Senator KENNEDY. Governor Brown, Speaker Brown,
Senator Donnelly, my friend and colleague in the Congress, Congressman
McFall, ladies and gentlemen, I want to express my thanks to all of you
for coming down here in the rain to greet us. We have been campaigning
in this State since yesterday morning, and I think that California is the
place to win this election. I ask your help. [Applause.] This valley
shows what can be done by community effort. Here in this valley you have
harnessed the land and the water for the use of the people. [Applause.]
I think that today, when we celebrate the
110th anniversary of the admission of California to the Union, we also
celebrate this week the 340th anniversary of the journey of the Pilgrims
from Europe to my own State of Massachusetts. In both cases a single force
motivated both groups; the feeling that however good life may have been,
they could do better. I think that is our feeling in 1960. However great
this State is, however great this country is, however satisfied we may
be, I think we can do better, and I think we are going to do better after
this election. [Applause.]
I don't think that there is anyone who can
live in this rich valley or in this rich State or in this rich country
who can be satisfied with doing everything that needs to be done. I think
the best days of the United States are still ahead. [Applause.]
I don't promise that if I am elected that
life is going to be easy. But I do promise that if I am elected this country
is going back to work again. I don't think that any American citizen can
possibly feel that the balance of power in the world, vis-a-vis the Soviet
Union and the Chinese Communists is moving in the direction of freedom.
I think in the last few years it has moved against us. I can assure you
that if we are successful, this country will once again be second to none;
not "first, if" not "first, but," not "first, when" but "first" period.
I ask your help in this campaign. [Applause.]
I ask your help and I can assure you that I think the Democratic Party
is ready for leadership. I assure you that if we are successful we are
going to move. Thank you very much, indeed. Thank you. [Applause.]
My wife is in Massachusetts and she is going
to have a baby in November. So my sister, who used to live in Massachusetts
and saw the wisdom of coming to California, living here, married - I would
like to have you meet my sister, Pat Lawford. [Applause.]
Senator Engle is doing some business for the
Nation but Mrs. Engle is traveling with us. I would like to have you meet
Senator Engle's wife, Mrs. Clair Engle. [Applause.]