Answer:
In his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy declared that "the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans." With this statement, Kennedy was referring to the passing of the leadership and responsibility of the United States from the previous generation to a new, younger generation of Americans. He believed that the time had come for a new era of leadership, a new generation with fresh ideas and the energy and enthusiasm to address the challenges facing the nation. He was calling on this new generation to take up the torch of leadership and work together to build a better future for the country and the world. Kennedy saw this as an opportunity for the country to embrace change and progress, and to overcome the divisions and conflicts of the past.