Question

due december 13, 2025 at 11:59 pm
president kennedys inaugural address
president john f. kennedy • 1961
john f. kennedy (1917-1963) served as the 35th president of the united states from january 1961 until his assassination in november 1963. when he took the oath of office on jan. 20, 1961, he delivered one of the shortest inaugural addresses in history—and the first to be delivered to home viewers via color television. kennedy assumed the presidency at the height of the cold war, a topic he alludes to heavily in his speech, and one that would end up defining his short presidency.
as you read, take notes on how kennedy uses figurative language and other literary devices to deliver an effective speech.
(1) vice president johnson, mr. speaker, mr. chief justice, president eisenhower, vice president nixon, 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
john f. kennedy by u.s. embassy new delhi is licensed under cc by - nd 2.0.
assessment questions

1. part a: in his speech, how does kennedy build his claim that the united states will defend \freedom in its hour of maximum danger\ (paragraph 25)?

a. by arguing that the u.s. must enforce international law across the world since the united states is the lone superpower in the world
b. by demonstrating that the poverty which many people suffer from is an obstacle to true freedom
c. by stating that the u.s. will play an active role in fighting groups that are opposed to freedom, and by supporting groups that are fighting for freedom
d. by demanding that the adversaries of the united states be more willing to negotiate, or else there will be war

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The US wasn't the "lone superpower" in 1961 (USSR was also a superpower), so this is incorrect.
• Option B: The claim about defending freedom in danger isn't about poverty as an obstacle to freedom, so B is wrong.
• Option C: In Kennedy's inaugural address, he emphasized the US's role in supporting freedom - fighting groups and opposing those against freedom, which matches building the claim about defending freedom in danger.
• Option D: The address doesn't focus on demanding adversaries negotiate or else war, so D is incorrect.

Answer:

C. by stating that the U.S. will play an active role in fighting groups that are opposed to freedom, and by supporting groups that are fighting for freedom