In The News

JFK speechwriter Theodore Sorensen passes away

JFK speechwriter Theodore Sorensen passes away

The death has taken place of Theodore Sorenson who was a speechwriter for President John F. Kennedy. He was 84.

Ted Sorenson had the ability to produce stunning turns of phrase and is credited with writing the line: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” which President Kennedy included in his inaugural address in 1961.

He was in JFK’s inner circle of advisers. Indeed, Kennedy referred to him as his “intellectual blood bank”.

Mr. Sorensen always said he was particularly proud of the work he did on helping draft a letter which President Kennedy sent to the Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev at the height of the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. 

The letter pressed for a peaceful solution to the problem. The crisis was eventually averted but not before the super-powers came perilously close to a nuclear war.

Mr. Sorensen said he had always drawn inspiration from the speeches of President Abraham Lincoln and Sir Winston Churchill.

Following President Kennedy’s assasination, Mr. Sorenson ran a law practice but also retained a keen interest in politics.

 

View previous In the News items: James MacArthur of Hawaii Five O passes away , Legendary race horse trainer passes away , Young motorcyclist dies in County Antrim , Well known author passes away , Tributes are paid to Olympic rowing champion , Funeral takes place of top Northern Ireland photographer , Controversial magazine publisher passes away , Actor Tom Bosley passes away , BBC announcer of the 1950s passes away , Veteran newsman passes away , Tributes are paid to health campaigner and agony aunt or Director of first Titanic film dies

 

If you have a relative or a friend who has passed away and feel they should be mentioned in our In the News section, then please email us.