John F. Kennedy: Liberal Party Nomination Speech (1960)

Source:Zencat- U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy (Democrat, Massachusetts) accepting the 1960 New York Liberal Party nomination for president.

"JFK accepting the Liberal Party nomination in 1960. The last freely Democratically elected president of the 20th century. possibly the last ever.

I acquired this recording from a "public domain" site and present it here as an example of what our shared history is in these united states.

The speech it is in its entirety as an historical record.

As far as I can check the history, from independent transcripts of the event etc. This is the full version and has not been altered.
It is offered here for your consideration.
Make up your own minds."

From Zencat 

“Eight years ago on this occasion, Adlai Stevenson called this quadrennial outburst of affection “that pause in the real Republican occupation known as the ‘Liberal Hour.'” And he added, “It should never be confused,” and he was right, “with any period when Congress is in session.” [Laughter and applause.]

What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label, “Liberal”? If by “Liberal” they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer’s dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of “Liberal.” But, if by a “Liberal,” they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people – their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties – someone who believes that we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a “Liberal,” then I’m proud to say that I’m a “Liberal.” [Applause.]

But first, I would like to say what I understand the word, “Liberal,” to mean and explain in the process why I consider myself to be a “Liberal,” and what it means in the presidential election of 1960.” 

From the JFK Library

The whole reason why I’m writing about John F. Kennedy’s Liberal Party speech, because he literally defines what it means to be a Liberal in America and I have the full quote and his remarks about Liberal right here in this post.

Left-wingers (who are closeted Socialists) always partially quote JFK’s remarks about Liberal so they can say he was one of them and to argue that this is what Liberals believe and what liberalism is and to advocate for bigger government and a superstate in America. Which is why they always partially quote JFK here and leave out the part about:

“What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label, “Liberal”? If by “Liberal” they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer’s dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of “Liberal.

“But, if by a “Liberal,” they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people – their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties – someone who believes that we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a “Liberal,” then I’m proud to say that I’m a “Liberal.” [Applause.]”

But as JFK said himself being soft and being fiscally irresponsible was not JFK’s vision of Liberal. He was a World War II veteran, a cold warrior, and anticommunist, he didn’t like high deficits and debt, he didn’t think government had a program and tax to solve everyone’s problems for them.

JFK believed that government could help people help themselves. He believed in civil rights and equal rights for all Americans, he believed in progress. But JFK was a realist and believed in limited government as well. He wasn’t some idealistic, lefty, Hippie who believed that government could create some utopia and paradise for everyone to live in. 

You can also see this post on WordPress.

You can also see this post at The New Democrat, on WordPress.