Did President John F Kennedy steal his inauguration speech? - VIDEO

What would be risible if it were not so perverse was Theodore Sorenson being one of Kennedy's closest confidants during the Bay of Pigs ,the real possiblity of war over Berlin and Cuba ,and the "start" of a war in Viet Nam , all ocurring during the Kennedy Presidency. President Carter selected Sorenson to be CIA Director but that soon proved to be a very absurd and embarrasing choice; Sorenson was very much a self-proclaimed pacifist who believed war was "evil" ; during WW2, a war fought by millions of Americans, Sorenson registered with the Selective Service as a Conscientious Objector , a refusal , based on moral grounds , to bear arms or serve in the military. Thus Sorenson was exempt from such service. And this is the man who composed Kennedy's bellicose speechs. Lackey Sorenson reached a new low composing Edward Kennedy's Chappaquidick "explanation" which engendered howls of derision and outrage.

Chris Matthews is most famous for saying (as an "impartial" MSNBC 'reporter') that he "felt this thrill going up my leg" when he saw candidate Barack Obama speak. I guess he gets no similar thrill re: Jack Kennedy, probably because Democrats then weren't the same as today's crop of USA-hating Progressive Democrats. Kennedy actually risked his life for his country in battle. As the article above makes clear, however, Kennedy shared speechwriting credit with official speechwriter Theodore Sorensen, who in turn credited inspiration from the Bible, Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchill. Matthews, though, (who, in an interview with Jeff Bercovici referenced himself as "some lightweight, glib bullshit artist who has somebody do his work for him") has a book to sell, and I gather sales are going poorly, to say the least. Maybe he could get Obama to order the State Dept to purchase copies of his book the way they purchased $70,000 dollars worth of Obama's books - THAT'S how you stay a "popular author."

I liked the speech - no matter who wrote it..it was delivered with great feeling and heart and the listeners appeared to like it and enjoy it also-

Aren’t all political speeches recycled? In fact, about everything there is to say has been said by someone at one time or other. We were taught in college that it isn’t plagiarism it you reword it and put it in your own words so I’m sure that Cesar didn’t mind him presenting the same idea. In other words who cares.

Most people know that the "Ask Not" portion of President Kennedy's inaugural speech was "recycled". Variations expressing the same exact thought go all the way back to Cicero, and have been borrowed by Kahlil Gibran and Warren Harding, among others. Ted Sorenson wrote the exact variation in President Kennedy's speech, but he has always deflected praise and insisted that President Kennedy worked on the speech, too. (Class act, Sorenson.) A lot of people want to give President Kennedy credit for the entire thing, just out of respect for a fallen President. But just about everybody...who doesn't have an ax to grind...knows that the thought was not original. And that's certainly not "plagiarism", I don't think. Politicians have always borrowed ideas and rephrased them slightly.

Many years ago I used to watch Chris Mathews but he turned too far to the left on MSNBC and I don't trust him anymore. Like someone previously said, he's got a book to sell.

Well let the truth be known. Julius Caesar Made the Origional Speech Before the Roman Senate in 44 BCE He said . Friends Romans & country Men lend my your ears ! ASK Not what Rome can do for you. But what you are expected do for Rome . Two Months after that speech he was Murdered in March 15th on the floor of the Roman Senate. I read that cicero copied that origional speech . He took it in part from a Greek by the name of Plato.

I always thought he stole it from me. At the National Council of Catholic Youth convention in 1957, I stated in my farewell speech as President, "don't ask what the Catholic Church can do for you, ask what you can do for the Catholic Church". Easy enough to rephrase.

Forgot the year, it was 1957

I have always thought he stole it from me. At the convention of the National Council of Catholic Youth I stated in my farewell speech as President "don't ask what the Catholic Church can do for you, ask what you can do for the Catholic Church". Easy enough to rephrase.

And his brother killed Mary Jo

I heard about the origins of the Ask not speech long before Chris Matthews put it in his book. So what if he did remember the statement from his teacher. He obviously liked the quote and used it to promote a pretty good idea. I can't wait to read Chris Matthew's book.

Who cares where the speech came from? Unless it's solely to denigrate the Kennedys. As for Chris Matthews, he lost all credibility years ago, so why pay attention to him?

I'm no lover of the Kennedy clan and the fact that it is often overlooked by the love bestowed upon them, that it was their criminal enterprises that made them America's monarch, but I will give credit where credit is due. JFK was a very intelligent and young, fresh face that was inspirational to a nation in need of just that. But I find it odd that now, only 51 years later, those students who attended the CHOATE school can come forward admitting that they seethe at the thought of Kennedy making that famous speech. Sounds fugazzi to me...

"Hear Hear" Pittsburghkid well said in response to previous drivel