For John F. Kennedy His Inauguration

"For John F. Kennedy His Inauguration" (originally titled "Dedication") was a poem written by American poet Robert Frost for the presidential inauguration of John F. Kennedy.

Original typescript of Robert Frost's "Dedication" (first page), donated to the Library of Congress in 1969 by Stewart L. Udall who received it from Frost with the inscription "For Stewart from Robert On the Day, Jan 20 1961."[1]

Kennedy had asked Frost to read "The Gift Outright" and Frost had agreed, but upon viewing the arrangements for the inauguration, spent the evening before the ceremony composing this new poem as preamble to the requested poem.[2] However, in the bright sunshine of the event he had difficulty reading his new poem and resorted to reciting "The Gift Outright" alone.[3][4]

Frost's handwritten copy was framed with a note from Jacqueline Kennedy wrote in pencil upon its back: "For Jack. First thing I had framed to be put in your office. First thing to be hung there."[2] This copy was donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, arriving unannounced through the mail, April 2006 via bequest of a will of a former Kennedy Administration staff member who died in 2005.[2]

References
  1. ""Dedication," Robert Frost's presidential inaugural poem, 20 January 1961. Typescript with Frost's holograph script corrections in ink and Stewart Udall's holograph clarifications in pencil on the last page. Permission to reproduce the poem online was granted by the Estate of Robert Frost and Henry." Library of Congress. Steward L. Udall Collection. Accessed 21 January 2021.
  2. "ROBERT FROST’S ORIGINAL POEM FOR JFK’S INAUGURATION NOW ON DISPLAY AT THE KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY." John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum press release. July 19, 2006. Accessed January 21, 2021.
  3. "On Art and Government: The Poem Robert Frost Didn’t Read at JFK’s Inauguration" by Maria Popova. Brain Pickings. Accessed January 21, 2021.
  4. "The poem Robert Frost wanted to read at John F. Kennedy's inauguration" by Alan Wirzbicki. Boston Globe. January 20, 2011. Accessed January 21, 2021.
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