President Kennedy, in those words from his inaugural speech in 1961, wanted to urge Americans toward public service and global service. Kennedy was instrumental in establishing the Peace Corps, which was put into place not long after his inauguration (already in March, 1961). The Peace Corps enlisted Americans as volunteers to give their time to serving underdeveloped nations in the world.
B) Lenient
He didn't want to be so harsh, and knew they only were being mislead from the rich people making free labor off the slaves. Most of the confederates fighting hardly had slaves and barely shared any "racist pride". So Lincoln was Lenient.
