John Fitzgerald Kennedy

I believe that a healthy, expanding economy will enable us to build 2 million homes a year, in wholesome neighborhoods, for people of all incomes.

This is an important election because it comes at a most important time in the life of our country.

I come and run for the office of the Presidency because I like America, but I think it can do better, and that is what we should dedicate ourselves to.

A free society is the most difficult of all kinds of government to maintain, and it can only be done if we have the best educated and the best trained citizens.

This is the most important subject that we have.

This is a great country, but I believe it can be a greater country, and I think it is our responsibility to join in that great effort.

Certainly a Democratic administration will provide leadership and direction toward this end at the Cabinet level, so that there may be a coordinated approach toward all decisions affecting the urban and metropolitan problems which so…

This can and should be accomplished as completely as possible through private enterprise, using both private financing and private construction.

All builders and businessmen in the construction industry join me, I know, in seeking 'a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family.'

I think this is an important election, and I think the State of Oregon is heavily involved.

But I can promise you that if I am elected we shall proceed ahead, and I think we shall not only endure, but prevail.

Under this policy families in moderate circumstances are being priced out of the market for decent homes.

I am delighted that you have accepted my invitation to become a member of our National Committee of Business and Professional Men for the campaign.

It is an unfortunate fact that this country pays a majority of its teachers less than $4,500 a year.

A recent Senate report concludes that during the sixties we must produce a minimum of 16 million new homes just to keep pace with our growing housing needs.

I am delighted that we have here tonight our friends from Brazil.

I think we can do this job.

We will greatly expand our current efforts to apply modern science and technology to both the discovery of new uses for wood and the development of more efficient methods of timber production and cultivation.

We will encourage the economical production of timber for the Nation's homes and industry by giving the small forest owner and small logger an even break-through providing forest products price reporting by the Department of Agriculture.

We will step up the effort to clear our slums, renew our cities, and expand other housing programs.

We will reform the mortgage insurance program of the Federal Housing Administration so that it will stimulate the construction of housing at all income levels.

At our present rate of urban renewal it will take over 50 years to wipe out the substandard dwellings already in existence - and at the end of that time we will have even more substandard dwellings than we have now.

This is a great country, but I think it can be greater.

I would think it would be a matter of serious concern because it could well lead to a blockade by the East Germans of the entrance into West Berlin.

I don't think in the 1960's that this world can exist half slave and half free.