John F. Kennedy responded, as he often did when at his best, skillfully mixing dollops of wit with, self-deprecation, and the principle of not-really-going-near-the-question.

David Pietrusza
About This Quote

John F. Kennedy may have said, “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall” with the intention of showing that he was above the fray. Had he said it with no self-deprecation or with an undercurrent of seriousness, he might have sparked the whole world to stand up and fight for freedom. However, his witticisms and playful statements kept people entertained and his tongue-in-cheek response to the question forced them to keep talking about it, continuing the conversation instead of asking about an ugly war.

Source: 1960Lbj Vs. Jfk Vs. Nixon: The Epic Campaign That Forged Three Presidencies

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