At the height of the Cold War, racial tensions in the United States were also reaching a breaking point. This era brought with it many landmark events in civil rights history: the start of the Freedom Rides in 1961, the University of Mississippi's admission of its first black student, and the Birmingham riots in 1963. While America was battling the current threat of nuclear war, this other type of conflict threatens to undermine and demoralize America from within. It is June 11, 1963, and the Alabama National Guardsmen are called to the University of Alabama to ensure the safe admission of two black students. That same afternoon, John F. Kennedy addressed the nation in an attempt to calm the inflamed tempers on both sides of the debate. Despite the limited preparation time, “…it was one of his best speeches – a heartfelt appeal for a moral cause that included several memorable lines calling on the country to honor its finest traditions” (Dallek). In fact, part of this sincere spirit probably comes from the relative spontaneity of the speech. Nonetheless, Kennedy is known to be skilled in his use of language (Renehan) and deliberately employs several methods to make his appeals. In his “Civil Rights Address”, he speaks mainly of the responsibility of Americans, of their duty to guarantee the liberty and equality of all American citizens. By allusion, he highlights the void of freedom in a culture of segregation. He uses an authoritative tone, but also uses diction that emphasizes his status as a fellow citizen. He lets his presidency work in the minds of his audience to influence them. It refers to documents that the public, especially at the time, would consider sacred and important. Hi...... middle of paper...... have not been diminished by time. Since then, the United States has made significant reforms and changes under the power of the civil rights movement. There will always be more to accomplish, but equality in America will never again be an afterthought. The measure of a nation's compassion continues to lie in how its citizens are treated. Works Cited Dallek, Robert. "President John F. Kennedy's Civil Rights Dilemma." HistoryNet. Weider History Group, 2010. Web. October 19, 2010. "John F. Kennedy -- Addess on Civil Rights." American rhetoric. Internet. October 20, 2010. New international version. East Brunswick: International Bible Society, 1978. BibleGateway. Internet. October 23, 2010. Renehan, Edward J., Jr. "JFK Wrote His Own 'Don't Ask' Speech / Thurston Clarke Debunks the Myth That It Was Written by Assistant Ted Sorenson." SF door. Hearst Communications Inc., October 2004. Web. October 19. 2010.