New York City Americana Hotel October 12 , 1964
I will not call you "Fellow Democrats" because I
have a feeling tha t some of yo u are good Republicans . I will , however , speak of you , and to you , as friends and fellow Americans . And I bring warm greetings and thanks from President Johnson .
The President is looking forwar d to your advice and
help on a continuing basis after the election . He has worked hard to establish a constructive partnership
between business and government . He has sought to develop
a climate in which all Americans , regardless of income
level , occupation , race or creed can prosper and move forward . And I believe he has succeeded . The proof of
that is your presence here today .
Before this campaign , there were those who contended that American business leaders were forever dedicated to whatever candidate gained control of the Republican Party . - 2 -
I did not believe this . I knew too many of you -- I had worked too often with you in the interest of the
country . I was convinced that the intelligence and ob-
jectivity required in business would rule in eva luating the respective candidates and proposals . And it has .
A well- stocked arsenal of anti- government slogans -- the principal weapon of our opposition -- will not substitute for proven competence in the management of our government , or a sympathetic concern by government for the legitimate problems of the business world . The choice is simply this : proven competence versus empty slogans .
The fact is that the American businessman is not well served at home or abroad by a "do nothing" government .
We must have a national administration with the wisdom , imagination and courage to serve effectively the interests of all the people . This calls for hard work and this - 3 - calls for skill and experience .
Let me be more specific . The chief role of government is to support -- not supplant - - the private enterprise system.
When a lack of private credit stifles business growth , government action should be taken .
When tax incentives are needed to encourage private investment , the government must act .
Whe n business firms seek to compete successfully in the markets of the world , government must act to remove international trade barriers .
When massive investment beyond the me ans of private business is required for pioneering efforts in space , communications , atomic energy or aviation , government has a crucial role as an investment partner .
In this role of creative and constructive partner- ship , government must always recognize the legitimacy - 4 - of profits for businessmen. Profits are re~ards for successful risk- taking , ingenuity and hard work . Not only are such profits fair , their reinvestment in an expanding economy benefits everyone .
We need a government that is not afraid of mere bigness in business for its own sake , but understands that expanding markets and growing economic opportunities provide business the means to stimulate competition and to avoid restraints on trade .
We need a government that encourages private invest- ment in foreign countries . In Latin America , an area of special concern to me , it has become increasingly evident that private investment is essential and wilcomed .
We must make certain that a climate of encouragement continues , and that a large portion of that investment comes from United States businesses . - 5 -
In the final analysis , Presidential elections are
a choice between two rival candidates -- their records ,
their abilities , their statements , their opinions , and
their supporters . Lyndon B. Johnson brings to the
American business community a proven record of faith in
private enterprise , a demonstrated understanding of its dynamics and needs , and a mature view of the proper role of government participating constructively in a free , private economy .
You need take nothing on faith . The record is clear and speaks for itself . As businessmen and Americans you know we must keep America moving forward in peace and security. And Lyndon B. Johnson possesses the maturity, the understanding, the experience , the courage , and the responsibility to accomplish this objective. Rem 0rks of Sena tor Hubert H. Humphrey Foreign Langu8ge Press Conference ,t:\mericans Hot ol October 12, 1964
Participa nts: The Honorable Robert F• Wa gner, Mayor of Now York City; Robort F. Kennody, Ca ndida te for the United States S0 nate from the State of New York; the Honor a ble Averell H2rrima n; Julius C. C. Edelstein , Ex e cutive Assista nt to Mayor Wagner; and members of the Foreign Press.
Mr . Edelstein. Lad ies and gentlemen, this is, as you know, the press conference ca llod by the All-Americans Council for tho foreign language press for the candidate for Vice-President, Senator Humphrey, a nd so the first • round of questions will , of course, bo for the foreign language press , a nd to Senator Hum phrey . Mayor Wa gner as the Chairman of the All-Americans Council -- ( App lause ) will preside a nd present Senator Humphr ey.
Mayor Wag ner. Ladios 2nd gontlomen , bofore intro ducing our next Vico-Presi do nt -- ( ~ pp l a use) -- I know we a r e very, very plea sed, too , to ha vo the distinguished candida te, our candidate for the UnitGd States Se na te here, too, Bobby Kenn edy -- ( App l a use ) -- a nd a vory distinguishod st0tesman a nd formor Governor of the State , our good friond, Aver ell Ha rrima n -- ( App l 2use) -- a nd our Nationol Committoem2n, Ed We isl. ( App l a use) City Cou ncilman, Klaus Scrovane -- ( ~pp lause) -- and Bill Ryan hore . ( Appla use)
I know yo~ want to get on with tho questions , .but as Chairman of the All-Americans Council, ~ hich a s you know is tho former Nationalities Division of th o Democra tic N2 tiona l Committee, I om very, ve ry proud to ha ve this opportunity to introduce an old fri ond , a nd I am sure a ll of you know wel l, a nd all of you admire.
I know of no one wh o has made greater contributions in the Senate to liber a lism a nd orogross , who under stands the problems of our oeople ~ nd the problems of the world better th2n the one I am t o introduce . And I kn ow tha t I introduce him, too, 2s a n old friond a nd as Ch a irm2n of tho All-Ame rica ns Council which a s you know is dedicated to brinJing to all of our people the principles of our Party a nd the platforms of our candidates.
Ho is o former cha irma n of our old Na tiona lities Division, and therefore he h8s ha d a unique opportunity through tha t servicE and a lso his gr o~t knowledge a nd ex perience tra veling t o know all of the problems that face the world toda y, tha t faco us nc tiona lly, and I know of no ono bettor equipped to a ssume tho po sition of Vice President tvi t h Lyn don John son tha n our dear friend, Hubert Humphrey . I am delighted to hsvo him here. (1\pplouso )
s ~ n a tor Humphr ey . Th a nk you very much, Mr . Mayor. I don 't know which one of the se is working . You ha ve got such a galaxy of electronic instruments here •
.. Foreign L~ n g . P.C. - 2 ...
I must s~y tha t it is a wo nderful privilege to nut only be with my go od frionds of the Democ r atic Pa rty, th oso estoomod and dis t inguished citizens, but with this vory notable r epresentation of the foroign l a nguage press cf tho Fourth Est2te , ond I shan 't t ~ ke any more of your time with a ny pcrticular state ment on my pa rt. I merely W3nt to soy how ploasod I am f or the opportunity of boingD with you, ~ nd I hope tha t during this brief discussion tha t we mc y ha vo it tha t I c2n be of some holp in either cl3rifying a position or of answer ing your questions ~pp ropriatoly and p roperly.
I om vory pl eased to bo he ro with · Mr . Kon nody , Robert Kennedy , who is our friend and our ca ndidate for the United States S0 nate , a nd a vory distinguished public servant , one that we owe a great debt of gra t i tudo to. ( ~~ pplouso )
An d I can s ay with equal since rity a nd dopth of feeling wha t a r are privilege it is to bo with this g 0 C d rn 2\ Y 0 r 0 f the Ci t Y 0 f rJ 8 IIJ Y0 I · k ' C 1 0 n g t i m0 f r i end o (r;pp l :J USO )
Now , l ot ' s get on . I am sure thnt Eddie ~ nd ~ verell know tha t I love th om dearly, and I don't need t o take ~ ny more of their timo . Th e y ore such fine a nd great . Clt-lZens• J... .
Yes , sir?
Question. S0 nc tor, Senator Goldwa t er has modo some r a the r controversia l sta tements a bout tho role of minorities in this country , once in ~onnsy lv ania and once a gai n in a di ff erent sense in Ca liforni 3 . Wou ld you care t o comme nt, pleGso?
Sena tor Humphrey . Yes . I r end wh a t the Senator h ~d t o s a y -- Son 2tor Gcldwn t e r -- a nd I must s oy tha t I made a response to this both in Cleveland a nd in Phi l adolphi 3 ond Newa rk. Sena tor Goldwa ter has mad e th e 11 11 LIJ or d mi n or i t y et p p ea r 2. s i f i t we r o a mo Dn or u g 1 y word a nd which it is not. It is but a wo rd th2t is used to indica t e thnt thore a rc ma ny diffor 3nt groups of people in America , people of mc ny origins , backgroun J s , n ~ tionalities , ethnic groups , but they a re al l Americans .
Just as I reviewed todDy in part tho Columbus Day pa r ade , I saw pooplo there of Itali a n extraction , but they a re ~ moric a n s of Ita li2 n extr a ction, It2l i ~ n- ~ ~erica n s , ~nd tho minorities to which Mr . Goldwa t e r r eforrod in a r a thor deme a ning a nd derogat ory manner , th oso minorities make up the groat majority of Amor ic2ns.
They 2r c like sepo r a t o instruments in a great symphony of ~ moric a n life .
I l iko to compa re our population in this na tion of ours t~ a greet symphony orchestr a . Y ou need ma ny , many instruments, ma ny musical instruments, to bring out tho beauty of the music. It wou l dn 't be much Foreign Lang. P.C. - 3 - of a n orchestra if th e y were all fr e nch horns or if they were a ll just violins or all tuba s .
But you nood th e bsla nco a nd th o diversity a nd the va riety and out of t ha t begets a ha rm ony, a nd I want to make it very cloor tha t the Adm inistroti on th a t I speak for a nd the Party tha t I am privileged at this moment to speak for bolievos in a n Amer ica in which thoro is room for differences , in which th2re is a unity, but a lso a diversity .
We don't ask everybody to look alike, be a liko, or think a liko, or come from tho s amo place , a nd very fr a nkly, if Mr. Goldwa ter's vi ows had prov2ilod a s the l aw of tho l a nd when hi s grandfather sought entrance to this country, Mr . Gol dwa t e r coul ~ n't be a ca ndida te for President right now. ( ~ pplauso )
Question . Se na tor Goldwa ter told m ~ ny times that if a nd when he will bo oloctod, ho wi ll send to Khruschov an ultima tum for the CQptive na tions, ospecia lly for the Hung a ria n people.
I ask you, sir , can you son d a me ssage to the Hungaria n peoplo on responsibility on ths anniversary of the uprising of the Hung a ria n poople a gains t tho communist tyra nny, boco uso the Hung a ria n people suffered from both tyrranies , from Stalin ~ nd from Hitler.
Sen2tor Humphr ey . First, my fri ond , ultimatums in this da y a nd a ge of the nucloRr bomb a nd nuclear power , ultimn tums a re n ot designed to a i d the c a use of justice or peace . It could precipitate a war , and it could be of groat dam~ g e to tho va ry ~eop l o that wo would l ovo to hol p a nd protect ~ nd ultima tely gain help them in their fight f or fr eedom.
Diplomacy by ultima tum is r e ckless, irresponsible --
Question . Th a t is right.
Senator Hum ph rey. -- 2nd will not holp a nybody.
Nmv , L'Jh?.t shoul d l!JO dCJ? ': 1'Jll , the oth e r day I noticed tha t tho Holy Fa ther, the Pope , wont t o -- had n ogo tictions with th o gov e rnm e nt in Hungary , the regime, not beca use tho Ca tholic Church condones c ommunism. To the contrary, it is one of the -- it is possibly the most effective enemy of the communist force in tho world.
But th e Pope nego tia ted with the purpose in mind of being oble to he l p in the spiritua l lifo of th e peop l e of Hungary, to mainta in the Church for spiritual guida nce to the po~o lo af Hungary .
Now , I mention thi s boca uso som e people say that when you t a lk to those communists, or thoso regimes, that somehow or other you show yourself to bo soft on communism.
Not at al l. 1"Jh a t the Holy Father sought to do u:as
\ For e i gn LQng . P. C. - 4 - t o hel p with the s piritua l life of t ho p3opla , not to c~ n do n o commun ism, not t o ha ve r ~ l ati ons h i p s on a fri endl y basis wi th the com muni s t r e gime , but to he lp the peopl e in the ir s piritua l life .
Now , wh2 t i s our policy as a governme nt? Our po licy i s to buil d bri dgos of co nt2ct with th e poople of the s e c ountries . Our po licy i s to a i d in e ve ry wa y tha t we c on t hr Qugh di pl oma cy, thr ough pr essure s , through conta cts , through ind iv idua l s , t h r o ugh a ny f orce th a t wo ha vo o ut s ide of outri ght milita ry f orce , t o bring gr eat e r inde pe nd ence 8nd ulti ma t e fre e dom to th e peopl es of t hese c a ptiv e na tions .
I kn ow tha t it i s n ' t t ho oasy a nswer , but, my friends , I do n ' t think th or o a r e a ny oasy a nswe r s , an d I beli ove tha t wha t w o a r e s eeking t o dQ is the right t hing .
Question . Th a nk you ve ry much . ( Appla use )
Question . I h a ve t w~ quest i on s . Fir s t, is the eco nom ic a nd ed ucationa l assistanc e t ~ t ho s ~ t o lli to c ountries hel pful t o th o com muni s t governme nt or to th e people , a n d s hould such bridg i ng , tho building of bridge s , bo c on s i de r ed a n obje ctiv e i n itself or jus t a me a ns to obta in cha nges in tho s ys t em of g ove rn me nt a nd in t he dcgr 8e of depe ndanc e o n tho So vi e t Union? Tha t is th o first qua sti on .
Sena t or Hum phrey . Yes , s ir.
~ s you kn ow , I con now speak f or my ow n publi c r ecor d . I hove vo t ed fo r end s uppcrted c ultural excha nge s, SQmo e c~ n omi c ass i s t a nc e , pcr t icula rly in th e instanc 3 of f ood i n o c ount ry s uc h as Po l a nd , a nd we did so in Yugos l cv i r a nd in oth e r a r oas of the wo rl d . I f ee l th 2t t his assi s t nnce i s basically he lpful t o th e pepple , a nd l ot mo s ay t ha t the peopl e o f thos e c ountries , t he peopl es of t hoso countries , do l ove t he Unit e d St a tes of Ame rica . Th oro isn 't any a nimosit y , a ny ha tred on the p8 rt of th ~ ~e o~ l o wi th our co untry , a nd it i s right a nd p r ope r tha t wo kaep in touch ~ith these po opl a . Th e go ntlem a n he r o t hn t i s with me , ~ r . Ke nn edy , who n ho was in Pol a nd , he w~s l ov ed by th J peop l e . The y r ose up as like a mighty ~ r my t o we lcome hi m. And why ? B e ca use ho r epr esontodtho U nit e d St a t es ; boca uso ho r epr esent ed , ma y I say mos t respe ctfully , a wo nde rful country and a won de rful Pr esi dent i n hi s be lov ed br oth er, a nd he r epr e s e nt ed himse lf .
Now , thc t e xamp l e , it soems to mG , tells us tha t we mu s t keep in t ouch wi th t hese poopl e . Now , we do n't build bri dges j us t t o b uild bridgas . J~ bu ild bri dge s so tha t l!JO ha ve a Lva y t o tra ve l, so t hn t ~JG con he l p pe opl o help them solve s t o gr eat or fr eedom , t o l oss de pe ndenc e up on t he So vie t Uni on , t ~ mo r e indepo ndo nco f or th ems e lves , t o mo r e fr eedom f or t he msolvos . ~ n d I t hink th e p olicy t ha t we a r o p ur s uing i s s e nsibl e . ( Appla use) Fsr e ign La ng . P.c, - 5 ..;
Quos ti on . ~e c o n d , the ~es t Gor mo ns cla mor for a r ev isi on of t he Po li s h- Germ2n border on the Ddo r - Neisse Lin e en dang e rs the peace of Europa . Do yo u fe e l, Se na t or, tha t the United St a t os Go ve rnment shsuld recognize offici a lly tho Od e r - Ne isse fr onti8r? n S0 na t or Humphrey . Th a t i s n v e ry difficult questio f or mo t o a nswe r in my position , a nd th o rea son I sa y tha t i s be ca use th2t l i no is a p3 rt of ma ny other a reas of disagreement a nd, we ~a uld hope, ultima t a solution i n Centr a l Euro pa . The Odor - Neisse Li ne is re l a t ed to othe r f a ctor s in a l l of Centra l Europe that is und e r negoti a tion a nd under study . I have a f oo ling tha t our gove rnme nt ha s a vor y ope n mind on th is ma tte r , a nd I know , for example , tha t ~en o r a l De Ga ull e in ana of his sta t eme nts some years ag~ ope nly r e cognized the Ddo r - Neisso Lin e a s th o lino cf domorca tion, ond we ha ve cls s~ r olationshi ps with th o Fr e nch Ro~ublic , but I don ' t f oo l tha t as a n indivi duul in tho pos ition tha t I a m now th3 t I ought to speak ~o fini t iv o ly , 2 uthor ita t i voly , sn th J t s ubj oct Gxc op t to say tha t i t i s part of tho genera l consi dera ti on of a settleme nt tha t we hope som e time to bo a ble to obta in in Ce ntra l Eur cpo .
Que stion . ~ re you a ga inst revisionism?
Se na t or Humphrey . Sir?
Ques tion . ~h ich me 3ns wa r; agai n , revisionism LVhi c h ma a n s LV a r ?
So n=tar Hum phrey . ~ e ll , I h ~vo no t been too sympa t hetic with tho revisi onists , ma y I s2y .
Ouest i on . Th a nk ,,au. ( App l ous e )
Questi on . Qu r readers a r e vory a nxio us to find out y our opinion , first o f a ll , abo ut the ~ morican po licy on Cy prus 2nd a ft e r that a bout the now immigration bill.
Se na t or Hum ph r 8y . Lot m2 s 2 y first in r e f e rence to tho ~ moric 2 n po licy on Cyprus -- ~h J t wo ha vo sought to d'J i s t 'J ma intoin thr ough n ego tia tion the poQco in the a r eo bocGUS B tho bl oodshed tha t has t a ken pl a ce hBs been ve ry dange r ous , both to t ho pooplo on Cyprus a nd a lso t o th o a llia nce , tho NA TO a llis nc o , a nd our oolicy is one , of courso , of a n indupo nd ont Cynrus -- t o support a n independent Cyprus -- a nd t o soe if wo ca n ' t wo rk out thro ugh ne goti a tion a nd dip l oma cy 3 roasona bl o s e ttl eme nt in Cyprus so thQt b~th tho pooplo of Turkish extra ction a nd of Cr ook ex tra cti on ca n live in poaco .
New , how tha t i s going t o bo d~ no , s ir , is not som e thing th2 t I can c:; n st.w r quick l y . :'! 3 ha ve ha d men l iko Mr . Ha rrim2 n wo rking on i t , Mr . Ba ll working on it , Mr . ~ ch o se n wo rk i ng on it , P r osi~o nt J ohnsan working on it , but I c on a s s ur e you tha t our dos iro is to ma inta in tho ooaco of tho ~ r oo s nd in no wa y t o sacrifice the poo ple of tho a roa , ond wa f ully r ocogniz o that t he Greek For e ign La ng . P. c . .. 6 - poopl o a ro tho ma j ority peopl e in th o i s l a nd .
Quest ion . Y~u d- , ~ b : v o n ll~ r c tjgnizo t ho right ~ f so lf~dot e rmin a tion .
So na tor Humphr oy . Th a t is right . Of s e lf- doter min a tion .
Questi on . Th ~ gr oa t ma j o rity of tho Gr eek- American persons must pross in thi s d iroction , if not --
Se na t or Hum phr ey . Th is govornmont ha s 2 lw2y s suoported solf- dot e rmina tion since tho time of Woodrow ~ il sc n which is the basic po licy of this G ~ v o rn mc nt4
Nnw , ma y I a nswe r your immigr a ti on question beca use wo a re gott ing right down now to legisla tiv e policy .
The gentl eman th a t is hor e wi th mo , Mr . Ke nn edy , a s the i\ttorney Genor c:: l :Jf th o Unit od St a t es , speaking for t t1JO prosidonts , ;.Jrosi do nt Konnody a n cJ Lyn do n 8 . Johnson, sent to the Congress cf the United St a t os fr om the Ex~cut iv e Br ~ nch of th o Gov ornm ont ~ r e vised i mm igra tion bill , a now immigration l aw , 2 n ~ tha t immigra tion bil l was ono , by th o way , that had t ho support of th o l a te J ohn Ke nnedy when hG was United St a t es sona t or .
If I ma y just f or a mom ent t ako your time , I was a c o- sponsor with John Ko nnody whon ho wa s i n the United St a tes So na t a of a n immigra tion bill very simi l a r to the ana th3 t hi s brothor , Robort Kennedy , as th o A ttorn e y Gona r a l sent over t o tho Congress on be h2 lf of President Kennedy a nd President J~hns o n .
So we f oo l tha t r evision c f th o I mmig r a ti on Ac t is a bsolute ly essent i a l . Thi s Ad mini s tra ti on a nd the D0 mocra tic P~r ty is committod t o tho bill tha t was sent t o tho Cong ess by John Ke nn edy a s Pr eside nt of the Un ited 5 t a t e s through t ll e ;\t torn :J y Go n r.H o 1. Tho Pr o side n t of the Unitod St a t es , Lyndon John son , i s csmmittad to tha t bill . ~'lo think it is f a ir , a nd moy I say uJo don ' t think tha t it ope ns up floodgat es a t a ll . ~ h a t wo do think is tha t it mokos tho g3tes th2 t 2 r o opon f a ir ga t os . Wo abolish tho e thnic vnd r a cia l discrimina tic n f eatures . ~ 8 increase tho amo unt s , tho numbor of immi g r ~ nts s lightl y . W0 po r mit f a mily r ouni on . ~ n d my goo dness , why not? We permit poopl o o f ski lls a nd compot e nc e tha t or e needed in th G Ame ri can e conomy a nd th e soci o l s tructur e t o be given some pri orities , a nd wo a bolish th e old 1920- 1952 sys t e m which discrimina tes a ga ins t Eas t e rn and Southern Europeans . (Applause )
Ques t i on . May I --
S3 no t or Humphr ey . Y e~ ? Good to s eo you aga i n.
Question . Th a nk you , sir .
32na t or Humph r oy . U8 a lm ost had a n inte rvi ew out he re on tho a ve nu e t oday .
I Lvo r k f or ;J r ::: ns: . You know tha t. For eign L2ng & P. C. - 7 -
I don ' t h ave t o t e ll yo u . And rue Pue rto Rica ns don ' t h ave t o wo rry a bo ut the immigra tion l a w.
Se na t or Hump hr ey . No .
Ques tion . But we a r e su pporting , wa ll, may be Mr . G o l d ~a t o r wonts t o ge t r id of us , t oo . Th a t wo ul d be ve r y diffi c ul t . (L a ugh ter ) But we a re vory muc h into r es t ed in helping o ur S~ o ni s h fri e nds, I mean t ho Sp a n i a r ds f r om S p ~ in . ~ e spoke t o , s ha ll I say , Sena t or Ke nn od y the o the r da y , a n d he wa s va r y m uc h i nter es t e d , ond I k now yo u or e , too , be ca use you a r e working o n t ho s a me thing . Thoy ge t only a quot a of 250 a yo a r , a nd if this l aw i s r evi sed , will t ha t me a n t ha t tha t quota w ill be increas ed?
Se nat or Hu mph r ey. The r a wi ll be - - i ndeed i t wo ul d . 'fhe r e w ill bo n o quota a s s uch bas od uoon the 1 92 0 c en s us popul ati on . In f a c t, we pool - - one o f the -- I be liev G I um c orr ect in t ha t, am I n ot, Ro be rt, t ha t we pool t ho unused quot a s ?
mr . Ken nedy . T h ~ t i s correct .
Se nQt or Humph r ey . So tha t w he r o t here wor e a r ea s not used , other n a ti ons will bo a ble t o us e t ho s e q uot a s so the r E will be a subs t onti nl inc r ea s e in t ho numbe r of peopl e o f Spa ni sh ex tra ction t ha t will c om e .
Mr . Konn ed y . All of t ho c ountrie s wi ll be treat ed squa l l It will be over a f i v e yea r pe riod o f time . All countries will be tr e a t od eq ua lly .
Que s tion . Bu t I ol Lv a ys hear ';Jestern Eur 'Jp e . I moa n jus don ' t s peak abou t Eos t or n Eu r ope or Sout he rn Europe . I wo uld liko once i n a while t o hear West e rn Euro pa be ca us e tha t is whe r e Spa in is .
Son a t or Hump hr oy . We ll --
Mr . Kenn edy . Fr om n ow o n .
Se na t or Hum phr ey . I th i nk wo j us t t Rlk a bout Easte r n Europe but the bill treats a ll pa rts of Eur ope .
0 u e s t i on • .". 11 the p e :J p 1 e h or e , t hey a 11 h u v o r o pr os on t c. ·~ · Tile poor Sp a niards don 1 t ha vo a nybody . So I am he r e -·-
Se na t ar Humph r e y. My doa r, with you, with you such r o;n c s ont a ti ':' n
Que s ti on . Ol o , ol o .
Se na t or Hum phr e y. Ma rv e l ous .
Qu e s tion . And I wa nt t o a s k s ome thing a bout tha t, the Commission os t ablis hod in Pue rto Rico - - y ou asked tho qu Gsti on tho othor day a n d so did - - Sena t or Hum phre y . Yes .
Ques ti .J n. - ~ ffl. r .. K'-J nnq :J y a t: Jut th o l o t t i ng ·:· f .poopl o of Puert o Ric o d e ~i do but I wo u:d like t o kn ow afte r th e refe rendum , a ft e r the Foreign Lang. P.C. - 8 -
Comm ission presents its report, what is going to be dane by the Congress? Do you ha ve a ny idea7 lhe Com missi on ""'""
Senator Hum phrey. I will have to wa it until I see wh a t the report is of the Commis s i on, what recommendati ons they make t o the Congress, my dear.
Question . Th a nk you very much; tha nk you, Mr. Kennedy.
Question . Mr. Sena t or
Senator Humphrey. MRy I just say, we a re very, very pleased tha t the Puort o Rica ns ha ve such a n effective rerresentative and we like the Pu e rto Ricans.
Question. Th ank you very much. Ue like you, too.
Se nator Hum phrey. Th a nk you, my dea r.
Question. Mr. Se na t or, my na me is Oslin , and I am fr om the La tvia n Nationality Gr oup.
Senator Humphrey. Yes.
Question. I would like t o ask you 2 few questions a nd tha t is r em ind our memo ries , refresh our memories about during tho period of the Second Wo rld Wa r. Whe n the Russians a nd the Nazi Ge rm a ns s igne d a n agreeme nt and the secret pact a bout inclusion of the Ba ltic states in th e Soviet Russia n territory, abo ut the pa rtition of Pola nd, t o t a ke part away fr om Rum a nia , this Bessa r a bia, tha t time the President Roosevelt gave 2 sta t e ment through h i s S o cr e tar y ::J f S t a t e 1 iYl r • S to t t i n i us . t h a t h e doesn 't recognize the inclusion of the B3 ltic states in the Soviet Union a nd a s f a r as I understand , still this recognition exists. But nevertheless , during the war, I think in 1945 or s ::J , there was seve r a l statesmen a nd senators who e xpressed a nd a gr eed with Stalin a t tha t time th a ~ th e Sovie t Union c. ft or tho wa r needs a friendly government a r oun d th o Soviet Uni on. Th a t means Poland, al l East e rn Eur ope , Baltic s t ut es ; and a t tha t time th e re we r e several senators and statesmen who said, 11 Ye s , LV e a g roe • S t a l in i s r i g h t • Th e So vi e t Union ha s a right to incorpor a t e the Ba ltic s t a t es in the Soviet Uni on." Pa rtiti on of Poland and so on.
Pl ea s o , how c oul d y ou ex pla in now, does tha t kind of a c ::Jde s till exist or do you repudia t e tha t or what is the present situation?
Se na tor Humphrey. We ll, thoso we r e the views of in dividua ls. Those wore not tho viows of tho Government of tho United Sta tes.
Question . Th a t is right.
Se na t or Humphrey . And tho Gov ornm ont of the United States doos not boliove in sacrificing any people or any c ountry f or the a ccomodati on of any othe r poo ple or country. And believe mo, we do not boliove in the sacri fice of tho independence of any nation state in order to Fore i gn L a ng. P. c. - 9 -
make it mor e conv enient f or somebod y e lse as they- according to their idea of convenience.
So to make it simple, we be lieve in nn independent Poland. Wo still recogniz e tho repr esenta tives of the Baltic s t a t es . And one of th e greatest things tha t has happened to America is the l a rgo number of people from La tvia a nd Estonia a nd Lithuania that hav e come to the United States.
Ques tion. So , Mr. So na t or, so you don't agree for tha t incorporation, do you?
Senat or Hum~hr o y. Na .
Question. You exist for independent sta tes.
Se na tor Humphrey. I do.
Question. Th a t is your present solution, reason.
Senator Humphroy. Yes, sir
Ques ti on. Th a nk you, very much. That is ve ry i moo rtant.
Question. Mr. Sena t or, wha t is the posi ti on of the government t oday towards Israel and especi a lly to the threa ts of Nasser t o a nnihil a t e Israel?
Senator Humphrey. We ll, we have lived with those threa ts f or a long time, my fri e nd, a nd may I say that the position of the government of the United States t owa r ds Isr ael is f or the protection of the territoria l integ rity unde r the Tripa rtite Agreements of 1950 backed up, ma y I say, by a s tr ong commitment of the Ame rican people who ha ve a great fri endship for the State of Israel a nd f or the people of Israe l.
Wo seek a bove a ll, sir, t o keep the peace in the Midd l e East. We think tha t peace in tho Middl e Ea st is tho only wa y that a ny of the peopl e in th e Middle Eas t a r e going t o bo abl e to . pr osper a nd to thrive , and we think th o examp l e tha t the Israelis ha ve given of de vel op ing a via ble, e ff e ctive , pr od uctive e conom y i s o ne tha t stan ds ve ry well in th o wo rld today f or many other na ti ons, a nd many other sma ll nations in pa rticula r. And you ca n r es t a ssured tha t this gnv e rn ment is still committed unequivoca lly t o the commitments tha t we r e made in 1950, tha t a s f a r as the territoria l inte grity of the nation s t a tes in th e Mi : ]le East is con c e rned , we a re prepared to de f e nd it. ( App lause)
I think we will t a ke one more ha r e ,
Question. On e mora before you leave , Sena tor.
Senator Humphrey. Yes.
Question. I am sorry. My question then is you Foreign Lang. P.C . - 10 - know we have got a hot senatorial raco hero in Now York.
Senator Humphrey. Yes, sir. I have hoard about that.
Question . And tho Velacchi hea rings have become quito a thing involved in tho r a co, inv~lving tho alleged Italia n voters supposed to be running against the Democratic candidate. What are your views on tho Velacchi hoarings?
Senator Humphrey. Well , l ot mo s a y I ha vo hoard something a bout this, and it is really kind of surprising to me because first of all , the Velacchi hearings wero conducted by a committee of the United States Sena te, not by tho Justice Department, and tho committee that conducted them is tho Perm ~ nont Investigating Committee of the United States Senato .
Now , I don't servo on thc t particular subcommittee . I know this, that whon a subcommittee of tho S0 nate tha t is established by l a w requires of a dopartmont of government informa tion or a witness tha t is in the custody of the Governme nt of th o United States, that that committee or tha t department o f government has an obligation to comply with tho re~uest of the committee. And I do beliovo if my memory serves me correctly that such a request wa s made of the Attorney Gener a l. Ho didn't initia te it. The roquost was answored and if ho hadn't ha ve, ho would have had more trouble than ho is ha ving right notu, I ca n tell you, because the Sena te troa ts some of tho cabinet officers with tho kind of troa tm ont that senators like to deal out t o cabinet officors occasionally, a nd Mr. Kennedy was required by tho rules of th o S0 nate and the laws of the United States to produce a witnoss .
Now , it is jUSt utterly r i diculous , may I say in all candor, and I am not boing asked to defend anybody, but I road about this a nd I am not so oponly involved in all of tho local oloctions up hero, but I am for Bob Kennedy. I wa nt tha t crysta l clear. And Pr esident Johnson is for him, too. (Applause)
I think it is rea lly pla ying very loose 'with pr;liti ccl truth and politica l honesty to try to fix tho blame for a nything tha t mr.y ha ve ha ppened in the Vela cchi hearings upon tho former Attorney General of tho United Statos. Th a t just isn't right. Now , had he conducted that within the Dop a rtmont of Justice, on his own volition, thon they can t a ke him apart as they see fit. But thore wore several Senators on that subcommittee, and I think I recall a sta tement in the Senate ct one time on the pa rt of several of them rela ting t o th a t hearing and one of them from my good friend hero -- I believe Sena t or Javits of Now York made some statements in reference to it. He s a id tha t ho thought the h e~ rings had been conducted well. I cantt remember tho exact words. But he was a member of tho committee. Foreign Lang. P.C. - 11 --
Now, if thoro was such complaint a bout those ho ~r ings, why wa sn't tho complaint made in tho S8 nate? We ha ve two senators from each state. I want to just s ay ono oth er thing. Italia n pooplo never had a better friend in their lives than John Fitzgorald Kennedy and his brother. ( Applause )
. Unless I can just crowrl in a little bit my- self. I think I 2m a pretty good fri : n ~ , ~n j I kn~w that Pr esident Johnson i ..:: ,and. his num ber 1 nidei in tho L•J hitc House is none other tha n Jack Va l e nti to stand along sido of him every hour of the day, a nd I hope what I said hero will be not misunderstood. I want to ma ke it clear.
Tho Senate conducted tha t h earing. If there are any compla ints about it, it should have been made in \ tho Senate. '·
The Attorney Gonoral didn't conduct tha t hearing, and had he not have responded t o tho request of tho Sonata, he would have had mor e trouble than he is getting in th e New York campa ign, and I hope tha t s ome how or another he can be treated fairly on this question.
Question. Se na tor, can you tell mo how many electoral votes you predict in New Y0 rk7
Senator Humphrey. I hope we will get them all.
Question. Ca n you predict how m~ny?
Senator Humphr e y. We ll I -- we want them a ll.
Now, may I just conclude. If you will bea r with me 1 I ha ve a very heavy schedule ahead of me tonight. I have t o get up into Connecticut c;;xJ" two meetings yet in NeLv Work, I we1nt to concludo_...nly remarks here by first thanking you for giving me this forum to visit with you. Ther e a r c ma ny subjects tha t we could have still covered. The foroig~ l a ngua ge press does a great service for tho people of Ame rica , a great service and it does a groat service, ma y I s ay, for people in other lands tha t want to know how wo are thinking in America. And it does a great service to preserve some cultural and na tional i dentity. And we aro deoply indebted to you. And I hope that you will keep that fight up on the immigration bill.
You help us and I gua r antee yc u that President Johnson and Hubert Humphrey as Vic e-President and Robert Kennedy as U.S. Senator -- we will get something dono about it. (Appla use) ##### .. ······ news re ease FROM THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE PUBLICITY DIVISION 1730 K STREET, N. W. WASHINGTON 6, D.C. FEDERAL 3-8750
FOR A.M.'S RELEASE B-3860 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13 TEXT PREPARED FOR DELIVERY BY SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL C.ANDIDATE WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC RALLY MONDAY EVENING OCTOBER 12, 1964 In Presidential campaigns it is traditional to look ahead to the next four years. But in 1964 this would be shortsighted indeed. The problems which beset us in 1964 -- and our responses to them -- will shape America not just for the next four years, but far into the future. This is not a time for failure of nerve. This is no time to begin demolishing our remarkable accomplishments of the past 30 years -- accomplishments which represent the consensus of both Democratic and Republican parties. Yet what does Senator Goldwater propose? What are his plans for America? Listen to his own words: "The government must begin to withdraw from a whole series of programs ••• from Social Welfare progr ams, education, public power, agriculture, public housing, urban rcnewaln ••• I suggest that we establish by low, a rigid timetable for a staged withdrawl." Or: "My nim is not to pass laws, bu!: to repeal th0m."
Is this the time to begin tearing apart the better socie~y we have struggled so long to build? An.d is this the time to ignore the challenge of building the Great Society?
America will ~not fetreat -- we will not turn back - - r.ve w4_ll
not ~ xperience n failure of nerve. more . HUMPHRE\"'/trf nerve. Pnge 2 We surely cannot now ignore the challenge of mnking life more menningful 8nd pleasant in our metropolitan areas. The traditional distinction between urban and rural life has disnppeared. And the distinction between suburb and city is fnst being eroded. The growth of our population -- the change in the economy of our cities -- the growth of managerial and service occupations hns created a new phenomenon called the urban complex -- the super city. Every day you encounter and experience the problems of living in a super city -- problems of transportation; education, recreation, and even in Westchester, pockets of povertya We cannot ailow the massive problems of the metropolis to
~~ unattended. These are not jast Westchester problems or New York City problems. They are problems which affect every metropolitan area in the country. And, as a national concern, these problems require the aooperative effotts of Federal, state and
local governments~working with private groups and individuals to develop effective solutions. This cooperative assault on the problems of the exploding metropolis has been launched by the Congress mnder the Kennedy Johnson Administration. It is a record we can be proud of: enactment of programs for mass transportation and open spaces in urban and suburban areas; expanded low rent public housing; increaBed Federal assistance for local planning; expanded housing for t he elderly; a humanized urban renewal progrnm; moderate income r ental housing; increased housing starts;and a comprehensive anti-povert y program stressing local community action. Yes, we have begun. But now we are confronted by a spirit of negation and reactionary nostalgia fran the Goldwater faction. Their leader has opposed resolutely almost every positive proposal to improve the quality of life in our urban and suburban areas a He voted against the mass transportation act.
He voted ~hs1::.: the program to acquire open spaces in urbnn and suburban areas. - more - HUMPRREY/suburbnn areas. , Page 3 He voted against the housing act of 1961. He voted against legislation to help provide housing for the elderly in urban areas. He voted against funds for urban renewal. He voted against the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. By this record, the leader of the Goldwater faction has demonstrated his total lack of concern for the problems of our metropolitan areas. He has given specific documentation for his statement of September 30, 1961: "Sometimes I think this country would be better off if we could just saw off the Eastern Seaboard and let it float out to sen." Second, the urban complex faces the problem of public education. Our children nre the future of this country. They need nnd deserve the best education we can provide. Ittia,our responsibility. A first-rate public system of education is the bedrock of democracy. Here is the record of the Kennedy-Johnson Administration: we have provided more college classrooms, we have improved progrnm ~:: ; for vocationnl education, we have increased loans to needy college students, we have supported a substantial increase in public library facilities. Senator Goldwater, however, has seldom missed an opportunity to express his lack of concern for American education. He voted against the National Defense Education Act and sub- sequent amendments. He voted agianst the School Construction Act of 1960. He voted against the School Assistance Act of 1961. He voted against the work-study and vocational educatioG programs of 1963.
He voted ~gainst aid for colleges and universities in 1963.
He voted agninst the medical e~ucation act of 1963. But these votes are expected from a man who could tell the citizens of Jacksonville, Florida: "The government has no right to educate children •• o.The child has no right to an education. In most cases, the children will get al0ng very well without it'"" - more - HUMPHREY/ without ito'' Pnge 4
None of his votes on educntion, it should be addedt reflect official Republican policy. Senntor Goldwater's attitude, in fact, repudiates a Republican tradition which goes back to the Lnnd Grant Act of 1862. Had he been in the Senate then, Goldwater would probably haue denounced Abrahnm Lincoln as a "socialisto" Senator Goldwater has not limited his progrnm for dismnntling the social accomplishments of the past to the areas of metropolitnn lj life or educntion. By no means. He has consistently opposed responsible governmental programs in a vnriety of arens -- even those proposed by his own Republicnn Pnrty.
- more - HUMPHREY/ Republican party. P.age 5
I have analyzed the votes of Senator Goldwater on 25 specific positions set
forth in the 1960 Republican Platform as compared with the votes of Senators Dirksen,
Kuchel, Saltonstall, and Hickenlooper.
An honest appraisal of what Republicanism means is found in this 1960 platform.
It was a conservative platform--but it was a responsible platform too. It reflected
the fact that a Republican Administration had been in office eight years, and had dealt with the complex problems of a great nation in a turbulent world.
The record shows that Senator Kuchel supported his party's declared position on
every one of these 25 major issues. And Senator Saltonstall supported the platform
on 20 occasions.
But what about Senator Dirksen and Senator Hickenlooper?
They come from the Midwest; they are deeply committee to the tradi~ion of the
Republican Party; and they are universally and rightly known as solid c~nservativ.es.
Senator Dirkson voted for the Partyls platform 18 times, and went against it
only four times.
Senator Hickenlooper voted lT times fM"" his part:y 1 s plat.fo~ and went against
it only D times.
In short, Senator Dirksen, Senator Hickenlooper1 Senator Saltonstall, and
Senator Kuchel--all supported the 1900 Republican Platfm:m an overwhelming::;
majority of the time.
But not Senator Goldwater. He opposed the 2ar;y platform all 25 times when
these major issues came before the Senate for a vote~ Always the same refrain: ''No,
no, ••• a thousand times no!"
So I ceme to the conclusion that ~ator Goldwater is neither Republican· nor
conservative. He is a radical and he is a Goldwaterite. And radical Goldwaterism
simply does not equate with conservative Republicanism.
Fortunately, the American people have a ch~i.ce on- November 3rd. · But what we
vote for is far more important than what we vote a~a~.
Yes, we shall reject all that is retrograde. and reactionary in American life.
But we shall also reaffirm what is constructive and forward-looking.
{more)- HUN!'HREY/ constructive and fon1ard looking., "' page 6
Recognizing that America has great problems, we shall affirm that it has great opportunities.
R~ambering that it has a glorious past, we shall affirm that it has an even more glorious future.
President Johnson has asked us to join with him in building the Great Society.
He faces these challenges with courage, determination, responsibility and confidence.
He believes in America. He believes in her people. And he believes this nati on \vants t o continue moving forward.
I believe the American people share this vision of a better tomorrmv--this izision of the Great Society. I beli-eve the American people will say ''Yes" to Lyndon B.
Johnson on election day. westchester
In Presidential look ahead to the next four years. But in 1964 this would be shorts-ighted indeed. ----- ~he problems which beset us in '""' tf~Ji4t~1.k flw~ - au ~r~~~~~~~~~--will shape America not just for the next four years, but far into the future.
is no time to begin demolishing our remarkable accomplishments of the past 30 years--accomplishment which represent the consensus of both Democratic and
Republican parties •
) '_
Yet what does Senator Goldwater propose? What -- ---~
are his plans for America? List~n to his own words:
L:.The government must begin to withdraw from a
whole series of progr~s ••• from social welfare ------· - 2 -
"programs, education, public power, agriculture
public housing, urban renewal ••• ! suggest that
we establish by law, a rigid timetable for a
staged withdrawal. "
"My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them~ -----
will not retreat--we will not turn . ' ~
surely cannot now afford to ignore the challenge
in our metropolitan areas.
~The traditional distinction between urban and rural life has disappeared. And the distinction between "'-"'------3 -
suburb and city is fast being eroded.
The growth of our population--the change in the
economy of our cities--
has created a new phenomenon called
the urban complex--the super city. - t:_· ~
the problems ) Every day you encounter and experience I of living in a super city--problems of transportation,
__ ... ~
education, recreation, and, even in westchester, pockets
of poverty__---?'
cannot allow the massive problems of the metropolis ~
to remain unattended. These are not just westchester
problems or New York city problems. They are problems
which affect every metropolitan area in the country.
And, as a national concern, these problems require the
cooperative efforts of Federal, state and local governments - 4 -
working with private groups and individuals to
develop effective solutions.
~This cooperative assault on the problems of the
exploding metropolis has been launched by the Congress
under the Kennedy-Johnson Admin is tra tion. It is a -
record we can be proud of:~enactm~nt of programs for
mass transportation and open spaces in urban and suburban
a;eas:;:xpanded low rent public housing:~nc~e~~Federal --- ~~ assistance for local planning;~xpanded _ housing for the
~~derly~ humanized urban renewal progr~~~oder~te
income rental housing~ncreased housing starts: and
~ comprehensive ~~ressing local _,------community action.
Yes, we have begun. But now we are confronted by
a spirit of negation and reactionary nostalgia from the - 5 -
Goldwater faction. Their leader has opposed resolutely
almost every positive proposal to improve the quality of
life in our urban and suburban areas.
~He voted against the mass transportation act.
~e voted against the program to acquire open spaces in urban and suburban areas.
voted against the housing act of 1961.
voted against legislation to help provide housing
for the elderly in urban areas.
~He voted against funds for urban renewal.
~e voted against the Economic Opp -ortunity Act of 1964.
of c:ft>C\lni€iTDrtien (!IX~ statement of _Seplwml:lex 30 I i99la
country would be better off if we could just saw off the Eastern Seaboard and let it float out to
public education.
(,o:;_ child~_e_n_a_r_e_th_e_~_t_u_r_e-~th_i_s_c_ou_n__::y;
They need and deserve the best education we can provide.
It is our responsibility. A first-rate public system of education is the bedrock of democracy.
Here is the record of the Kennedy-Johnson administra ' . ;::zs Z7Tf3 tion: we have provided more college classrooms, we have improved programs for vocational education, we have increased loans to needy college students, we have supported ---- a substantial increase in public library facilities. - 7 -
Senator Goldwater, however, has seldom missed an
opportunity to express his lack of concern for ~------y American education.
He .. voted against the National Defense Education
Act and subsequent amendments.
He voted against the School Construction Act of 1960.
He voted against the School Assistance Act of 1961.
He voted against the work-study and vocational
education programs of 1963.
He voted against aid for colleges and universities
in 1963.
He voted against the medical education act of 1963.
~But these votes are~ expected from a ~~~;tL!I · · the citizens of Jacksonville, - 8 -
"The Government has no right to educate children •••• ...... The child has no right to an education. In most cases,
the children will get along very well without it."-
attitude,~ qCf§i ~, repudiates a Republican tradition which
goes back to the Land Grant Act of 1862. Had he been in
the Senate then, Goldwater would probably have denounced
Abraham Lincoln as a "socialist."
~~Senator Goldwater has not limited his program
for dismantling the social accompliJhments of the past
..,._,... to the areas of metropolitan life or education. no
means. He has consistently opposed responsible governmental ---programs in a variety------of areas--even---- those proposed by his own Republican Party. - 9 -
r: £' ~ f have analyzed the votes of Senator Goldwater on
25 specific positions set forth in the 1960 Republican
Platform as compared with the votes of senators Dirksen,
Kuchel, Saltonstall, and Hickenlooper. ,--5-<~ r:/? /l "" ' 7 ~ ~ :;:..-' of:11'haa ftc publican i !m m~& is -
platform--but it was a responsible platform too. It reflected the fact that a Republican Administration had been in office eight years, and had dealt with the complex problems of a great nation in a turbulent world.
~The record shows that senator Kuchel supported his party's declared position on every one of these 25 major issues. And Senator Saltonstall supported the pYatform on 20 occasions. - 10 -
what about Senator Dirksen and Senator Hickenlooper? ~But ~.,..,_r_.------·------
They come from the Midwest; they are deeply committed to the tradition of the Republican Party; and they are universally and rightly known as solid conservatives.
~Senator Dirksen voted for the Party's platform 18 times, and went against it only four times.
~en a tor Hickenlooper vot~d 17 times for his part~ • "__ . platform, and went against it only 8 times.
But not senator Goldwater. He opposed ther partv platform all 25 times when these major issues came before - 11 -
the Senate for a vote . Always the same refrain :,
no , ••• a thousand times nol"
------So I come to the conclusion that Senator Goldwater
is neither Republican nor conservative . He is a radical - -
and radical Goldwa ~;;Y no ~:;t£'~ :-- k ~~nism . ~~~Jt A ortunately. the American eeople have a choice on
November 3rd . But \~hat we vote £2.!.. is far more important
than ~hat te vote against . in building the Great Society. He faces these challenges
with courage, determination, responsibility and · ~ · confidence. He believes in America. He believes in her--- people.- And he believes this nation wants to continue moving forward.
I believe the American people share this vision of a better tomorrow--this vision of the Great Society.
I believe the American people will say "Yes" to Lyndon
B. Johnson on election day. ~~R Remarks of Senator Humbert H. Humphrey melo 1 at Westchester County Center, New York October 12, 1964
Senator Humphrey. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Bill Liddy, for your generous and gracious intro duction, and may I thank this wonderful audience in Westchester for this great reception, a wonderful reception to Mrs. Humprey and myself and a tumultous reception to the next United States senator from New York, Bob Kennedyo
(Applause.)
I am delighted to share this platform tonight with two of the new Congressmen that will serve this area in the House of Representatives, particularly -- wait for their names, now - for Frank Caniff --
(Applause.)
And Dick Ottinger.
(Applause.)
Apparently somebody thinks that I need to add a few more inches to my height.
(Laughter.)
I want to thank them. I thought I had grown up but apparently noto
Tonight is a wonderful, wonderful evening for the future of our country. I come to one of the most important counties, one of the most important areas of the United States.
(Applause.)
And I come here for a very, very good and worthy purpose.
I come here to cite the record of the Kennedy-Johnson Administration and to ask your support for the man that I am sure with your help will be the President of the United States for the next four years, Lyndon Johnsono
(Applause~)
I also come here, in the words of my wife, to ask ym to support the whole ticket from top to bottom and from bottom -2- to top.
(Applause .. )
I am deligh'l:.ed t.o have the privilege of meeting the splendid county committee, the candidates for public office in the Westchester area, and as I have stated, to ask you not only to support your President, not only to support the man that seeks the office of Vice-President, no·c only ·to ask you to support your local candidates but to back your President and to back that program by giving the President in the Congress the kind of stalwarts, the kind of courageous and able men that he needs, and I have ·three upon this platform, Robert Kennedy, Frank Caniff and Dick ottinger.
(Applause.)
Let me say just a word or two here in opening my remarks, about the gentleman that spoke to you just a few moments ago, Bob Kennedy.
Senator Kennedy -- I want to get used to calling you that -- and by the way
(Applause .. )
I insist tha·t you make him Senator Kennedy because ,.,hen Lyndon Johnson wins, ·that means that I get ·to be · Vice President and that means that I can s\lrear in Bob Kennedy as United States senator.
(Applause.)
Bob Kennedy is honored tonight as few men in pUblic life are ·· ever privileged ·to be honored. He is honored every day, every day that I have been with him, and his illustrious and great brother before him and his younger brother who is a dear and personal friend of mine--
(Applause)
The honor that I speak of is one that every parent, every person of voting age in this State ought to be fully aware of and most appreciative of.
I have yet to find a man in public life that has the support, that has the trust, that has the enthusiastic affection -3-
and admiration of the young people like Bob Kennedy has.
(Applause.)
Now let me say a word to these young people. Let me speak just a word to our young friends. I personally greatly enojy the fellowship and the friendship of these young people.
As I travel around the country, it has been noted and written that a number of the young people attend our meetings.
Now, some people make light of this. others even scorn it. Some say, Oh, all you have are the bobby soxers or all you have are the Beetle lovers, and some of these others.
But let me tell you ~1at you have. First of all, I want to say to the young people anybody that speaks disparagingly of you and your participation in the political life of Amer.ica, that kind of a person is unworthy of the trust and of the support of your parents, and you see to it that they remember it.
(Applause • )
I don't know what greater honor could be paid a person than to be loved and respected by the youth. The bible speaks of it, the prophets speak of it, the philosophers speak of it, and yet I notice that when someone has that affection there is always a cynic, there is always someone that turns a phrase and makes it appear as if all you have are the youngsters.
Well, let me say right now that if I have my choice be tween some of the cynical oldsters that support the old, old, old Goldwater line --
(Applause.)
--or can•t make up their minds who they support, and those who know who are they are for and what they are for, let me say right now I enlist with the young people of America for a better future of America~
(Applause.)
Now let me say to my young friends your job is cut out for you. For those that laugh at you, for those that make fun of you, all you need to do is make yourself individually commi ttees of one to go home and adyi· s~ eyour voting age brothers and -4- sisters, your mother and your father, your grandfather and your grandmother, your neighbors, advise ·them about the election.
They have been advising you for years. It is no\'/ your ·turn.
(Applause.)
And may I as an old friend just pass along a suggestion. The best advice that I can give to you, \\fhich I hope you will pass along to the family, is to vote for President Johnson, Humbert Humphrey, Robert Kennedy, Frank caniff and Dick Ottinger.
(Applause.)
Bob Kennedy has spoken of the yearst those one thousand dramatic days, of the leadership of our late beloved President. He has spoken of those days since November 22, 1963, when we had amazing, competent, able, effective leadership from President Lyndon Johnson.
I want ·to testify tonight that this leadership not only had the support and the help of members of Congress, and I wa& very fortunate to be included in that selected group or select group of Congressional leaders permitted to meet with our President Kennedy and our President Johnson, but this Senator can testify as witness ·to the fact that the great programs of educa·tion, the programs of immigration legislation, the programs of housing, the programs that relate to our cities, mass transit, the programs of civil rights, the program of the Peace corps, the programs of health that put America forward, and as John Kennedy said, got America moving again, that those programs had the help and the advice and the counsel and the support and the enthusiastic backing of the man who ought to be the United States Senator from Ne\'l Yorlt, Bob Kennedy.
(Applause • )
I say this because I know what happened and when I hear some people say, well, I wonder whether or not Robert Kennedy will help us in housing, or whether or not he played an important role in civil rights, or where was he when the Peace Corps was being designed and passed, I can tell you where he was.
He \iaS in the thick of the fight and he was there.
(Applause ~) -5-
So, I come here in New York, at Westchester County, to tell you that there is a team in the field and it is a team that needs your support and X believe it is a team that has earned your support, and it is the team of Johnson, Humphrey, and Kennedy.
{Applause.)
Now, my friends, you know, ordinarily in every Presidential election year somebody either wants you to look back at \'lhat we mve been doing or occasionally somebody says let ~ s look ahead two or three years.
In this election year, my fellow Americans, it is not enough to lOWt ahead four years. Time moves on rapidly.
Last night Mrs. Humphrey and I were privileged to attend a dinner in Washington, D. c., the Eleanor Roosevelt Memoraial dinner, and tonight when we leave this building --
(Applause .. )
Senator Kennedy, Bob Kennedy, will go to a dinner honor ing the memory of Mrs. Roosevelt in the City of New York.
(Applause.)
Last evening Adlai Stevenson reminded us -- (Applause.)
--of the fine book or writings of Mrs. Roosevelt, and I wonder how many of the audience recall the title, because the title of that book is the message of this election year, and I think it poses the question and the answer in a few words.
The title of Mrs. Roosevelt ~ s book of writings is 11 Tomorrow is Now. 11
(Applause.)
Tomorrow is Now. This is a simple and yet profound way of saying that this world of ours is changing so rapidly, that matters are changing so much both at home and abroad, that if all you are going to do is to stop and think about the problems of today, you have already missed the tomorrows. -6- You must ·think ahead.. You must plan ahead. You cannot afford the luxury or the extravagance of thinking only of the yesterdays.
Nor can you have the luxury and the extravagance of only praising yourselves for ·the accomplishments of today.
That is why I say this election is more than looking ahead four years because four years will go by like ·that, and in four years, whole new worlds can he created and discovered or old worlds destroyed.
What we need to he thinking about is the fac·t that in ·this election we will fashion :the shape of our society and in deed we may very well fashion the future of the world for decades to come and that is why we need your help.
(Applause • )
Now, if that is true, surely this is no time, my friends, to talk about demolishing that which we have accomplished over some 30 years.
Surely this is no time to ask America to look backwards and repeal the yes·t.erdays, and yet t'l7hat does the leader, what does the temporary spokesman of a fraction of a faction of the Republican Party propose --
(Laughter and applause.}
Let me ask you to listen to his o~m words. They are incredible. They are unbelievable. But this is what he said.
(L~ughter.) (Applause.)
I take this man at his word even when he changes his word.
(Laughter. (Applause.)
Listen to the words of the man tha·t. says he wants to be Presiden·t..
"The Government must begin to withdraw from a \olhole series of programs, from social welfare programs, education, public power, agriculture, public housing, urban renewal. I suggest tha·t we establish by law a rigid timetable for a staged withdrawal.11 -7-
Here is a man that wouind 0 t only repeal the 20th century. He wants to go back ~o the Articles of Confrederation. (Applause.)
This gentleman goes further. He says: "My aim is not to pass laws. It is to repeal them."
(Laughter.)
And I think that every person in this audience ought to say seriously, what laws?
Well, he has spoken with some doubt about social security. I donmt say he wants to repeal it but he is suggesting that he wants to repeal laws.
Minimum wage -- he hasn~t voted for it. It is entirely probable that he would like to preal it.
Housing -- he says get ou~ of it.
Education -- oh, no, none of that.
(Laughter.) (Applause.)
Now, my friends, it is having to have a man standing for public office that reminds us of the glories of yesterday, but I would suggest that if he is going to do it, he study history and report accurately-
(Applause.)
And may I also say most respecyfully to the students that are here, and to those who are of voting age and college students --
(Applause.)
--that it is having, my enthusiastic young friends, to study ancient history, but for goodness sakes, don°t let your parents vote for it.
(Applause.) (Laughter.)
I think it is about time that both candidates for the Presidency clearly understood that the rural life of America -a- has changed and that a metropolitan era is upon us.
Now 1 one under s·tands that I the man who is President • He knows that America is growing. He knows that America is becoming more and more urbanized. He knows that American cities are becoming more and more industrialized.
But the gentleman from Arizona is still back at the cover ed wagon staking out. home steds.
(Applause.)
... The grot'lth of our population, the changes in technology, industry, the change in the economy of our cities, has created a new phenomenon called the urban complex or ·the super .city, and I believe that it is time that people in public office discuss the problems of cities.
They are here.. They are not getting smaller. They are getting bigger. And I have a feeling that they are even going to last longer than Barry Goldwater, so maybe we had be·tter go ·to work on them.
(Applause.)
Robert Kennedy spoke ·to you of ·the.m. He told you of the problems of transportation, of education, of recreation, and all of these problems are here in ·this great empire State of New York just as they are in every other major State in the Union.
our country is growing. And it is going to continue to grow and it is growing younger, not older. The percentage of population under age 25 increases ever year.
The need for new home units increases. The need for recreation, the need for educational facilities and teachers, every one of these great needs expand and increase, and these are not just the problems of Westchester.
Even in this great community, known for its wealth, known for its cultural attainment, even here you have problems of poverty, problems of low income, and these problems are a part of the great modern America, and we need people who seek public office that at least are aware of the problem and then once they have an awareness of it, start to propose solutions to the problems. -9-
But what are we getting? we are getting lectures oh the moral tone of America.
I wonder i£ the spokesman of the new Goldwater morality has ever thought that morality also includes being concerned about the poor, being concerned about the unfortunate, being concerned about the ill-clad, the ill-housed, and the sick.
I wonder if we have forgotten that we have some social and moral obligation to the illiterate, to the hungry, to the naked, to the sick, to the blind. I hope we haven't.
(Applause.)
These prOblems ~amain with us and everyone of these problems offers a challenge and everyone of these challenges offers an opportunity, and this is why there are literally thousands of our young men and women studying in the great universities to equip themselves to meet these problems, study ing nursing, medicine, engineering, studying to be a doctor, studying to be a social worker, studying to be an architect, or a city planner, and I think we need from people who seek the highest office of this land an expression of their concern and their interest in those who seek to come to grips with the problems of tomorrow because tomorrow is now.
(Applause.)
I am happy to say that those of us on this platform speal~ing for the Democratic Party tonight and those, by the way, in this audience who have put their country above Party, and there are many, that we can point to a record.
President Kennedy, when he spoke to the nation on January 20, 1961, asked this nation to begin, to begin to do things for people, to begin social progress, to begin to expand our economy, to begin to pursue peace, and the beginnings were made.
And those beginnings were not just words. They were programs, programs that have been mentioned from this platform tonight, programs with which Hubert Humphrey and Bob Kennedy had something to do and helped do it.
(Applause~)
We did pass a program for mass transportation, for open -10-
spaces in urban areas, in suburban areas, for low rent public housing, for increased federal assistance for local planning, for expanded housing for the elderly and for our college students in their dorrnotories, for increased housing s·tarts, for middle income, and a comprehensive nconomic Opport.unity Act to strike body blows at the pover·ty areas of America.
That is a record of accomplishment .. (Applause.)
And now \'/hat is the record of the voice of the past? Let's take a look.
The man who says follow me -- right back into the 19th' century what is his record?
He voted against mass transportation: against the open spaces, against the housing, against the urban renewal programs, against housing for the elderly, against the Economic Opportunity Ac·t.
You name it.
And I can assure you of one thing, that if you are a betting person, if you will bet he voted no, you will win 99 times out of a hundred.
(Applause • )
But my friends of the eastern seaboard, don~t be too upset. You shouldn1 t have even been surprised, if you were, be cause this is the gentleman who said when interviewed about his attitude toward this great sectionof America, this great section of pioneer America, early America, here is wha·t he said:
"Sometimes I think this country l'l1ould be better off if we could just saw off the eantern seaboard and let it float out to sea. 11
(L.Jughter.)
These are the words of a man that asks you to vote for him for President, the Senat:or from Arizona.
What an easy way to solve problems -- just sa\'1 it off. (Laughter.) (Applause.) -11- But may I suggest that the Party that has been at sea and apparently is lost without a compass or any sense of navigation is the man that made the statement that I just quoted.
(Applause .)
Now a word about the subject of education which has been discussed here this evening.
Imagine, my friends, placing the trust of this country, the responsibility of this country, in the hands of an individual who says, "The government has no right to educate children and the child has no right to an education. In most cases the child ren would get along very well without it."
What kind of an attitude is this? Are these the words of a person you want to be your President?
(Chorus of no from audience.)
Well, thank goodness Iem talking to educated people.
But might I add that this response is not just what you would expect from a Democratic audience. It is the response that you would receive from any responsible citizen because Senator Goldwater's attitude that I have read, not paraphrased but read word-for-word, these attitudes repudiate a Republican tradition in the field of education which has gone back to the Land-Grant Act of 1362.
I think that had Senator Goldwater been in the Senate in 1862, I mean physically -- he has been there somewhat psycho logically --
(Applause.)) (Laughter~)
--I really believe that the Senator would have probably denounced Abraham Lincoln as a Socialist.
(Applause .)
It is an interesting exercise in the study of a political record to take a note of how close Senator Goldwater adhers to the traditional Republican line.
I have analyzed 25 votes on 25 specific issues of the Republican platform of 1960. That was the platform that was an -12- authentic conservative Republican platform. It was the plat form that came of an Administration ·that had to deal with the tough problems of the turbulent post-war years. Eight years of administrative responsibility.
That 1960 platform therefore stands up as a reasonable, responsible, conservative Republican document ..
Now, what is the record of Mr. Goldwater relating to tha·t. And maybe this tells us why one out of every three registered Republicans says today that he is going to vo·te for Lyndon Johnson.
(Applause.)
On 25 Republican platform commitment:s, 25 times ·they were brought up in the Senate and Mr .. Gold~rater has a remarkable batting average. 25 times he fanned out. 25 ·times he voted no.
Now, there were others in the senate of Republican per suasion, like Senator Dirksen, the leader, Senator Kuchel, the Whip, Senator Saltonstall, t~he conference chairman, Senator Hickenlooper, the policy committee chairman, elec·ted Republican leaders.
Senator Kuchel vo·ted 25 times for the platform. Of course, Mr. Gold\'la·ter dismisses him as an extremist.
(Laughter .. )
Senator Salt;.oltstall voted 20 times. He is dismissed as an easterner.
How about those two from the midwest? Senator Dirksen you· · can~t call him an easterner and you surely wouldn't call him an extremist. I would say that he is a rather responsible conservative.
Senator Dirksen voted for his Party platform 18 times, seven times against it.
Senator Hickenlooper voted 17·. times for his Party platform and eight times against it.
At least these men had better than a two-thizds voting record for their Party. They are Republicans. .. ' r • -13- But Mr. Goldwater voted 25 times against the commitments of his own Party on 25 major issues.
(Applause.)
So we come to but one conclusion. Senator Goldwater is surely not a Democrat.
(Laughter.)
Senator Goldwater, having repudiated his own Party 25 times on 25 platforms, surely is not a Republican. He can cnly live under one label. He is a radical, a Goldwater radical.
(Applause.)
And Goldwater radicalism is not responsible Republicanism, and therefore we see today why some of the leading figures of the Republican Party either hide out when Mr. Goldwater comes to town
(Laughter.)
--or they sign up and say they are going to vote for Lyndon Johnson.
(Applause.)
My friends, lest I seem to be too personal, let me make it crystal clear that I think Mr. Goldwater is a patriot. I think that he is a fine gentleman. I think that he would make a good neighbor, hut I don't want him for our President.
(Applause.)
What America needs and what America has and what America can continue to have is a President that looks to the future, a President that is equipped by background, training and ex perience for the job of leadership, a President that unites our country rather than divides it, a President that lifts the hopes of our people rather than darkens them, a President that asks us to do better rather than scolding us for having done so badly, a President, if you please, that calls from us the very best that is in us rather than chastising us as if some how or another we are unruly children.
I submit to you that you have that President and you -14-
have a President that asks you to work with him to plan the fu·ture.
You have a President that is responsible in the defense of this country and in the conduct of foreign policy.
You have a President tha·t understands that today is the beginning of tomorrow and that ·tomorrow is now, and I sug gest that you ·take ·tha·c President: to your hearts.
I suggest that y 01 do for him what y ru did, so many of you, for John I~nnedy, that ycu back him with your hands and your hearts and that you elect him President of the United States on November 3rd ..
Thank you ..
(Applause.) melo end
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