 
How It All Began
January, 1961 saw the inauguaration
of a new president, John F. Kennedy. The youngest president ever,
he brought a vibrant energy into the White House, and claimed to represent
a "new generation of Americans". His enthusiasm was contagious and his
famous inaugural speech ended with "ask not what your country can do for
you, ask what you can do for your country." It was a rallying cry for young
people to participate in the world's greatest democracy and together create
a new vision of our future.
Kennedy spoke of a New Frontier.
By March 1st Kennedy brought into being the Peace Corps, an organization
where young people could help other less fortunate countries realize their
dreams. Despite problems getting his domestic programs through Congress,
Kennedy was immensely popular in the U.S. and abroad. It was a time of
great ambition and optimism in America. He even promised us
the moon!
Jackie Kennedy stands with son John Jr. and Robert Kennedy
at JFK's funeral
But before JFK could lead us to a world of peace and prosperity for all, he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. The bullets that ripped through
JFK that day in Dallas, also struck each of us. They pierced our
illusions allowing the dirty reality of life in America to invade our consciousness.
Whether you were a child sent home from school that day, or a middle aged
mourner, the assassination undermined our faith in the elusive American Dream. But for many Americans, life has always been a series of broken promises and shattered dreams....
Kennedy Inauguration Speech (Real Audio)
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