In his speech, “Commencement Address at American University, Washington, D.C., June 10, 1963,” John F. Kennedy argues that peace is both possible and necessary, especially during the Cold War, which had reached a critical point when this speech was delivered. Kennedy urges Americans to rethink their attitudes toward the Soviet Union, emphasizing that peace does not require total victory over an enemy but rather understanding and cooperation. He acknowledges that both Americans and Soviets would suffer greatly in war and share basic human desires. Kennedy also emphasizes that peace must be practical and realistic, not idealistic. He advocates for arms control, particularly nuclear test bans, and warns that nuclear war would bring catastrophic consequences for all humanity. He calls for patience and diplomacy rather than confrontation.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States. He was born on May 29, 1917, in Brooklyn, Massachusetts and attended Harvard University. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1947 to 1953 and then in the U.S. Senate from 1953-1960. In 1960, he ran for president and became the youngest elected president. Kennedy was later assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas.

Kennedy's speech was delivered as a commencement address at American University in Washington, D.C. It came a year after the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the United States and Soviet Union came extremely close to nuclear war.