John Fitzgerald Kennedy

In America, the people, if they are armed with the truth, can be trusted to make the right decision.

We know enough about the USIA survey of our prestige overseas to know that one of the key questions related not to how we stood in 1960 compared to the Soviets, but who would be ahead in 1970.

The fact of the matter is that this State and the United States cannot sit still in the 1960's.

It is far more dangerous to hide the truth about our position abroad - and to hide it for political purposes.

And today, when Mr. Nixon tells us all is well, when he tells us we never had it so good, when he wants us to be satisfied with the record of the last 8 years, you and I look to the future - we look at 1970, when the rest of the world…

For this will be a wholly different nation in 1970 with wholly different needs, and we must begin now to meet those needs.

That is why this question of American prestige is so important.

I believe that this report should be made public.

I think the time has come to start doing the job, and doing it full time.

Western Germany has increased theirs 5 percent, the Soviet Union 7.5 to 8 percent.

I ask your help in this campaign.

I do not detect any note of urgency in the speeches of the Vice President.

We are going to have to go to work again.

I run for the office of the Presidency after 14 years in the Congress with full recognition of the responsibilities of that office.

This is a great country and I have unlimited confidence in it, and I have served it for 18 years.

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.

I think it is time to trust the American people - to face up to the facts - and to decide what we must do.

But prestige is important.

I campaign for the Presidency with a full recognition that that office will bear more responsibility than it has in the last 100 years since the administration of Lincoln.

We are going to have to build in this country a strong and vital society that spreads its influence around the world.

I want to make it very clear that I am not a bit satisfied as a citizen of this country, with our present rate of growth, with our present image in the world, with our present sense of national purpose.

I want to thank all of you who came out today.

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

This is a contest between the concerned and the comfortable, and you have to decide what you are, comfortable or concerned.

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