白宫，可以说是杰出演讲家的摇篮。若干美国总统都因为其脍灸人口的演讲而名垂青史：林肯，罗斯福，肯尼迪. . . . . . 。
约翰. F. 肯尼迪1961年就任总统那篇著名的就职演说，堪称演讲辞里的另一经典，是有志于口头雄辩励志鼓动家认真学习的范本。
甫一开场，就用一系列鲜明对比（antithesis）的词组互相辉映：
"We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom--symbolizing an end as well as a beginning--signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago. "
“A victory of the party ”对“A celebration of freedom ” ；
“An end as well as a beginning ”；
“renewal as well as change ” 。
肯尼迪如此定义新一代的美国人：
“. . . a new generation of Americans--born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage--and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, ”
他一连用了5个分词短语来修饰名词“新一代美国人”。它们分别是：
“born in. . ., tempered by. . . , disciplined by. . . , proud of. . . and unwilling to . . . ”。
肯尼迪得到雄辩术的真谛，连篇累牍地抛出"重复法"（repetition） ：
“Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce. ”
肯尼迪好像对这种"五连冠"的修辞手段情有独钟，继续信手拈来：连续5个动宾结构，筑起一道语言修辞的铜墙铁壁，让任何对手找不到突破口：
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. ”
而他这两句用antithesis修辞手段的经典名言，奠定了肯尼迪在演讲界老大的江湖地位：
"Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. "
" Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. "
它也是SAT阅读中的一篇。对SAT望而生畏的学生，我要借用肯尼迪总统的这两句名言来勉励之：
" Ask not what your SAT can do for you--ask what you can do for your SAT. "
"Let us never take the SAT test out of fear. But let us never fear to to take the SAT. "
