I have made the charge in this campaign that our prestige has been declining, and our prestige is important, because it involves the question of whether other countries will follow our leadership.

I don't believe that the United States is meeting its responsibilities to itself and to those around the world who look to it for leadership.

Any setbacks in our prestige should naturally affect our thinking as well - our choice of policies - our choice of leadership.

Only the President of the United States can speak for this country.

The office of the Presidency is key, and whoever may be the next President, whether it is Mr. Nixon or myself, will be faced with greater responsibilities and greater burdens.

We cannot rebuild our prestige under a leader who tells us it is now at an all-time high.

I believe as a dissatisfied citizen, as one who has the greatest possible confidence in this country, that we are going to have to meet a higher standard as a Nation and as leaders of the free world.

But if you share the view that I hold very vigorously, that this country is going to have to do better in the future, that we have responsibilities to meet not only to ourselves but to the cause of freedom, that we are anxious to make sure that in the future people decide that these days were great days in the life of our country, that we must move forward, we must stimulate our growth, we must hold out an image to the world of a vigorous, dynamic society, if we are going to continue to lead the free world - I believe that is the choice.

I don't think if we continue on our present basis that we will be the leaders of the free world.

I recognize that I run for the key office, not only in the United States, but also in the free world.

The kind of society we build here, the kind of country we develop here, that is the test of our ability to lead around the world.

We cannot predict what new problems will come across our desks in the next 4 years.

Experience counts.

Mr. Nixon has sown the seeds of negation. Time after time, he has said 'No' to the American people.

There go my people. I must find out where they are going so I can lead them.

The pursuit of peace is still the focus of our leadership, our energies, and our determination.

In order that we may compete, we need strong leadership at the top and in my judgment only the President of the United States can provide that leadership.

What we need is not hindsight; we need foresight.