Zachary Soliman
Freshman Composition
Professor Andrew Worthington
11/26/12
Addressing the Nation Throughout the history of the United States of America, there have been many leaders. President Abraham Lincoln and President John F. Kennedy are arguably two of the greatest presidents that this country has had. Whether it was 1865, during the bloodiest war in the history of the US, or 1961, during the most tense international power struggle that we have ever faced, these men were able to do what was needed to get the job done. The one ideal that they shared that made them great leaders was an aspiration to make this country the best in the world. Some differences between these men were their specific goals as leaders. While Lincoln was
It makes sense that Lincoln is more focused on domestic issues, due to the fact that he is president during a Civil War. It also makes a lot of sense that Kennedy is more focused on international issues, because he is president during the Cold War. Kennedy does not mention the Cold War in his speech specifically, but he does mention some of the issues related to it and hints towards it. At one point in his speech, Kennedy says, “But neither can two great groups of nations take comfort from our present course – both side overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind’s final war… Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms – and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.”(Kennedy) It is here where President Kennedy states the problems of the Cold War, and the threat that it has become, not only to the United States, but to the entire world. He mentions the “spread of the deadly atom,” referring to the recent discovery, and use of the atomic bomb. JFK implies that he is very willing, and wanting to have a peaceful world, and not have to use this deadly method of war, but as long as there is a threat about, we must be prepared