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Sounding the Trumpet: The Making of John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
Richard Tofel tells the full story of JFK's inaugural address. He draws on original research materials in the Kennedy Library and elsewhere around the country, as well as exclusive interviews. Unlike earlier treatments of the subject, these include extensive and candid conversations with Theodore Sorensen, Kennedy's aide and chief speechwriter, who has never before discussed in detail how the speech came to be written. In the tradition of Lincoln at Gettysburg, Sounding the Trumpet thus reveals many unknown details about this landmark speech. Includes DVD of speech.
228 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 1, 2019
This book is all about how the first – and - only inaugural by John F Kennedy - came to be written.
It is pretty widely accepted that Kennedy wrote very little of the book “While England Slept”, that it was mostly written by Ted Sorensen, for which Kennedy received a Pulitzer prize.
As this book reveals, this is what essentially happened with his inaugural. Oh, Kennedy sought other input and did write or rewrite some of what others wrote for him, is true. Politicians or at least high level ones like JFK have writers. There are a variety of reasons, among them are the shear number of speeches they are expected to deliver.
Yet when it comes to as important one as an inaugural address, can't the American people expect - indeed, are they not entitled - to more?
One would expect a President” to share his personal vision as he sees it. In his own words. As the author finds and shares, “Of the 51 sentences in the inaugural address, John Kennedy might be said to have been the principal original author of no more than 14”.
The author provides so much detail on not only the address, but the entire inaugural events as to side track us a few times. T he point here is that the book is very well researched.
How this address came about stands in stark contrast to Lincoln’s first inaugural - nearly totally written by hand, by Lincoln. Oh yes, he got input on content, but it was pen in hand - literally - by Lincoln that created it. The same is true of Lincoln’s 2nd inaugural ..... “”With malice toward nine ...” Lincoln the man - the authentic and honest man - came through loud and clear.
Kennedy’s speech was a call to arms - a clarion call, to be sure. He was an excellent speaker without doubt. Yet, he seems to come out as shallow because he in fact, wrote very little of it. The credit for the speech should go in large part to Ted Sorensen, with additional help from Adlai Stevenson and some from John Kenneth Galbraith (a Canadian).
I heard the speech and was impressed with the delivery and probably assumed that the content was all JFK. It was not. I remember my Dad being very impressed with the speech. He was not alone.
This was the beginning of the creation of the“Camelot”fantasy that never was. We know far more about Kennedy now that we did before and during his presidency. He was never what he appeared to be, unfortunately.
It is pretty widely accepted that Kennedy wrote very little of the book “While England Slept”, that it was mostly written by Ted Sorensen, for which Kennedy received a Pulitzer prize.
As this book reveals, this is what essentially happened with his inaugural. Oh, Kennedy sought other input and did write or rewrite some of what others wrote for him, is true. Politicians or at least high level ones like JFK have writers. There are a variety of reasons, among them are the shear number of speeches they are expected to deliver.
Yet when it comes to as important one as an inaugural address, can't the American people expect - indeed, are they not entitled - to more?
One would expect a President” to share his personal vision as he sees it. In his own words. As the author finds and shares, “Of the 51 sentences in the inaugural address, John Kennedy might be said to have been the principal original author of no more than 14”.
The author provides so much detail on not only the address, but the entire inaugural events as to side track us a few times. T he point here is that the book is very well researched.
How this address came about stands in stark contrast to Lincoln’s first inaugural - nearly totally written by hand, by Lincoln. Oh yes, he got input on content, but it was pen in hand - literally - by Lincoln that created it. The same is true of Lincoln’s 2nd inaugural ..... “”With malice toward nine ...” Lincoln the man - the authentic and honest man - came through loud and clear.
Kennedy’s speech was a call to arms - a clarion call, to be sure. He was an excellent speaker without doubt. Yet, he seems to come out as shallow because he in fact, wrote very little of it. The credit for the speech should go in large part to Ted Sorensen, with additional help from Adlai Stevenson and some from John Kenneth Galbraith (a Canadian).
I heard the speech and was impressed with the delivery and probably assumed that the content was all JFK. It was not. I remember my Dad being very impressed with the speech. He was not alone.
This was the beginning of the creation of the“Camelot”fantasy that never was. We know far more about Kennedy now that we did before and during his presidency. He was never what he appeared to be, unfortunately.
May 24, 2017
Very informative. It was mostly dry facts, but I enjoyed it.
December 16, 2016
This was a third or fourth time through for me, so a banged it out. One of my interests is Presidential Inaugural speeches. My two favorites are President Kennedy's and President Lincoln's second. This book is about the writing of JFK's. If it does not sound interesting, my suggestion is give it a chance. You might be surprised.
March 10, 2015
You get to see every variation of Kennedy's Inaugural address known to exist. This is actually a short essay padded to be a book. Interesting though, just a lot of filler. I read this for Frank.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews