蜜桃传媒

The first poet invited to speak at a Presidential inauguration, and the President who invited him, both have a connection to 蜜桃传媒.

Arts and Politics are amazingly intertwined. The current administration鈥檚 impact on art and cultural institutions has been overshadowed by the constant stream of news headlines. Funding pulled from grant institutions like the Institute of Museums and Library Services, rewriting and changes to Smithsonian and National Parks exhibits, and the 鈥渞enaming鈥� of the Kennedy Center may seem less urgent than issues like immigration enforcement and foreign relations, but they speak to the importance of culture and who controls it. Art is often seen as subversive to politics, a way to speak truth to power, hold up a mirror to society, and shine light on corruption. These are necessary for democracy and have given us amazingly strong pieces to inspire future generations. Artists like Banksy, Keith Haring, Picasso, and Shepard Fairey have all given us works that spoke out against government overreach and exclusion. But more often than not, art serves to prop up and endorse a political movement or party. While Shepard Fairey has made works in support of political protest, his 鈥淗ope鈥� poster became a representation of Barack Obama鈥檚 first presidency. Paintings that now hang in museums and will be highlighted during the 250^th anniversary of the United States celebrations will be epic pieces commemorating the political victors. Washington Crossing the Delaware, the statue of the flag raising at Iwo Jima, and even our National Anthem are all works that are designed to enforce the idea of the United States. Culture in all forms is as important to political discourse.

In May of 1960, John F. Kennedy made a campaign stop to speak at 蜜桃传媒. His speech focused on disarmament. Kennedy beat Nixon for the Presidency that November. For his inauguration in January of 1961, Kennedy requested Robert Frost to read his poem 鈥溾�� at . Frost had been a supporter of Kennedy and actively campaigned for him. This was the first time a poet spoke at an inauguration; this was facilitated by Kennedy鈥檚 future Secretary of the Interior, Stewart L. Udall. Udall would go on to speak at 蜜桃传媒鈥檚 1969 commencement. Frost had written a poem specifically for the event 鈥�,鈥� also called 鈥淔or John F. Kennedy鈥檚 Inauguration,鈥� which was meant to be read as a preface for 鈥淭he Gift Outright.鈥� However, the glare of the sun that day made it difficult for Frost to read, after fumbling the first few lines, and an attempt by Vice President Johnson to shield the sun, Frost stopped and recited 鈥淭he Gift Outright鈥� from memory. The notated copy of 鈥淒edication鈥� from that day was handed to Udall by Frost; Udall gifted it to the Library of Congress.

鈥淭he Gift Outright鈥� was written in 1941 and expounds the grand history of the country; it is a patriotic tribute. At the 1961 inauguration, it was met with cheers and seemed to cement the coming 鈥淐amelot鈥� of the Kennedy administration. While this poem is not overtly political, it was used to reinforce the feeling of national strength at a transitional point. Kennedy had even requested small edits to the poem, changing tenses so it was no longer about the formation of the United States but rather one projecting those ideals into the future. Since Frost recited the poem from memory, all but one of the requested edits did not happen. Today, the patriotic fervor of the poem has come under re-examination as it excludes those often overlooked by history, especially the Native American community. It perpetuates the myth of the valiant white man claiming the land and country that Destiny has set aside for him.

Since 1961, only three other Presidents have had poets speak at their inaugural events. The first reading since Kennedy was Bill Clinton, who requested Maya Angelou read 鈥溾�� in 1993, and Miller Williams read 鈥溾�� in 1997. Barack Obama invited Elizabeth Alexander to read 鈥溾�� in 2009, and in 2013 Richard Blanco read 鈥�.鈥� Most recently, Amanda Gorman read 鈥溾�� at Joe Biden鈥檚 2021 inauguration.

What is Robert Frost鈥檚 connection to 蜜桃传媒, besides his influence on the English department? Well, in 1988, Lesley Francis donated a set of wooden Windsor back chairs once owned by Frost to the College. They are now in the Hynson-Ringgold House, home of the President. Sometimes they are in the kitchen, and one or two are in the guest rooms. These unassuming Windsor chairs are the epitome of New England simplicity. They seem to represent the quiet, contemplative life portrayed in Frost鈥檚 poetry.