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| (thetakeaway.org) |
Washington DC - 55 years ago, the Democratic Party won the United States presidential election. John F Kennedy was officially sworn in as the youngest president ever elected in Uncle Sam's country.
The man who was then aged 43 years, officially became the 35th US president on January 20, 1961, when snow closes Capitol Hill in Washington. He took over the position of the oldest president in American history, General Dwight Eisenhower, who stepped down at the age of 70 years.
His Republican rival, Richard Nixon, who fought a prime position in the White House, also attended the inauguration ceremony.
Millions of pairs of eyes were watching the inauguration of a new president that was broadcast live on television. He chose to wear formal clothing, including hats typical for official events.
President Kennedy began his speech with the words 'my fellow citizens', a term first used by President George Washington but rejected by the next president to use 'my fellow Americans'.
John F Kennedy then spoke for 10 minutes, urged Americans to unite in the struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease.
He also urged the Soviet Union to begin a new search for peace.
President Kennedy finished his speech with inspiring words are remembered to this day.
"Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."
On the same date in 2009, the first black president in the United States, Barack Obama was sworn in. While the January 20, 1885 was mentioned as the date when LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the game with high adrenaline, roller coaster.
