Senator KENNEDY. Governor Rosellini, Senator Jackson,
Senator Dill, ladies and gentlemen, I am very grateful to the Governor,
who I am confident will be not only the present Governor but the next Governor
of the State of Washington. [Applause.]
And I am glad to be here with my friend, "Scoop"
Jackson. After I was nominated at the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles,
the first thing I did was to ask him if he would take over the leadership
of the Democratic Party because I wanted him at my side representing the
progressive, clean, and responsible government of the North-western United
States. [Applause.]
I think it is most appropriate in the election
of 1960 that we should meet in the shadow of a distinguished Republican,
Abraham Lincoln, because we believe that his spirit motivates our party
in the great election 100 years after he assumed the responsibility of
office.
This is a most important election. In 1860
Lincoln said, "This Nation cannot exist half slave and half free." I don't
think in the 1960's that this world can exist half slave and half free.
and the basic question of this election is what course of action should
we adopt, what course of energy should we follow, what course of leadership
should we practice if the world is going to move not in the direction of
slavery but in the direction of freedom. That is the issue of this campaign
and it is most appropriate, therefore, that we meet under the statue of
Lincoln. He faced it in his country in 1860. We must face it around the
world in 1960, and I am confident that here in the Inland Empire you are
ready to do it. I don't think there is anyone in the city of Spokane that
can say that this election does not matter. You cannot live in the center
of a great wheat-producing section of the United States and be satisfied
with things as they are. You cannot live in the Northwest United States,
a great mining center, and he satisfied with things as they are. You cannot
live in one of the greatest defensive sections of the United States and
be satisfied with things as they are. You cannot live in the United States
today - you cannot be a citizen of the United States and be satisfied with
things as they are.
I don't criticize present actions merely because
I enjoy criticizing. I criticize them only because I think that there is
a better way to do it. [Applause.] This is a great country, but I
think it can be greater. This is a great State, but I think it can be greater.
All of those who are satisfied with things as they are, who feel that the
balance of power in the world is moving with us and not with our adversaries
should vote for the Republican Party. But all those who retain a sense
of adventure, who feel we can do better, who want to start moving again,
I hope they join with us. [Applause.]
This is the most important election, I think,
certainly since 1932. The record of the Democratic Party and what it can
do is written in the administrations of Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt and
Harry Truman. I think this country is ready to move again. I ask your support.
[Applause.]
I talk here in one of the newer sections of
the United States, even though I come from one of the oldest sections of
the United States. When I talk about the new frontier, I don't mean just
a physical reality, I mean all of those who believe that they want to serve
our Government and serve our system, who want to join with us not because
of what we are going to do for them, but for the opportunity that they
will have to serve our country. I ask your help in this campaign. I am
confident that if we can be successful, if we can assume the responsibility
of leadership, this country, which is ready to move, will move again. Thank
you. [Applause.]