I have watched several inaugural addresses with my students. We would have lunch together in the classroom and turn on the tv at noon. We would find inspiration and much to discuss when the speech was over. Each of us had a favorite part to highlight. Presidents have traditionally shared their vision for our country's future while outlining the goals they hope to accomplish during their term of service. Watching and listening during all the inaugural activities provided a window to history being made in real time, and motivation for being better students of government and history going forward. For help and inspiration with presenting primary documents to your students, visit The Our Documents Initiative. It is a goldmine for teachers!
My favorite inaugural address of all time is John F. Kennedy's speech from January of 1961. I was way too much of a little elementary school fangirl at the time, devoting my entire sketchbook for art around different poses of our fresh and young President. (Thoughts for another post. What makes kids connect with current events?) Of course, we all remember, "...ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." Every time I revisit this amazing speech, cobbled from John Kennedy's notes, and reworked through the whole writing process (!) by Ted Sorenson (speech writer) and John Kennedy together, I find new amazing and prophetic nuggets. Just a few chin droppers and mind bogglers to follow:
Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959, toppling my reign (according to my grandfather) as "the prettiest little girl in 48 states". Since Grandpa hadn't visited Alaska or Hawaii yet, we both had to concede that there might be a prettier little girl in one of the new states. He doubted it, but still... Anyway, back to Kennedy's speech...
"To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom--and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside." I may have a t-shirt imprinted with that last part.
"If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."
"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, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce."
Just my faves from this year's dive into the text. I like to revisit. Every single Presidential Inaugural Speech has nuggets to mine, discuss, and inspire going forward. Who could forget President Trump's words about American Carnage, yet do you also recall that he said, "We are one nation – and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny. The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans."? Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller have taken credit as the authors of this Inaugural Address.
A fun activity to try with your kids is to select some Inaugural speeches and to mine them for nuggets worthy of analysis and discussion. Session six of this ten session unit will help you to do that, and also to predict, view, and later to analyze President's Biden's speech.
The Inauguration this year will be very different from those in the past. No outdoor crowds, no night filled with balls for the new President and First Lady to dance at. So many changes. To remember how Americans typically celebrate an Inauguration, and to compare/contrast the very unusual one for President Biden, you may want to use this resource:
Wishing you a happy Inauguration Week with many opportunities for learning and healing ahead!
