John F. Kennedy inspired a generation of Ameri- cans — including a young Bill Clinton, shown here in 1963 on his high school graduation trip to Wash- ington, D.C. — to do public service for America.

52 YEARS AFTER HIS ASSASSINATION,
JFK’S TONE AND MESSAGE CONTINUE
TO BE MISSED IN TODAY’S MODERN
WORLD OF POLITICAL NEGATIVITY

Trump, Cruz and Carson’s early lead
gives proof that political cynicism
has spread, and that faith of many
in government died with Kennedy
 
By David Maril
 
Fly up from Baltimore into Boston on Delta or Southwest Airlines and you are dropped off in the far-reaches of Logan Airport’s A Terminal.

To reach the baggage pickup area, and access ground transportation, requires a slow, steep descent down long escalators.

Once at the bottom, you begin a marathon walk through a cavernous underground corridor that goes below the tarmac to the other side of the airport and terminal.

The distance stretches out far enough to include two football field-length moving walkways for those who are not into fitness training in the midst of a trip.

The first time you make this trek, the tendency is to rush along and get it over with as quickly as possible. You end up taking big strides and, when possible, squeeze past those who are just standing on the automated walkway enjoying the free ride.

But toward the end of your first A Terminal experience, just before getting on the mammoth escalators to return to ground level at the baggage area, you hear speech excerpts of the late John F. Kennedy coming out of the walls.

The last section of the mammoth corridor promotes the JFK Presidential Library and Museum, located in Boston.

THE POSITIVE TONE IN KENNEDY’S VOICE

No matter how eager you are to reclaim your luggage and leave the airport, the earnest, positive tone in Kennedy’s voice entices you to slow down and pause, taking it all in.

His vigor is therapeutic, making you feel hopeful, less cynical.

Fifty-two years after the 35th President of the United States was assassinated, his message remains relevant, resonating with enthusiasm and special meaning in today’s self-centered ego-driven world.

You hear his voice issuing forth the challenge to tackle problems, make things better, and sacrifice to help others.

Even cynical as I am, it is inspiring.

If you make flights regularly into the Logan A Terminal, you find yourself slowing down more and more at the end of that subterranean walkway to listen a little bit longer each trip. It lifts your spirits, puts you in a better mood and you feel charged up and ready to deal with whatever faces you the rest of the day.

JFK talks about the challenges of space exploration and the opportunities of scientific and medical discoveries.

And his theme of how we have the character to do the right things, the more difficult they are, is an interesting idea to ponder these days.

 Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963 while riding in an open-top limo in Dallas.

It’s hard for anyone who was born after the middle 1950s to feel the significance many of us experience each year on Nov. 22nd. On that date, in 1963, Kennedy, in the third year of his only term as President, was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Dallas.

The date passed quietly this year.

There were few, if any, references in newspapers or on television last Sunday or before.

The National Geographic channel did devote a full day of films and documentaries to that tragic day that proved to be the birth of TV’s ’round-the-clock news event coverage.

For four days, much of the nation sat in front of their television sets, mourning the tragedy of a vigorous, charismatic leader shot down in his prime.

Looking back, it is pretty apparent that a significant part of Kennedy’s political positivism died with him and has never returned to the voting public.

There was hope that Barack Obama would restore faith and hope to politics: Part of the Kennedy message was there; but Obama did not establish the right tone to deliver it and suffered from failing to master the art of negotiation, making deals and getting things done.

As the 2016 presidential campaign, for both of the so-called major parties, bumps along in the breakdown lane, listening to Kennedy’s positive tone makes you realize how hollow and uninspiring the political world is today.

On the Democrats’ side, you have Hillary Clinton far in front as the anointed, “entitled” leader of her party.

When asked recently who she feels is her biggest enemy, she answered: “The GOP.”

That’s a fine starting point for being President of the entire country!

Her strengths are her husband’s name, the powerful fund-raising machine they have built, and the Clinton skill in playing the political game.

HILLARY IS RUTHLESS AND UNTRUSTWORTHY

She’s bright but also ruthless and untrustworthy. A lot more of a hawk on foreign policy than Bill Clinton ever was as President, her stint as Secretary of State was — to be charitable — unimpressive.

The best thing you can say about Bernie Sanders is that he has forced Hillary to the left, where she masquerades as a liberal to get votes.

But let’s be realistic here.

If Sanders was really serious about getting the presidential nomination and had the judgment needed to be Commander-in-Chief, he would have dropped the Socialist tag from his title long ago.

There is no way in the world a Socialist candidate is going to be elected President.

And Martin O’Malley?

Hardly a serious candidate.

His preaching, condescending style has not played well to the national audience.

Because the Republicans have so many candidates stumbling along in pursuit of the nomination, they have an even bigger mess on their hands.

No matter whether you are a conservative or a liberal, Donald Trump and Ben Carson being — even on a temporary basis — front-runners, is an embarrassment to this country’s political system.

AN OUTSIDER NOT CONNECTED TO WASHINGTON

The appeal of an outsider not connected to Washington politics is one thing. However, a lack of experience dealing with the complexities of government, combined with absolutely no knowledge of diplomacy or world affairs, should be more than enough to discourage support.

Adding in all of the strange, confusing, misleading and inaccurate public statements they make, raises as much of a question about their supporters as the candidates themselves.

The rest of the GOP pack are unimpressive in their own right.

Ted Cruz, a brilliant Harvard political scholar, is running a campaign of hate and bitterness, pretending he is a common man of the people who is against the world of academia.

Marco Rubio has potential but continually gets sidetracked pandering to the right wing of his party.

Jeb Bush looks as if he is serving out a court punishment-verdict, forced to do a year of public service running for President.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, on paper, should be a leading candidate but can’t get his campaign operation out of reverse.

For whatever reason, Trump managed to steal Chris Christie’s supporters, who were looking for a bullying, no-nonsense Washington outsider.

The rest of the so-called presidential hopefuls are struggling to get out of their own way.

 John Kennedy’s most famous inspirational quote, from his inaugural address in 1961.

All of the bitterness, financial influences and skepticism drives the most promising younger people away from politics and public service.

When a person like Trump, fueled by negativity and nonsense, becomes a viable candidate, you know faith in the political system has hit an all-time low.

Will we ever have another inspirational political leader like JFK?

This isn’t about Democrats vs. Republicans or liberals vs. conservatives: It’s about both parties offering candidates who want to bring people from the left and right together, with a positive, all-inclusive message that conveys leadership.

Will the extremes of both parties ever be brought back in check so their will is no longer imposed, and room is restored for tolerance and finding common ground?

Kennedy was by no means a flawless, perfect President.

His marital infidelity issues, ignored in that period by the press, are pretty well documented.

There are questions about his health and medical treatment.

We will never know how he would have resolved the Vietnam War, which he helped launch.

He was slow to respond to the racial strife in the South, and it is up in the air whether he had the political skill to achieve what Lyndon Johnson did with the passage of the Civil Rights Bill and other significant legislation.

It is undeniable, however, that Kennedy lifted the mood of this country and was responsible for a whole generation of young people catching the spirit of trying to make a difference.

The Peace Corps and organizations like VISTA flourished, attracting young, idealistic people to volunteer and help with humanitarian projects, not only here but all over the world as well.

Ambition and ego will always be vital in any politician’s career. Hopefully, there is still room, along with those driving forces, to aspire to bring people together and do good work.

We need more than just hearing recordings of Kennedy’s voice.

It is important to learn from his message and tone.
 
davidmaril@voiceofbaltimore.org
 
“Inside Pitch” is a weekly opinion column written for Voice of Baltimore by David Maril.
 
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