JFK’s Famous Line, 1961

This 1961 footage captures John F. Kennedy delivering his iconic line, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” from his January 20 inaugural speech. Filmed in color or black-and-white with sound, it shows JFK at the Capitol, braving snowy weather, addressing a bundled crowd. A pivotal Cold War moment, this clip highlights his call to service, framed by the Capitol’s dome and a nation poised for a new era, in sharp archival detail.