JFK CRITICAL OF IKE'S FARM PROGRAM
Jamestown, North Dakota (JFK+50) On February 6, 1960, John F. Kennedy, Massachusetts senator and Presidential candidate, spoke at the Stutusman County Democratic Dinner here in Jamestown.
Senator Kennedy was critical of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's farm program for 1960. JFK said..."The solution (Ike's farm program) offers for 1960 is lower, still lower, farm prices"
JFK went on to criticize agriculture secretary Ezra Benson's* call to depress wheat prices and to continue the Eisenhower corn program. The Senator said..."Last year...farmers...made less money than any year since 1942."
JFK pointed out that while corporate profits would be up between 10 & 15%, farm income would be down 10 to 12%. Mr. Kennedy insisted..."We need a new farm program.
Bill Ganzel writes that Senator Kennedy "probably knew less about agriculture than any presidential candidate before him," and argues that JFK's short presidential term resulted in the failure to solve farm problems of over production, low farm income and decline in rural population.
*Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) was born in Whitney, Idaho, graduated from BYU (1926), & earned a M.S. at Iowa State University (1927). ETB served as Secretary of Agriculture (1953-1961) & president of the Mormon Church (1985-1994), He opposed government price supports & aid to farmers & was a strong supporter of the John Birch Society.
SOURCES
"JFK's Farm Program, Farming in the 1950s & 60s," by Bill Ganzel, Wessels Living History Farm, York Pennsylvania, www.livinghistoryfarm.org/
"Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Stutusman Conference Democratic Committee Dinner, Jamestown, North Dakota," February 6, 1960. John F. Kennedy Library Archives, www.jfklibrary.org/
Jamestown, North Dakota (JFK+50) On February 6, 1960, John F. Kennedy, Massachusetts senator and Presidential candidate, spoke at the Stutusman County Democratic Dinner here in Jamestown.
Senator Kennedy was critical of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's farm program for 1960. JFK said..."The solution (Ike's farm program) offers for 1960 is lower, still lower, farm prices"
JFK went on to criticize agriculture secretary Ezra Benson's* call to depress wheat prices and to continue the Eisenhower corn program. The Senator said..."Last year...farmers...made less money than any year since 1942."
JFK pointed out that while corporate profits would be up between 10 & 15%, farm income would be down 10 to 12%. Mr. Kennedy insisted..."We need a new farm program.
Bill Ganzel writes that Senator Kennedy "probably knew less about agriculture than any presidential candidate before him," and argues that JFK's short presidential term resulted in the failure to solve farm problems of over production, low farm income and decline in rural population.
*Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) was born in Whitney, Idaho, graduated from BYU (1926), & earned a M.S. at Iowa State University (1927). ETB served as Secretary of Agriculture (1953-1961) & president of the Mormon Church (1985-1994), He opposed government price supports & aid to farmers & was a strong supporter of the John Birch Society.
SOURCES
"JFK's Farm Program, Farming in the 1950s & 60s," by Bill Ganzel, Wessels Living History Farm, York Pennsylvania, www.livinghistoryfarm.org/
"Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Stutusman Conference Democratic Committee Dinner, Jamestown, North Dakota," February 6, 1960. John F. Kennedy Library Archives, www.jfklibrary.org/
Senator John F. Kennedy
