AND SO, MY FELLOW AMERICANS:
ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY
CAN DO FOR YOU -- ASK WHAT YOU
CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY.
THE WIT OF J.F.K.
AS FINLEY PETER DUNNE'S "MR. DOOLEY" USED TO SAY, "TRUST EVERYONE, BUT CUT THE CARDS."
AMERICANS WANT TO BE LIKED -- AND SENATORS ARE NO EXCEPTION.
I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT WE BEGIN THE 1960 CAMPAIGN RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT WE BEGIN IT ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND. THE REPUBLICANS ARE ALL AT THE BEACH, BUT WE ARE OUT HERE AT THIS AIRPORT.
MR. NIXON MAY BE VERY EXPERIENCED IN KITCHEN DEBATES. SO ARE A GREAT MANY OTHER MARRIED MEN I KNOW.
QUESTION: "SENATOR, GOVERNOR BROWN TODAY ISSUED A VERY OPTIMISTIC STATEMENT... YET THE FIELD PLL SHOWS NIXON RUNNING AHEAD... WHICH OF THESE TWO EXPERTS DO YOU BELIEVE?"
ANSWER: "I BELIEVE GOVERNOR BROWN."
I HEAR THAT THERE ARE SOME AMERICANS AND SOME DEMOCRATS WHO SAY THAT THEY HAVE NOW DEVELOPED A WONDERFUL ARRANGEMENT IN WASHINGTON. THE CONGRESS IS DEMOCRATIC AND THE PRESIDENT IS REPUBLICAN AND NOTHING HAPPENS AND ISN'T IT WONDERFUL.
I ASSUME THAT YOUR PRESENCE HERE INDICATES THAT YOU ARE ALL POLITICIANS. ARTEMUS WARD FROM MASSACHUSETTS, MY OWN STATE, 50 YEARS AGO SAID, "I AM NOT A POLITICIAN AND MY OTHER HABITS ARE GOOD, ALSO."
THERE IS A QUESTION OF DO I BELIEVE ALL PROTESTANTS ARE HERETICS. NO, AND I HOPE YOU DON'T BELIEVE ALL CATHOLICS ARE.
PRESIDENT TRUMAN TOLD ME THE OTHER NIGHT THAT HIS CAMPAIGN TRAIN RAN OUT OF FUNDS THREE TIMES IN 1948 AND THEY HAD TO COME AND GET HIM.
A WEEKLY NEWSMAGAZINE WITH WIDE CIRCULATION FEATURED A SECTION ENTITLED "KENNEDY'S LIBERAL PROMISES," AND DESCRIBED ME, AND I QUOTE, AS THE FARTHEST-OUT LIBERAL DEMOCRAT AROUND, UNQUOTE. WHILE I AM NOT CERTAIN OF THE "BEATNIK" DEFINITION OF "FARTHEST-OUT," I AM CERTAIN THAT THIS WAS NOT INTENDED AS A COMPLIMENT.
REMARKS AT A BREAKFAST:
LOOKING AT ALL YOU LADIES AND SEEING WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH SOME OF YOUR DISTINGUISHED OFFICEHOLDERS, I RECALL AN EXPERIENCE OF THE SUFFRAGETTES WHO PICKETED THE WHITE HOUSE BACK DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR. THE LEADER OF THE SUFFRAGETTES WAS ARRESTED. AS SHE WAS TAKEN AWAY IN A TRUCK, SHE TURNED TO HER GIRLS AND SAID, "DON'T WORRY, GIRLS. PRAY TO THE LORD. SHE WILL PROTECT YOU."
OUR GOAL MUST BE THE FULLEST UTILIZATION OF EVERY DROP AND GALLON OF WATER IN EVERY RIVER SYSTEM IN AMERICA, AND IT IS A SOURCE OF REGRET TO ME THAT THE POTOMAC RIVER, WHICH FLOWS BY OUR CAPITAL, IS ONE OF THE MOST POLLUTED RIVERS WEST OF THE GANGES. THAT IS A LONG SENTENCE, BUT YOU DO GET THE IDEA.
THE VICE PRESIDENT RECENTLY PREDICTED THAT WE WOULD SOMEDAY HAVE A WOMAN PRESIDENT. IT MIGHT BE DISCOUNTED TO A DEGREE BECAUSE HE WAS SPEAKING AT A WOMEN'S COLLEGE.
THERE IS NO CITY IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH I GET A WARMER WELCOME AND LESS VOTES THAN COLUMBUS, OHIO.
ON BEING PRESIDENT:
I HAVE A NICE HOME, THE OFFICE IS CLOSE BY AND THE PAY IS GOOD.
MOTHERS MAY STILL WANT THEIR FAVORITE SONS TO GROW UP TO BE PRESIDENT, BUT, ACCORDING TO A FAMOUS GALLUP POLL OF SOME YEARS AGO, THEY DO NOT WANT THEM TO BECOME POLITICIANS IN THE PROCESS.
THOMAS JEFFERSON OBJECTED TO GEORGE WASHINGTON BECAUSE THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION HAD AGREED TO THE FOUNDING OF THE SENATE. HE SAID, "WHY IS A SENATE NECESSARY?" AND AS YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE STORY, WASHINGTON SAID, "WHY DO I POUR MY COFFEE IN A CUP? TO COOL IT. SO WE NEED THE SENATE."
THOSE OF YOU (STUDENTS) WHO REGARD MY PROFESSION OF POLITICAL LIFE WITH SOME DISDAIN SHOULD REMEMBER THAT IT MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO MOVE FROM BEING AN OBSCURE LIEUTENANT IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY TO COMMANDER IN CHIEF IN 14 YEARS, WITH VERY LITTLE TECHNICAL COMPETENCE.
MORE WILL BE NEEDED THAN GOOD INTENTIONS, FOR WE KNOW WHERE THAT PAVING LEADS.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE THE LEADER IN THE FRENCH REVOLUTION WHO SAID, "THERE GO MY PEOPLE. I MUST FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE GOING SO I CAN LEAD THEM."
THE PRESIDENT BEARS THE BURDEN OF THE RESPONSIBILITY. THE ADVISERS MAY MOVE ON TO NEW ADVICE. MY EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT... IS THAT WHEN THINGS ARE NON-CONTROVERSIAL, BEAUTIFULLY COORDINATED, AND ALL THE REST, IT MUST BE THAT NOT MUCH IS GOING ON.
I SHARE THE FEELING EXPRESSED BY PRIME MINISTER MELBOURNE, WHO, WHEN IRRITATED BY THE CRITICISM OF THE THEN YOUTHFUL HISTORIAN T.B. MACAULAY, REMARKED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BE AS SURE OF ANYTHING AS MACAULAY SEEMED TO BE OF EVERYTHING.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GREAT APPRECIATION AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU, AND TO EXPRESS MY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR HAVING ATTENDED THIS (YOUTH FITNESS) CONFERENCE. I ASKED THOSE MEMBERS OF THE CABINET WHO FELT THEY WERE PHYSICALLY FIT TO COME HERE TODAY, AND I AM DELIGHTED THAT MR. UDALL AND MR. ROBERT KENNEDY AND GOVERNOR RIBICOFF RESPONDED TO THE CHALLENGE.
INTRODUCING ASTRONAUT ALAN SHEPARD:
WE HAVE WITH US TODAY THE NATION'S NUMBER ONE TELEVISION PERFORMER, WHO I THINK ON LAST FRIDAY MORNING SECURED THE LARGEST RATING OF ANY MORNING SHOW IN RECENT HISTORY.
A FEW YEARS AGO, AT A DIPLOMATIC PARTY IN MOSCOW, PREMIER KHRUSHCHEV TOLD THE ASSEMBLED GUESTS ABOUT THE RUSSIAN WHO SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RUN THROUGH THE CORRIDORS OF THE KREMLIN SHOUTING: "KHRUSHCHEV IS A FOOL. KHRUSHCHEV IS A FOOL." HE WAS SENTENCED, THE PREMIER SAID, TO 23 YEARS IN PRISON -- "THREE FOR INSULTING THE PARTY SECRETARY -- AND 20 FOR REVEALING A STATE SECRET."
THEY HAVE OFFERED TO TRADE US AN APPLE FOR AN ORCHARD. WE DON'T DO THAT IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE CAN NOT NEGOTIATE WITH THOSE WHO SAY, "WHAT'S MINE IS MINE AND WHAT'S YOURS IS NEGOTIABLE."
I AM THE MAN WHO ACCOMPANIED JACQUELINE KENNEDY TO PARIS, AND I HAVE ENJOYED IT.
I HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WITH THIS DONKEY BY TWO YOUNG LADIES DOWN THER FOR MY DAUGHTER. MY DAUGHTER HAS THE GREATEST COLLECTION OF DONKEYS. SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT AN ELEPHANT LOOKS LIKE. WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT HER FROM THAT KNOWLEDGE.
YESTERDAY I WAS SHOWN THE ALAMO AND I WAS INFORMED OF ALL THE BRAVE DEEDS OF ALL THE TEXANS, OF BOWIE AND CROCKETT, AND ALL THE REST. SO I SAID LAST NIGHT "HAVEN'T YOU HEARD OF PAUL REVERE?" THEY SAID, "YES, HE IS THE ONE WHO RAN FOR HELP."
THERE IS A STORY ABOUT A TEXAN WHO WENT TO NEW YORK AND TOLD THE NEW YORKER THAT HE COULD JUMP OFF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING AND LIVE. THE EASTERNER SAID, "WELL, THAT WOULD BE AN ACCIDENT." HE SAID, "SUPPOSE I DID IT TWICE?" AND THE EASTERNER SAID, "THAT WOULD BE A HABIT."
AT A DINNER HONORING ALL LIVING NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE:
I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW WELCOME YOU ARE TO THE WHITE HOUSE. I THINK THIS IS THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION OF TALENT, OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE, THAT HAS EVER BEEN GATHERED TOGETHER AT THE WHITE HOUSE, WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF WHEN THOMAS JEFFERSON DINED ALONE.
I ACTUALLY CAME DOWN HERE TONIGHT TO PAY A DEBT OF OBLIGATION TO AN OLD FRIEND AND FAITHFUL ADVISER. HE AND I CAME TO THE 80TH CONGRESS TOGETHER, AND HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED FOR MANY YEARS, AND I REGARD HIM AS ONE OF MY MOST VALUABLE COUNSELORS IN MOMENTS OF GREAT PERSONAL AND PUBLIC DIFFICULTY. IN 1952, WHEN I WAS THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE, I WENT TO THE THEN-SENATOR SMATHERS, AND SAID, "GEORGE, WHAT DO YOU THINK?" "THIS IS IT. THEY NEED A YOUNG MAN. IT'S YOUR CHANCE." SO I RAN -- AND LOST. AND IN 1960 I WAS WONDERING WHETHER I OUGHT TO RUN IN THE WEST VIRGINIA PRIMARY. "DON'T DO IT. THAT STATE YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY CARRY." AND ACTUALLY, THE ONLY TIME I REALLY GOT NERVOUS ABOUT THE WHOLE MATTER AT LOS ANGELES, WAS JUST BEFORE THE BALLOTING, AND GEORGE CAME UP AND HE SAID, "I THINK IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD FOR YOU."
I SPOKE A YEAR AGO TODAY, TO TAKE THE INAUGURAL, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PARAPHRASE A COUPLE OF STATEMENTS I MADE THAT DAY BY SAYING THAT WE OBSERVE TONIGHT NOT A CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM BUT A VICTORY OF PARTY, FOR WE HAVE SWORN TO PAY OFF THE SAME PARTY DEBT OUR FOREBEARS RAN UP NEARLY A YEAR AND THREE MONTHS AGO.
OUR DEFICIT WILL NOT BE PAID OFF IN THE NEXT HUNDRED DAYS, NOR WILL IT BE PAID OFF IN THE FIRST ONE THOUSAND DAYS, NOR IN THE LIFE OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, NOR, PERHAPS EVEN IN OUR LIFETIME ON THIS PLANET, BUT LET US BEGIN -- REMEMBERING THAT GENEROSITY IS NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS AND THAT AMBASSADORS ARE ALWAYS SUBJECT TO SENATE CONFIRMATION, FOR IF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CAN NOT BE HELPED BY THE MANY WHO ARE POOR, IT CAN NOT BE SAVED BY THE FEW WHO ARE RICH.
AS GENERAL DE GAULLE OCCASIONALLY ACKNOWLEDGES AMERICA TO BE THE DAUGHTER OF EUROPE, SO I AM PLEASED TO COME TO YALE, THE DAUGHTER OF HARVARD. IT MIGHT BE SAID NOW THAT I HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, A HARVARD EDUCATION AND A YALE DEGREE.
I WANT TO COMMEND THIS IDEA OF THE $250 DINNER. THIS IS LIKE THAT STORY OF THE AWARD OF PRIZES BY THE MOSCOW CULTURAL CENTER, THE FIRST PRIZE BEING ONE WEEK IN KIEV AND THE SECOND PRIZE BEING TWO WEEKS. FOR $100 YOU GET SPEECHES; FOR $250 YOU DON'T GET ANY SPEECHES. YOU CAN'T GET BARGAINS LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
I USED TO WONDER WHEN I WAS A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE HOW PRESIDENT TRUMAN GOT IN SO MUCH TROUBLE. NOW I AM BEGINNING TO GET THE IDEA. IT IS NOT DIFFICULT.
I GOT A LETTER, THE NICEST LETTER I HAVE GOTTEN, ACTUALLY, SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE, FROM AN OFFICIAL OF THE BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, SAYING, "YOU ARE EVEN WORSE THAN HARRY TRUMAN."
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"JOHN F. KENNEDY: WORDS TO REMEMBER"
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