“We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty.” Thus, in his inaugural address of January 20 1961, did President John F Kennedy declare the aims of his administration. It was the height of the cold war. For the inhabitants of a divided Europe, the speech was electrifying. In retrospect, this vaunting ambition led to the over-reach of the Vietnam war. But it was also an indication of an ennobling idea — that of a superpower with a moral purpose. Despite all the failures, people continued to believe in its purpose: in contrast to the Nazis and communists, the US believed in freedom and democracy.
“我们将不惜任何代价，承担所有重任，顶住所有困难，支持所有朋友，反对一切敌人，确保自由得以实现和存续。”1961年1月20日，约翰•F•肯尼迪(John F Kennedy)在总统就职演说中宣告了他所将领导的美国政府的目标。那是冷战正酣的岁月。对于分裂的欧洲来说，这番话听起来鼓舞人心。回过头来看，这种傲然宣之于口的雄心导致了漫长的越南战争。但它也昭示了一种崇高的思想——出自一个怀着道德意志的超级大国。尽管经历了种种失败，人们依然相信其初衷：美国信奉自由和民主，跟纳粹和共产主义者形成对比。