump to establish that the momentum is on America’s side now and he desperately needs to take a page out of the George W. Bush playbook and preach unity. The stakes are very high for everyone, but they could not possibly be higher for the fledgling Trump transition team.
