"ON GOVERNMENT"
I RUN FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY NOT BECAUSE I THINK IT IS AN EASY JOB IN SOFT TIMES. I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE THE MOST DIFFICULT AND HAZARDOUS YEAR IN OUR COUNTY'S HISTORY. THIS IS A TIME OF DANGER.
LET EVERY PUBLIC SERVANT KNOW, WHETHER HIS POST IS HIGH OR LOW, THAT A MAN'S RANK AND REPUTATION IN THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE SIZE OF THE JOB HE DOES, AND NOT BY THE SIZE OF HIS STAFF, HIS OFFICE, OR HIS BUDGET.
NO GOVERNMENT OR SOCIAL SYSTEM IS SO EVIL THAT ITS PEOPLE MUST BE CONSIDERED AS LACKING IN VIRTUE. AS AMERICANS, WE FIND COMMUNISM PROFOUNDLY REPUGNANT AS A NEGATION OF PERSONAL FREEDOM AND DIGNITY. BUT WE CAN STILL HAIL THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE FOR THEIR MANY ACHIEVEMENTS -- IN SCIENCE AND SPACE, IN ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL GROWTH, IN CULTURE, AND IN ACTS OF COURAGE.
WHAT DOES TRUTH REQUIRE? IT REQUIRES US TO FACE THE FACTS AS THEY ARE, NOT TO INVOLVE OURSELVES IN SELF-DESTRUCTION; TO REFUSE TO THINK MERELY IN SLOGANS.
THE COMPLACENT, THE SELF-INDULGENT, THE SOFT SOCIETIES ARE ABOUT TO BE SWEPT AWAY WITH THE DEBRIS OF HISTORY.
IT IS WHEN THE POLITICIAN LOVES NEITHER THE PUBLIC GOOD NOR HIMSELF, OR WHEN HIS LOVE FOR HIMSELF IS LIMITED AND IS SATISFIED BY THE TRAPPINGS OF OFFICE, THAT THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS BADLY SERVED. AND IT IS WHEN HIS REGARD FOR HIMSELF IS SO HIGH THAT HIS OWN SELF-RESPECT DEMANDS HE FOLLOW THE PATH OF COURAGE AND CONSCIENCE THAT ALL BENEFIT.
STRONG WORDS ALONE, OF COURSE, DO NOT MAKE MEANINGFUL POLICY; THEY MUST, IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS, IN PARTICULAR, BE BACKED BOTH BY A WILL AND BY WEAPONS THAT ARE EQUALLY STRONG. THUS A COLLECTION OF PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENTS CAN NOT CONVEY THEIR TRUE PERSPECTIVE UNLESS IT IS REALIZED OR RECALLED PRECISELY WHAT THEY SIGNIFIED IN COMMITTING THE POWER AND MAJESTY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT.
IN A DEMOCRACY, EVERY CITIZEN, REGARDLESS OF HIS INTEREST IN POLITICS, "HOLDS OFFICE"; EVERY ONE OF US IS IN A POSITION OF RESPONSIBILITY; AND, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT WE GET DEPENDS UPON HOW WE FULFILL THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES. WE, THE PEOPLE, ARE THE BOSS, AND WE WILL GET THE KIND OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, BE IT GOOD OR BAD, THAT WE DEMAND AND DESERVE.
I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT AN AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE FOR PEACE, HONESTLY INTENDED AND RESOLUTELY PURSUED, WOULD NOT BE LIGHTLY REJECTED BY EITHER SIDE. AND I PROMISE TO WASTE NO TIME IN TAKING THIS INITIATIVE.
WHERE ELSE BUT IN THE POLITICAL PROFESSION IS THE INDIVIDUAL EXPECTED TO SACRIFICE ALL -- INCLUDING HIS OWN CAREER -- FOR THE NATIONAL GOOD?
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"JOHN F. KENNEDY: WORDS TO REMEMBER"