"WHEN BUSINESS FAILS, AMERICA FAILS"

PRESIDENT ADDRESSES MANUFACTURERS IN BIG APPLE

New York City (JFK+50) On December 6, 1961, President John F. Kennedy spoke to a meeting of the National Association of Manufacturers*  at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel here in New York City.

The President, beginning in a joking mood, said...

"I understand that President (William) McKinley and I are the only two POTUS to ever address such an occasion.  I suppose that President McKinley and I are the only two that are regarded as fiscally sound enough to be qualified for admission to this organization..."

JFK went on to admit that the members of the NAM were not "among my strongest supporters" and that in the last election (1960) "most of you supported my opponent (Richard M. Nixon) except for a very few who were under the impression that I was my father's son."**

These opening remarks evoked laughter from the audience.

The remainder of the speech is very serious.  The President sought to explain why his "New Frontier"*** should not be considered "anti-business."

JFK argued that when American businesses do well there is full employment and we have "a prosperous and vital country."  He added that full employment goes hand-in-hand with business profits, reinvestment and productivity.

In addition, the President noted that "government resources come from you...when you fail, we fail." 

*National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), founded in 1894 by Thomas P. Eagan of Cincinnati, Ohio, is the largest manufacturing industrial trade association representing 14,000 companies in all 50 states.

**Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. (1888-1969) was born in Boston, MA & earned his B.S. in economics at Harvard University (1912).  JPK served as the 1st chairman of the Security & Exchange Commission, head of the US Maritime Commission & US Ambassador to UK 1938-1940.

***New Frontier was a term used by JFK in his acceptance speech of July 15, 1960 when he said "We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier."  It came to identify President Kennedy's domestic & foreign policy & programs. 

SOURCE

"John F. Kennedy, Address in New York City to the National Association of Manufacturers, Online," by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The Presidency Project, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ 

 

 

Updated Logo of the NAM

by National Association of Manufacturers

2010 

'WITH A DEEP SENSE OF DUTY & HIGH RESOLVE, I ACCEPT YOUR NOMINATION"

JFK ACCEPTS DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION IN LOS ANGELES
  
Los Angeles (JFK+50) On July 15, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts accepted the nomination of the Democratic Party for President of the United States here in Los Angeles. 

Senator Kennedy began his acceptance speech with these words... 

"With a deep sense of duty and high resolve, I accept your nomination.  I accept it without reservation and with only one obligation--to devote every effort of body, mind & spirit to lead our party back to victory and our nation to greatness."

JFK talked about plans for a "New Frontier."  He said...

"We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier--the frontier of the 1960s, the frontier of unfilled hopes and unfilled threats."

JFK described his New Frontier as not...

"a set of promises (but) a set of challenges.   It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them."

*Chris Matthews says that Nixon was watching JFK's speech on television, telling those around him that JFK was performing poorly, his speech above people's heads and his delivery too fast.

SOURCES

"Jack Kennedy:  Elusive Hero," by Chris Matthews, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2011.

"John F. Kennedy Democratic National Convention Acceptance Address, The New Frontier," American Rhetoric:  Online Speech Bank, www.americanrhetoric.com/

JFK Accepts Nomination

July 15, 1960

JFK Library Photo

 

"THE NEW FRONTIER SUMS UP WHAT I INTEND TO ASK OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE"

JFK ACCEPTS DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION

Los Angeles (JFK+50) On July 15, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts accepted the nomination of the Democratic Party for President of the United States here in Los Angeles.  The Senator was introduced by Adlai Stevenson of Illinois whose name had been placed in nomination for president at the 1956 convention by JFK.

Senator Kennedy, who gave his acceptance speech at the Los Angeles Coliseum,

thanked the delegates for the platform which was titled "The Rights of Man." JFK described it as "our goal and...our first principle."

JFK was the first Roman Catholic candidate for President since Alfred E. Smith in 1928.  In reference to the religious issue JFK said...

"I hope that no American...will...throw away his vote by voting either for me or against me because of my religious affiliation.  It is not relevant.  My decisions on any public policy will be my own, as an American, as a Democrat, and as a free man."

In reference to his Republican opponent in the general election, Senator Kennedy said...

"Mr. Nixon may feel that it is his turn now, after the New Deal and the Fair Deal, but before he deals, someone's going to cut the cards."*

JFK spoke about the American pioneers who "gave up their safety, their comfort and sometimes their lives to build the new West."  He said that some might believe that all the frontiers have been conquered, but...

"We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier--the frontier of the 1960s, the frontier of unfilled hopes and unfilled threats.

JFK described his New Frontier this way...

"The New Frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises.  It is a set of challenges.   It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them."

*Chris Matthews says that Nixon was watching JFK's speech on television, telling those around him that JFK was performing poorly, his speech above people's heads and his delivery too fast.

SOURCES

"Jack Kennedy:  Elusive Hero," by Chris Matthews, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2011.

"John F. Kennedy Democratic National Convention Acceptance Address, The New Frontier," American Rhetoric:  Online Speech Bank, www.americanrhetoric.com/

JFK Accepts Nomination

July 15, 1960

JFK Library Photo

BEFORE MR. NIXON DEALS SOMEONE'S GOING TO CUT THE CARDS

JFK ACCEPTS PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION IN LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) On July 15, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts accepted the nomination of the Democratic Party for President of the United States here in Los Angeles.  The Senator was introduced by Adlai Stevenson of Illinois.

Senator Kennedy, who gave his acceptance speech at the Los Angeles Coliseum,
thanked the delegates for the platform which was titled "The Rights of Man." JFK described it as "our goal and...our first principle."  The Senator was the first Roman Catholic candidate for President since Alfred E. Smith in 1928.  In reference to the religious issue JFK said...

"I hope that no American...will...throw away his vote by voting either for me or against me because of my religious affiliation.  It is not relevant.  My decisions on any public policy will be my own, as an American, as a Democrat, and as a free man."

In reference to his Republican opponent in the general election, Senator Kennedy said...

"Mr. Nixon may feel that it is his turn now, after the New Deal and the Fair Deal, but before he deals, someone's going to cut the cards."


SOURCE

"John F. Kennedy Democratic National Convention Acceptance Address, The New Frontier," American Rhetoric:  Online Speech Bank, www.americanrhetoric.com/

JFK Accepts Nomination

July 15, 1960

JFK Library Photo

ON THE EDGE OF A NEW FRONTIER

JFK ACCEPTED PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION 55 YEARS AGO

Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago tonight, July 15, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts accepted the nomination of the Democratic Party for President of the United States here in Los Angeles.

The Senator was introduced by Adlai Stevenson of Illinois whose name had been placed in nomination for president at the 1956 convention by JFK.

Senator Kennedy, who gave his acceptance speech at the Los Angeles Coliseum,
thanked the delegates for the platform which was titled "The Rights of Man." JFK described it as "our goal and...our first principle."

JFK was the first Roman Catholic candidate for President since Alfred E. Smith in 1928.  In reference to the religious issue JFK said:

"I hope that no American...will...throw away his vote by voting either for me or against me because of my religious affiliation.  It is not relevant.  My decisions on any public policy will be my own, as an American, as a Democrat, and as a free man."

In reference to his Republican opponent in the general election, Senator Kennedy said...

"Mr. Nixon may feel that it is his turn now, after the New Deal and the Fair Deal, but before he deals, someone's going to cut the cards."*

*Chris Matthews says that Nixon was watching JFK's speech on television, telling those around him that JFK was performing poorly, his speech above people's heads and his delivery too fast.

Senator Kennedy then spoke about the American pioneers who "gave up their safety, their comfort and sometimes their lives to build the new West."  He said that some might believe that all the frontiers have been conquered, but...

"We stand today on the edge of a New Frontier--the frontier of the 1960s, the frontier of unfilled hopes and unfilled threats.

JFK described his New Frontier this way...

"The New Frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises.  It is a set of challenges.   It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them."

SOURCES

"Jack Kennedy:  Elusive Hero," by Chris Matthews, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2011.

"John F. Kennedy Democratic National Convention Acceptance Address, The New Frontier," American Rhetoric:  Online Speech Bank, www.americanrhetoric.com/

JFK Accepts Nomination

July 15, 1960

JFK Library Photo