January 20, 1961 will forever be a day that marks a special moment in time when President John Fitzgerald Kennedy delivered one of the most memorable speeches in American history. His inaugural speech is one from which many famous quotes come and which is emulated in current speeches. To understand the importance of this vaccination one must understand the atmosphere of our nation at the time and what President Kennedy was trying to convey to his voters. In this essay I will provide you with background information regarding the state of our union in 1961; discuss the tone of the speech; and finally examine the impact that President Kennedy's tenure had on our nation. The year 1961 saw many milestones for Americans, such as launching the first man into space. But when President Kennedy took over from President Dwight Eisenhower, our nation was on the brink of nuclear catastrophe. The United States and the Soviet Union were two superpowers fighting around the world for geopolitical advantage, and the concept of nuclear war was a sobering reality (Updegrove 186). Many Americans began preparing for the worst by building backyard bomb shelters and stocking up on nonperishable foods. And, as if that wasn't enough, we were also addressing issues on our soil regarding equality among American citizens. Brown v. Board of Education raised many concerns about segregation and the freedom of rights promised to African Americans by their ancestors. President Kennedy soon began to uncover even more information after being elected that could influence his presidency; such as communism in South Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma. With so much opposition facing his term, President Kennedy saw the need... middle of paper... to help you understand the tone of President Kennedy's inaugural address, and concluded with the impact President Kennedy had on our nation. I hope you found the information beneficial and I challenge you “my fellow American; Don't ask what your country will do for you, ask what you can do for your country." (Kennedy 611). Works Cited Kennedy, John Fitzgerald. “Inaugural Speech, January 20, 1961” Reading Literature and the Subject of Writing. 4th ed. Boston: Longman, 2011. 609-611. Print.Matheson, Hughena. The 10 most memorable speeches in American history. New York: Franklin Watts/Scholastic, 2007. 10-13. Print.Rubel, David. Scholastic encyclopedia of presidents and their times. New York, NY: Scholastic, 2009. 173-76. Print.Updegrove, Mark K. Baptism of Fire Eight presidents who took office in times of crisis. New York: Thomas Dunne, 2009. 185-214. Press.