Lincoln, FDR, JFK? The most memorable inaugural speeches

Ben Macintyre’s film on presidential inaugurations is a great reminder of the joys of hindsight. Here are the contemporary reports of some of the masterpieces of rhetoric he refers to, and some of the damp squibs.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1933 inaugural speech, delivered at the height of the Depression, is best remembered for that one unbeatable phrase. The Times reported that the speech was “of little more than ten minutes duration but remarkable for its candour and courage”, and quoted an image of the nation with grim resonances for today:

Here is the picture of America today as he painted it: “Values have shrunken to fantastic levels; our factories are without orders; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; Government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income; means of exchange arc frozen in the currents of trade; withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; savings of many years in thousands of families are gone. More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence, and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.”

Archive topic: The New Deal

Ask not what your country can do for you

John F. Kennedy’s 1960 inauguration gave posterity another of its most quoted leadership lines. His energy and youth were much commented on and while his speech was, appropriately for its Cold War context, largely devoted to international affairs, there was a note of concern in The Times’s report:

Few people present today could recall a more reasoned call for peace at previous inaugurations. Only later was it realized that the President had made no direct reference to pressing internal problems, or that he had offered Americans nothing but the opportunity to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle.

Archive topic: The assassination of John F. Kennedy

The people’s President

The Times welcomed the incoming President Carter’s humility and low key inauguration performance, especially his decision to walk, rather than be driven, along the parade route, holding hands with Rosalynn. The leading article of the day did make play of his caution, comparing the “guarded Mr Carter and a Herculean Kennedy” but, as Ben Macintyre comments, his diffidence in the film clip just makes him look wet today: “Your strength will overcome my weakness; your wisdom will help to minimise my mistakes.”

Perhaps the phrase that we’re least likely to hear again from an incoming President is Jimmy Carter’s “We must simply do our best.”

With thanks to Churchill

Ronald Reagan’s first inauguration speech was almost eclipsed by the fireworks, the celebrities and the Iranian hostage crisis. He dwelt at length on the economy, but he also had a slightly magpie approach to speechwriting:

Mr Reagan, we are told, wrote much of his speech himself after studying those delivered by his predecessors. One passage was a striking reprise of' John Kennedy's inaugural speech, another used words from Jimmy Carter's. "Freedom and the dignity of the individual have been more available and assured here than in any other place on earth. The price for this freedom has at times been high, but we have never been unwilling to pay that price." That was a close paraphrase of Kennedy. A moment later, addressing Americans directly, calling them heroes, he said: "We shall reflect the compassion that is so much a part of your make-up. How can we love our country and not love our countrymen? And loving them, reach out a hand when they fall, heal them when they are sick, and provide opportunity to make them self-sufficient so they will be equal not just in theory." That was pure Carter. Mr Reagan also paraphrased Winston Churchill, this time naming his source. “I did not take the oath I have just taken with the intention of presiding over the dissolution of the world's strongest economy."

Archive topic: The Iran hostage crisis

Nixon's promises

Ben points out the grim irony of Richard Nixon swearing to uphold the constitution of the United States. There’s another moment in this report of his inaugural speech which has a certain hindsight appeal: “It is often forgotten that he is a Quaker, and that he has a certain fatalism which must have lessened the pain of past disappointments.” And which might, indeed, have come in handy in the future.

Archive topic: Watergate and the fall of Nixon

Ten gallon hats

LBJ's delivery could be stumbling and his message sometimes opaque, but the inaugural speech he gave to introduce his second term – “confirmed by the largest popular vote in the history of the Republic” - was hailed by The Times for its practicality and lack of bombast.

In almost scriptural language he spoke of the American covenant of justice, liberty, and union. The speech was as complicated as the age and the man. If on this centenary of Lincoln's second inaugural address, Americans had expected a similar masterpiece, they were disappointed; but they should now have a better measure of the man they elected with such overwhelming acclaim.

His leadership may not seem so bold, demanding, or inspiring as Mr. Kennedy's, but it has persuaded some men to do what they ought to do without persuasion … it is just possible that Mr Johnson will be able to do what Lincoln wanted to do 100 years ago and in circumstances perhaps more difficult. Should he succeed, this Inauguration Day, not particularly exciting in spite of his massive electoral support, will be remembered.

Lincoln’s second Inaugural Speech

In terms of this newspaper’s history, Abraham Lincoln’s great address on the evils of slavery is probably chiefly memorable for the fact that our reporter never heard it. His account of the great day is a vividly colourful piece of writing; the torrents of rain, the crowds, the ceremonial are all there, but the speech itself is missing.

What happened was that he'd been inside the Senate Chamber, listening in righteous horror to the drunken ramblings of Vice-President elect, Andrew Johnson, and when the sun came out and the assembled crowd stampeded for the doors to watch the President speak from the podium outside, he simply got left behind.

Making my way out of the building as fast as possible to mingle with the crowd outside, I arrived just in time to hear Mr. Lincoln deliver the last words of his singular but pathetic address. The document was remarkably short, and did not occupy ten minutes in the reading.

Despite this omission, the report is a fascinating historical snapshot, with plenty of resonances for this week’s inauguration: 

At least one-half of the multitude were coloured people, pouring in from far and near to "assist" in the ceremonial of a day which to them and to many wiser people seemed the triumph of their race over a fast fading social prejudice and political injustice. The negresses, "dressed all in "their best," flaunted in red, blue, yellow, and every variety of brilliant and gaudy colour, and looked as buoyantly happy as servant girls usually do when out for a holyday. The negroes held their heads high, as if they thoroughly understood that, under the beneficent sway of Abraham Lincoln, "a man was a man for a' that"

… Last night there was a grand inauguration ball given under the auspices of the Loyal League, at which Mr and Mrs Lincoln and all the wealth and celebrity of Washington were present. With this event, the inaugural ceremonies and festivities, as well as what is called the fashionable season at Washington, were brought to a close. With reference to this ball, it is only of interest to state that no coloured people were allowed to be present.

Archive topic: The assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Comments

[Speech Success]

You never get a chance to make a first impression so to have so many quotable inaugural speeches is a reflection of the importance of this historic speech.

[Chris]

He will reinflate the US and World Economy. Broker a peace deal in the Middle East and claim a peace with Al Quaeda. Then two years later it will begin to fall apart. A nuclear device will be detonated in a Western City and Bush will be vindicated. Martial Law will be applied to the US, there will be worldwide food shortages and the last Roman Pope, St Peter, will take office. 1260 days after taking office he will leave in disgrace as the World prepares for World War 3. Check the Prophecy of the Irish Saint Malachy in 1100. Hope it's wrong!

[Robert E Caciun]

There will never be another President like Abraham Lincoln. Though frequently maligned even to this day he was a stalwart of freedom. He served the nation with purpose so that even after the Civil War, Southerners wept at his funeral.

[Jack]

Inaugural speech be blowed. Lincoln was planning the repatriation of blacks when he was killed.

[Joanna]

Rosa Parks sat
so
Martin Luther King could walk
so
Barack Obama could run
so
Our Children can fly.

[Brian]

Chris- Take off your tinfoil hat

[Oman]

the most impressive part of the speach wasnt what was said but the route that got it there

[shewangzaw]

the speech is our navigter haw he make it hes pereoms

[söve]

thanks.

[Christopher Hamblett]

Dear Speech Success, You never get a 'second' chance to edit a post before you successfully click 'post'. Yours, Editiorial Judgement

[chris]

I believe that until people recognize Obama as the 44th president and not the first black president is when america will really get over the racism, why is it always about race? i also believe that he did not have the proper ideas as they all involved heavier burdens on tax payers.. especially universal health care which if I am not mistaken is a socialistic idea in and of itself.. so i am now going to pay MY health care AND the health care of all the people who will quit there jobs so as to live off of government health care.

[Brian]

Poor Reagan, getting eclipsed by the hostage release; something of his own doing. Selling weapons to an enemy to fund an unconstitutional, secret war. Dare I say, traitorous? I think so. And Clinton with the nuclear plans and China. Oh how I wish for a real patriot in the presidency.

[abey]

Lincoln was a political Genius. It seems he saw opponents more as Humans than enemies. His team of rivals was such , that his opponents saw him as one of them ,as a Wolf, but actually was a" Sheep in Wolf's clothing." 200 years & still unparalleled.

[Simonn]

I truly appreciate you taking the time to share this . Look forward to more posts from you

[Jacqueline]

JFK was the second greatest or even the greatest president we ever had.