[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 340-341]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL ROTUNDA FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF KENNEDY 
                           INAUGURAL ADDRESS

  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 2) authorizing the use of the 
rotunda of the Capitol for an event marking the 50th anniversary of the 
inaugural address of President John F. Kennedy.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                             S. Con. Res. 2

       Whereas John Fitzgerald Kennedy was elected to the United 
     States House of Representatives and served from January 3, 
     1947, to January 3, 1953, until he was elected by the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the Senate where he served 
     from January 3, 1953, to December 22, 1960;
       Whereas on November 8, 1960, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was 
     elected as the 35th President of the United States; and
       Whereas on January 20, 1961, President Kennedy was sworn in 
     as President of the United States and delivered his inaugural 
     address at 12:51pm, a speech that served as a clarion call to 
     service for the Nation: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. USE OF THE ROTUNDA OF THE CAPITOL FOR AN EVENT 
                   HONORING PRESIDENT KENNEDY.

       The rotunda of the United States Capitol is authorized to 
     be used on January 20, 2011, for a ceremony in honor of the 
     50th anniversary of the inaugural address of President John 
     F. Kennedy. Physical preparations for the conduct of the 
     ceremony shall be carried out in accordance with such 
     conditions as may be prescribed by the Architect of the 
     Capitol.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Harper) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. 
Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Mississippi?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HARPER. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 
2, authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for an event on 
January 20, marking the 50th anniversary of the inaugural address of 
President John F. Kennedy.
  Mr. Speaker, Presidential inaugural addresses are always historic and 
are often some of the most memorable events during different eras of 
our country's history.
  We can recall Abraham Lincoln's inaugural address in 1861, President 
Franklin Roosevelt's inaugural address in 1933, and, of course, 
President Ronald Reagan's inaugural address in 1981, among many others, 
as addresses that inspired this Nation at particular moments of 
importance to our country.
  In 1961 President Kennedy's inaugural address rightly challenged us 
to ask what we can do for our country and not what our country can do 
for us. As people across this land did 50 years ago, so we must 
continue to do so now.
  Mr. Speaker, I too believe we should look for inspiration to 
President Kennedy's eloquent address given 50 years ago. I support this 
resolution authorizing use of the rotunda and urge all my colleagues to 
support it.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this concurrent resolution to 
allow for the use of the rotunda in recognition of the 50th anniversary 
of President Kennedy's inaugural address.
  You may have read this morning's Washington Post front page story, 
declaring that 82 percent of Americans think the tone of our Nation's 
political discourse is negative. At a time when the majority of 
Americans holds our political discourse in such low regard, there 
couldn't be a more timely or necessary opportunity to revisit the 
inaugural address that inspired our country 50 years ago.
  The speech called for unity, for respect of opposing views and for 
commitment to public service, all at a time of great change and 
challenge for the United States. It was a call for everyone to work 
together, to do their part in making America and the world a better 
place.
  The words that were spoken on January 20, 1961, still ring true to 
this day.
  In the words of President Kennedy: ``So let us begin anew, 
remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and 
sincerity is always subject to proof.
  ``Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to 
negotiate.
  ``Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring 
those problems which divide us.''
  Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, the President's inaugural address sought 
to

[[Page 341]]

challenge our country and its leaders, and it set standards that still 
must guide our political discourse and ourselves, particularly with its 
closing lines:
  ``Ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice 
which we ask of you.
  ``With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final 
judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love.''
  I hope all of my colleagues will continue to work together to answer 
President Kennedy's call, and I urge all Members to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman 
Brady and the Democratic leadership, and especially our new Speaker and 
his staff for their help with this bill and their support for holding 
this historic event in the rotunda.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. Con. Res. 2, authorizing the use 
of the rotunda for a ceremony to honor the 50th anniversary of the 
inauguration of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
  President Kennedy came to us during difficult times. In 1961, America 
was a very different place. In the South, Jim Crow and racial 
segregation were a part of everyday life--a part of my life.
  Around the world, the possibility of nuclear war and the spread of 
communism were clouds that hung over every country. Tensions were 
rising. The danger was real. The world, once again, looked to us.
  For me, and for millions of Americans, the young man from 
Massachusetts looked like the future.
  As a young activist, I know that I challenged him to ensure that the 
future included civil rights. But on inauguration day, just outside 
this very building, he challenged me. He called me to serve in a new 
way.
  He reminded me that the principles upon which this country was 
founded must live within each of us; inspire and guide each of us; and 
be sacred to each of us.
  President Kennedy came to us during difficult times. And he was taken 
from us during difficult times. He never saw the success in civil 
rights, the fall of the Berlin Wall or men on the moon. But on his 
first day--his very first day--he gave to us a new hymn. One that 
seemed to express what we had been struggling to put into words. His 
inaugural address gave us a hymn of hope, a hymn of optimism, a hymn of 
service.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this resolution, and I think it is 
appropriate and fitting that Congress honor this important anniversary 
in the rotunda of the United States Capitol.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARPER. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Harper) that the House suspend the 
rules and concur in the concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res. 2.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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