Speeches of JFK
Speeches of JFK
A compilation of speeches made by John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Speeches of JFK
Use catalog # 429084 for complete speech. September 12, 1962 Excerpt of President JOHN F. KENNEDY speaking at Rice University in Houston, Texas. "We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of pre-eminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war. I do not say the we should or will go unprotected against the hostile misuse of space any more than we go unprotected against the hostile use of land or sea, but I do say that space can be explored and mastered without feeding the fires of war, without repeating the mistakes that man has made in extending his writ around this globe of ours. There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation many never come again. But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not only because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too."
Speeches of JFK
June 11, 1963 Excerpt of President JOHN F. KENNEDY delivering a National address regarding the commission of the National Guard to ensure the enrollment of two African-American students into the University of Alabama. "Good evening my fellow citizens: This afternoon, following a series of threats and defiant statements, the presence of Alabama National Guardsmen was required on the University of Alabama to carry out the final and unequivocal order of the United States District Court of the Northern District of Alabama. That order called for the admission of two clearly qualified young Alabama residents who happened to have been born Negro. That they were admitted peacefully on the campus is due in good measure to the conduct of the students of the University of Alabama, who met their responsibilities in a constructive way. I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. And when Americans are sent to Vietnam or West Berlin, we do not ask for whites only. It ought to be possible, therefore, for American students of any color to attend any public institution they select without having to be backed up by troops."
Speeches of JFK
June 26, 1963 Excerpt of President JOHN F. KENNEDY delivering the "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" speech in West Berlin. "Two thousand years ago. Two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was "civis Romanus sum." Today, in the world of freedom the proudest boast is "Ich bin ein Berliner." I appreciate my interpreter translating my German. There are many people in the world who really don t understand, or say they don t, what is the great issue between the Free World and the Communist World. Let them come to Berlin. There are some who say that Communism is the wave of the future. Let them come to Berlin. And there are some who say in Europe and elsewhere we can work with the Communists. Let them come to Berlin. And there are even a few who say that it s true that Communism is an evil system but it permits us to make economic progress. Lass' sie nach Berlin kommen. Let them come to Berlin. Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in. To prevent them from leaving us. You live in a defended island of freedom, but your life is part of the main. So let me ask you as I close to lift your eyes beyond the dangers of today to the hopes of tomorrow. Beyond the freedom merely of this city of Berlin or your country of Germany to the advance of freedom everywhere. Beyond the wall to the day of peace with justice. Beyond yourselves and ourselves to all Mankind. Freedom is indivisible and when one man is enslaved, all are not free. And when all are free, them we can look forward to that day and this city will be joined as one and this country and this great continent of Europe in a peaceful and hopeful globe. When that day finally comes, as it will, the people of West Berlin can take sober satisfaction in the fact they were in the front lines for almost two decades. All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man I take pride in the word Ich bin ein Berliner. Good C/As throughout of West Berliners in audience, listening, taking pictures, etc.
Speeches of JFK
October 22, 1962 Excerpts of President JOHN F. KENNEDY addressing the Nation on the Cuban Missile Crisis. "This Government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet Military buildup on the island of Cuba. Within the past week, unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive missile sites is now in preparation on that imprisoned island. The purpose of these bases can be none other than to provide a nuclear strike capability against the Western Hemisphere." Edit. "Only last Thursday, as evidence of this rapid offensive buildup was already in my hand, Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko told me in my office that he was instructed to make it clear once again, as he said his government had already done, that Soviet assistance to Cuba, and I quote, pursued solely the purpose of contributing to the the defense capabilities of Cuba, that, and I quote him, training by Soviet specialists of Cuban nationals in handling defensive armaments was by no means offensive, and if it were otherwise. Mr. Gromyko went on, the Soviet Government would never become involved in rendering such assistance. That statement also was false." Edit. "Acting, therefore, in the defense of our own security and of the entire Western Hemisphere, and under the authority entrusted to me by the Constitution as endorsed by the resolution of the Congress, I have directed that the following initial steps be taken immediately: First: To halt this offensive buildup, a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated. All ships of any kind bound for Cuba from whatever nation or port will, if found to contain cargoes of offensive weapons, be turned back." Edit. "It shall be the policy of this Nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union." Edit. "I call upon Chairman Khrushchev to halt and eliminate this clandestine, reckless and provocative threat to world peace and to stable relations between our two nations. I call upon him further to abandon this course of world domination, and to join in an historic effort to end the perilous arms race and to transform the history of man." Edit. "Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right- -not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world. God willing, that goal will be achieved."
Speeches of JFK
September 25, 1961 Excerpt of President JOHN F. KENNEDY addressing the United Nations: "Every man, woman and child lives under a nuclear sword of Damocles, hanging by the slenderest of threads, capable of being cut at any moment by accident or miscalculation or by madness. The weapons of war must be abolished before they abolish us."
Speeches of JFK
May 25, 1961 Excerpt of President JOHN F. KENNEDY delivering State of the Union speech to Joint Session of Congress: "...we are anxious to live in harmony with the Russian people, that we seek no conquests, no satellites, no riches, that we seek only the day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Finally, our greatest asset in this struggle is the American people, their willingness to pay the price for these programs, to understand and accept a long struggle, to share their resources with other less fortunate people, to meet the tax levels and close the tax loopholes I have requested, to exercise self-restraint instead of pushing up wages or prices, or over-producing certain crops, or spreading military secrets, or urging unessential expenditures or improper monopolies or harmful work stoppages, to serve in the Peace Corps or the Armed Services or the Federal Civil Service or the Congress, to strive for excellence in their schools, in their cities and in their physical fitness and that of their children, to take part in Civil Defense, to pay higher postal rates, and higher payroll taxes and higher teachers' salaries, in order to strengthen our society, to show friendship to students and visitors from other lands who visit us and go back in many cases to be the future leaders, with an image of America, and I want that image, and I know you do, to be affirmative and positive. And, finally, to practice democracy at home, in all States, with all races, to respect each other and to protect the Constitutional rights of all citizens. I have not asked for a single program which did not cause one or all Americans some inconvenience, or some hardship, or some sacrifice. But they have responded and you in the Congress have responded to your duty. And I feel confident in asking today for a similar response to these new and larger demands. It is heartening to know, as I journey abroad, that our country is united in its commitment to freedom and is ready to do its duty." Mr. Kennedy shakes hands with Vice-President LYNDON JOHNSON and the Speaker of the House before leaving rostrum.