John F. Kennedy’s press conferences were the driving force behind the Democratic party’s new look. Beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic Party shifted from the traditional Southern Democrats, and began to attract a younger generation of progressive northerners and many minorities. This change reached its apex with JFK.
This broadcast of Kennedy’s first press conference as President, the first of its kind, reflected the shift of the Democratic Party to the party of the people. With this revolutionary concept, people were brought directly into the press room and were able to get news directly from the Commander in Chief, himself. This was especially important during the tremulous times of the ongoing Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis the following year. Just like FDR did with his Fireside Chats, Kennedy was able to personally update his citizens. Using this newly mainstream technology, he was able to influence the way Americans felt about current events, often using his charm and likeability to his advantage.

The video of Kennedy’s inauguration emphasizes the shift in power from President Eisenhower, the oldest sitting President at the time, to Kennedy, the youngest elected president in United States history. It also highlights Kennedy as the first Roman Catholic and uses these as important anecdotes to the changing face of the Democratic Party.

Then, with the recitation of his inaugural speech, which was broadcast on televisions and radios around the world, Kennedy stresses that his presidency ushers in a new generation of leadership, “born in this century…proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed.” With this statement, the new president emphasizes the importance of civil rights and continues the transformation of the Democratic party to a generally younger and more progressive party.