Read the excerpt from John F. Kennedy's inaugural address. Now the trumpet summons us again—not as a call to bear arms, though a
rms we need—not as a call to battle, though embattled we are—but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"—a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself. Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort? In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. Which statement best explains Kennedy’s message in this excerpt? American citizens must be prepared for war. The United States is prepared to protect freedom. The United States is the greatest country in the world. American citizens have a history of protecting democracy.
The correct answer is “The United States is prepared to protect freedom”. As he was coming into power at the height of the Cold War, the main theme of the <em>Inaugural Address of President John F. Kennedy</em> (1961) was freedom. Kennedy wanted to maintain international relations and help the impoverished in the world. Moreover, Kennedy mentioned the newly discovered dangers of nuclear power that could jeopardize their freedom and peace. A clear example of his idea to protect freedom can be spotted in his speech when Kennedy says, “<em>In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it</em>”. Here, Kennedy expresses that he is willing to protect the freedom of the country.
By the numbers. There have been 46 presidencies (including the current one, Joe Biden, whose term began in 2021), and 45 different individuals have served as president. Grover Cleveland was elected to two nonconsecutive terms, and as such is considered the 22nd and 24th president of the United States.
