John Fitzgerald Kennedy

It is the voice of Ambassador Stevenson, quickened by crisis.

There is no reason why our standards in this country should be below other countries.

We have agreed that it is necessary to sustain the responsible effort which the Government of Bolivia is now making--through the COMIBOL--to restore more efficient production of Bolivia's principal export, tin.

We expressed our grave concern at setbacks to democratic government in Latin America and we have agreed upon the need to contribute to the preservation and strengthening of democratic institutions.

We shall not cease in our efforts until hunger, poverty, ignorance, social injustice and the threat to our free institutions have been eradicated.

I think if all of the countries which have signed the Punta del Este Charter meet their responsibilities, we have a chance to win the most significant fight for democracy by demonstrating that under a system of freedom we can provide a…

Time may not always be our friend.

The earth can be an abundant mother to all of the people that will be born in the coming years if we learn to use her with skill and wisdom.

But if I were to name a single thing which points up the difference this century has made in the American attitude toward science, it would certainly be the wholehearted understanding today of the importance of pure science.

We are particularly glad to welcome the President of Bolivia because this has been his life work--in years of exile as well as years of the Presidency he has attempted to maintain a free country, national sovereignty, unimpaired, and at…

I think the United States values its relations with the countries of Latin America because of historical reasons, cultural reasons, hemispheric ties, geography, and all the rest, probably more warmly than it does any of its obligations and…

I know that I speak on behalf of all of our countrymen in welcoming our guest of honor.

This is a difficult challenge in this hemisphere.

And, building on that rich base, I see no reason why we cannot fulfill our obligations abroad.

I am deeply honored by the degree which you award me today.

I do not look to the future with gloom.

Tonight, tomorrow, and all the rest of the time, let us work for it.

There are one million Americans today, tonight, serving the United States overseas.

It is a constant source of pride to me that I come from this State, that I represented Massachusetts, that I am identified with this State.

Let us resolve to be the masters, not the victims, of our history, controlling our own destiny without giving way to blind suspicion and emotion.

I feel honored to join you at this distinguished university.

I am proud to be a member of it.

I learned long ago, about 16 years ago, that these Democratic functions are tremendous but the thing is not to make a speech, so I am going to be very brief.

And it is that spirit, the spirit of both preparedness and peace, that this Nation today is stronger than ever before--strengthened by both the increased power of our defenses and our increased efforts for peace.

The means of achieving it are difficult, but our objective is simple, and that is to provide for our people a rising rate of well-being.