The near-mythical legacy of President Kennedy can be attributed to several things. His wife Jackie's quest to ensure that "Camelot" would not be forgotten and the gone-too-soon element of lost potential are just two reasons for his towering icon status, but his talent for soaring rhetoric is surely part of the mystique.

Despite having been said over 50 years ago, "a man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on" still rings true; And "ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country" is practically an American idiom at this point.

While it's hardly as well-known as the quotations above, President Kennedy's Christmas message to the troops in 1961 also feels surprisingly relevant today.

"For uncounted millions, Christmas expresses the deepest hopes for a world of peace where love rather than mistrust will flourish between neighbors," he wrote.

Christmas expresses the deepest hopes for a world of peace where love rather than mistrust will flourish between neighbors.

"America's veterans know only too well the frightful cost of war. This Nation, and indeed the world, are fortunate in these troubled days to have such a body of citizens fully committed to seeking the path to a more peaceful world. I am confident that we will find that path."

For many, 2016 was a difficult year. Politics in America became more polarized than ever before, and the election was so dirty that no one walked away clean. Atrocities shook cities to their core as far away as Aleppo and as nearby as Orlando, Florida. And artistic legends ranging from Bill Cunningham to David Bowie left this world a little less bright.

In the midst of the Cold War, Kennedy spoke of seeking peace. It's a timeless reminder that during the holidays, we should, too.

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JFK's Christmas message to the men and women veterans of the Armed Forces: "Christmas expresses the deepest hopes for a world of peace." pic.twitter.com/eqxSnxkDMj — JFK Library (@JFKLibrary) December 15, 2016

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