Top officials of the Veterans of Foreign Wars have wired
Senator John F. Kennedy telling him that "your fellow veterans respect
and understand your giving priority to your constructive legislation program"
rather than coming to Detroit to address the VFW convention.
These officials said that while they will "miss having
you at the national VFW convention" they were "dedicated to the election
of John F. Kennedy for the President of the United States."
The signators of the telegram were: John W. Mahan, committee
coordinator, past national commander in chief; Heyman Rothoart, judge advocate,
department of New York, VFW; Robert A. Durkee, national council member,
Montana, Idaho, and Washington; Walter H. Marshall, National Security Committee
of Helena, Mont.; John F. McKelvey, chairman, Veterans' Affairs Commission
of Texas; E. K. Collins, National Council Administration, Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the United States.
Senator Kennedy said he was gratified at receiving the
message. "I know that responsible veterans are united with me in the desire
to get a constructive job done here for our country. While it would have
been much easier for me to go to Detroit, clear duty was to remain here
on the floor of the U.S. Senate."