John F. Kennedy: Man on the Moon Speech

Explanation and Analysis of the Document

Kennedy's nominal audience was Congress, but in reality he was addressing the American people. He begins by calling attention to the dramatic events in space of recent weeks—the Shepard flight—as well as to the Soviets' launch of Sputnik in 1957 and their lead in large rocket engines. He argues that “now it is time to take longer strides” into space, but he recognizes that up to that point there had been no concerted effort to marshal the nation's talent and resources to explore space. In characteristic fashion, he uses language that is almost poetic: “For while we cannot guarantee that we shall one day be first, we can guarantee that any failure to make this effort will make us last.”

Kennedy then outlines his goals for Congress, chief among them putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade. He also calls for development of the Rover nuclear rocket, but although testing of such rockets was then under way, the Rover program was canceled in 1973. Kennedy also calls for efforts in the areas of communications and weather satellites.

Kennedy then tries to rally Americans. He notes the high costs of space exploration, and he tells Americans that they have to make a choice. “It is a heavy burden,” he says, “and there is no sense in agreeing or desiring that the United States take an affirmative position in outer space, unless we are prepared to do the work and bear the burdens to make it successful.” Space exploration would take a “major national commitment,” a commitment Kennedy urges the nation to make.