Really surprised at how clunky his speaking grammar was. However understandable he was emotionally, he was not a clear communicator.
He had a speechwriter, Ted Sorensen, and JFK’s press secretary, Pierre Salinger probably polished up some turds as well; he’s believed to have edited the dictation transcript that became “Profiles in Courage”.
Here are a couple of excerpts of the scripted speech he was to give later in the day on 11/22/1963:
“We cannot expect that everyone, to use the phrase of a decade ago, will ‘talk sense to the American people.’ But we can hope that fewer people will listen to nonsense. And the notion that this Nation is headed for defeat through deficit, or that strength is but a matter of slogans, is nothing but just plain nonsense.”
“Above all, words alone are not enough. The United States is a peaceful nation. And where our strength and determination are clear, our words need merely to convey conviction, not belligerence. If we are strong, our strength will speak for itself. If we are weak, words will be of no help.”