John F. Kennedy
In November 1960 the American people elected Senator
John F. Kennedy to the Presidency. Kennedy defeated by a narrow margin his
Republican opponent, Vice President Richard Nixon. The two youthful
presidential candidates highlighted their campaigns by appearing on television
in a serious of debates - Nixon emphasized the experience he had gained during
his eight years in the, administration and reminding voters of the "peace
and prosperity" achieved under Republican leadership, and Kennedy calling
for new, forward-looking leadership and more effective use of the country's
human and economic resources.
Almost everything about the new President caught the
imagination of the people, and his Inauguration was no exception. In his
eloquent address the President set the tone of youthful energy and dedication
that was the mark of his administration. Kennedy said: "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. . . Let every nation know that 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. " But the address
was not merely a call to battle but an invitation to peace as well. "Let
us never negotiate out of fear," said the President, "but let us
never fear to negotiate. Co-operation is better than conflict; let us then
substitute co-operation for conflict. Let both sides explore what problems
unite us. . . Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of
its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate
disease. "
The first President to be born in the twentieth
century, and the youngest ever to be elected to the presidency, Kennedy was not
only spokesman for a new generation, but symbol as well. He brought to the
presidency not only an alert intelligence, immense personal charm, a warm and
generous humanitarianism, but also a lively awareness of the immense
potentialities of presidential leadership. Indeed, his Cabinet and his White
House advisers made up the youngest group of top-level officials in the
country's history -a group notable for its openness to new ideas and its
readiness to take vigour actions.
Vocabulary
narrow margin - небольшое преимущество
highlight - освещать
inauguration - инаугурация
eloquent - красноречивый
heritage - наследие
burden - бремя
hardship -
неприятности
substitute -
заменить
awareness -
осведомленность, информированность
immense -
огромный
vigour -
решительные
take actions -
принимать действия
Questions
1. When was Senator John F. Kennedy elected to the
Presidency?
2. Who was John F. Kennedy's opponent?
3. What was Nixon emphasis during the TV debates?
4. What did F. Kennedy call for during the TV debates?
5. What caught the imagination of the people about the
new President?
6. What did President Kennedy say in his eloquent
address?
7. How did President Kennedy intend to assure the
survival and success of liberty?
8. Can you prove that Kennedy's inauguration address
was not only a call to battle?
Список
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