Thursday marked the 50th anniversary of former President John F. Kennedy's inauguration address, which is widely considered one of the greatest speeches in American history.
Although many students who are attending college classes today were not alive when Kennedy was in office, his words still resonate with many Americans - young and old. The most repeated line from that 1961 speech is, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
Members of Congress honored the late President on Thursday by listening to the 14-minute, 1,355-word speech at the U.S. Capitol. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) made note of the fact that the current congressional session is the first to have no member of the Kennedy family since Harry Truman's administration. That is because Kennedy's brother, longtime Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, died in 2009.
Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), who represents JFK's home state in Congress, also delivered remarks during Thursday's tribute.
"It took President Kennedy just 1,355 words to summon a new generation and set in motion generations of service and sacrifice - to reignite the fires of idealism and patriotism in millions of Americans," Kerry said, quoted by The Boston Globe.
There are a wide array of college classes that cater to Individuals who are interested in entering politics. Many colleges and universities offer political science degrees, which focus on government and communication studies.
Many scholars who receive a college education in political science do not attempt to run for public office. However, they carry knowledge that is applicable in many industries, such as business, teaching and law. They also can serve as liaisons between lawmakers and the public, and become instigators for debate on social issues.
For example, New York-based Union College will kick off a speaker series next week that will tackle several issues, including the role of politics in the 21st century. Diana Mutz, a professor of political science and communication at the University of Pennsylvania, is scheduled to give a speech called "In Your Face Politics," which will analyze how television and new media has made political discourse more uncivil and impolite.
JFK, like many other politicians, was a strong public speaker. Although it is considered to be one of the greatest fears of human beings, public speech is the focus of many college courses in the U.S. The ability to speak confidently and effectively can help individuals in almost every professional field. Strong communication skills can help during job interviews, business meetings and in networking.
