January 20, 1961 - Poet Robert Frost Reads Poem at John F. Kennedy's Inauguration

Robert Frost was invited to read at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy in 1961. Robert Frost’s recitation was the first by a poet for an inaugural ceremony. President-elect Kennedy asked Frost to recite the poem “The Gift Outright” unless the poet planned to write a poem especially for the occasion. Frost did, in fact, write a new poem for the day entitled “Dedication.” However, when the time came to read, the wind and sun’s glare made this impossible, though Frost made a valiant attempt. Instead, he reverted to “The Gift Outright,” which he knew by heart.

[@dspeelmanable]

I wasnt born at this time, its a gift to be able to see and ecperience events like this 50 years later. Thank you for sharing this

[@DrWhom]

spelling is also a gift

[@loiswells3062]

I was 10 years old when I watched this event on TV. I scarcely knew anything about politics or poetry, but I was impressed by the dignity that the audience--and especially John Kennedy--maintained throughout the unfortunate reading. It was bitterly cold that January day outdoors, and the poet had trouble reading his prepared poem, but never mind. Kennedy had requested him there especially, and it said a lot about our new president that he invited a venerated poet to his inaugeration.

[@jamescampi50]

I watched this live. He had difficulty reading in the bright light. Always remembered this.

[@user-js8ud3ub9p]

nice james

[@wowok8375]

You must be around 82 now

[@patricianettleship7085]

He was wonderful when he finally gave up attempting to see the page in the bright lights and spoke to us directly. Most speeches , ,and poetry is no exception, are best that way.

[@evitak.hernaez5744]

Just saw that part! 😂 absolutely love it!

[@maureenc1650]

Always a favorite poet of mine, I just found out about his reading at jfk’s inauguration. Although the bright light was disappointing, I treasured this clip...I’m so glad he read from a well written poem of his after the glaring sun got the best of him! R.I.P. John F Kennedy and Robert Frost!!!

[@In_TheMoonlight]

I looked this up after my dad told me about it yesterday because he watched it live. Robert Frost is simply a king

[@sklingen21]

Mr. Robert Frost and Mr. John Fitzgerald Kennedy in the same location. To be a fly on the wall there. Kings upon men. Legends of the deep history. Making life as we know it.

[@bernardsherry5642]

Class. Pure Class🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@66impala71]

Always my favorite poet. Thank you for posting.

[@susanhillman6153]

WOW, what a day that must have been!!! Great President and a great poet!

[@surferdude44444]

He didn’t need to read the poem........he wrote the poem.

[@googlyzeyzs6133]

God bless you Jack Tell Thor I found his hammer near The Auld Brig in Ayr bonnie Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. Many thanks for the upload champ. You just made my day! 🦄👋

[@MinYoonji_-jk7vt]

Kennedys inauguration address was my favorite one thats why I love history so much 🇺🇸💙💙💚💚💙💞💖💓💗❤💚💚💛💯👋😇💜💜

[@KSHAWK]

That’s to many emojis dude

[@amusingsoojin]

An army?

[@MinYoonji_-jk7vt]

@@KSHAWK i have a name

[@MinYoonji_-jk7vt]

Its to hard to call me by my name by the way my name is min jung ✌😾

[@KSHAWK]

@@MinYoonji_-jk7vt dude I didn’t mean any offense by not using your name I just didn’t think it was necessary

[@kissmekissmeiwthyoureyesclosed]

thank you for making this video! I’m homeschooled and I’m reading this in a book (6th grade) and I decided to see the video and wow amazing 👏👏

[@rogernewcomb2272]

I turned eight years old the day after John F Kennedy was assassinated,and there has been a sadness within my heart ever since.

[@mkl62]

Thanks for posting.

[@bch7031]

Came here after Amanda Gorman delivered her poem at the inauguration

[@bettercrafts701]

Me too

[@Jdglobeskater]

I have been a poet since I was EIGHT years old, and up until this year, Robert Frost, has been my favorite poet. I am now 26 and with every breath of passion for our nation, with every other inflection, every time freedom was mentioned, every time... I heard her speak in confidence in every word she said; Amanda Gorman, beautiful, seamstress, took a country of sorrow and dreamt to make it a nation. In less than seven minutes, she showed us what heaven could be, a place for you and a place for the free, take on me, take on them, take care of yourself and I will help you if I can. This is a United Nation, I stand on this hill, Amanda Gorman, shot to the heart of the matter at hand, division is simple math, take our one nation and divide it in half, half a nation for half of a week, then we can be a nation to speak, a nation of debate, a nation of care, a nation who will say what is fair. I want you to get in on this, speak your mind. One nation divided Will never survive. I have not decided to which I will side. I'll leave it to you to multiply this divide.

[@leighshepherd8356]

The Kennedys began the TRADITION of INAUGURAL poet

[@PALIOURAS]

Paul Auster's "4321" gigantic and magnificent novel, brought me here. The author says that Ferguson (the main character) sees the inauguration on television but it is described a bit differently on the book. The sheaf of paper that it’s written on blows from the poet's hand away from the podium and then he recites something out of memory.

[@steevo211]

The Gift Outright The land was ours before we were the land’s She was our land more than a hundred years Before we were her people. She was ours In Massachusetts, in Virginia, But we were England’s, still colonials, Possessing what we still were unpossessed by, Possessed by what we now no more possessed. Something we were withholding made us weak Until we found out that it was ourselves We were withholding from our land of living, And forthwith found salvation in surrender. Such as we were we gave ourselves outright (The deed of gift was many deeds of war) To the land vaguely realizing westward, But still unstoried, artless, unenhanced, Such as she was, such as she will become. Robert Frost ~ On Becoming Free And Finally Finding Home. It's quite serious and not beautiful, but very appropriate. So Few Genuine Sentiment's Conveyed Now. We Have Katy Perry Sing At Both Inauguration's And Coronations 🙄 The Usual Suspects! Perhaps Something From A An Old Great American Poet Is Just What The Doctor Ordered To In 24/25 No Matter Who/ What May Come. We Are Starving For Inspiration. This I Had Not Even Heard Of. Grateful ~

[@sudheeshpunchakkari9772]

♥

[@kyungranp]

The Gift Outright 2:42

[@matachi1040]

What did she say at 2:04

[@DNYLNY]

Biden was in his 20's during this.

[@timburr4453]

Hey Frosty...YOU WANT SOME SNOW...MAN! Bahhh!

[@MahaMtman]

The book Deep Woods the story of Robert Frost by Peggy Caravantes points out the amusing in the first chapter: "...as he turned to thank John F. Kennedy, mistakenly referring to him as Mr John Finley, a Harvard Professor whom Frost knew slightly..." Fortunately he was angling away from the mic but I wonder if JFK ever had comments about the historic afternoon. Quite forgivable for a genius at age 86 who also had the chutzpahto Dis the most powerful Texan in da Korporate U.S who offered his hat to shade the poetry!

[@azmodanpc]

Drink every time you spot a non-white face in the clip. Then compare it to two days ago :D

[@kkbanana6315]

black

[@keeleybrown122]

I thought he read who's woods these are. Lol it's not fart its poot

[@ericwinnick330]

This poem is a lot better than that garbage yesterday.

[@Lafleurdenuit]

Were you at the Capitol too? Haha did you storm the place?

[@Lafleurdenuit]

This peom is literally saying how the British deserved to take America. He didn't even get to fumble all the way through it. 🤔 How is that better haha? haha 😄 fool, sit down.

[@juliasowacka6570]

@@Lafleurdenuit The fact that someone can distinguish between poetry and garbage does not mean he is a republican or Trump supporter. I hope you can understand that.

[@CaerdyddGoingNuts]

@@Lafleurdenuit He’s actually saying the exact opposite. They didn’t really deserve the land, they were merely living on it. Only when they realized that they were no longer British and put everything they had on the line to prove it. And after sacrificing blood, toil, tears and sweat they could rightly claim to belong to the land.

[@luckyswine]

Unpopular opinion but I agree. Frost is in a different weight class so comparisons with a youth laureate are rather invidious.

[@ChristianNewsandInterviews]

I appreciate his works but this was disappointing

[@marymyers8706]

You know, the horse that shook his bells as if to say the stop on the land (Stopping in the Woods on a Snowy Evening) was a mistake might have been a bit more profound then I first realized.

[@aroojghouri3142]

No disappointing

[@DrWhom]

one of his worst poems, and he was also bad at reciting his own work