In the election of 1860 Abraham Lincoln said the question was whether this nation could exist half slave or half free. In the election of 1960 and with the world around us, the question is whether the world will exist, half slave or half free. Whether it will move in the direction of freedom, in the direction of the road that we are taking, or whether it will move in the direction of slavery. I think it will depend in great measure upon what we do here in the United States. On the kind of society that we build. On the kind of strength that we maintain. We discuss tonight domestic issues, but I would not want that to be any implication to be given, that this does not involve directly our struggle with Mr. Krushav for survival. Mr. Krushav is in New York and he maintains the communistic offensive throughout the world because of the productive power of the Soviet Union itself. The Chinese communists have always had a large population, but they are important and dangerous now because they are mounting a major effort within their own country. The kind of country we have here, the kind of society we have, the kind of strength we build in the United States will be the defense of freedom. If we do well here, if we meet our obligations, if we're moving ahead, then I think freedom will be secure around the world. If we fail, then freedom fails. Therefore I think the question before the American people is are we doing as much as we can do? Are we as strong as we should be? Are we as strong as we must be if we're going to maintain our independence? And if we're going to maintain and hold out the hand of friendship to those who look to us for assistance, to those who look to us for survival, I should make it very clear that I do not think we are doing enough, that I am not satisfied as an American with the progress we are making. This is a great country but I think it could be a greater country. And this is a powerful country but I think it could be a more powerful country. I'm not satisfied to have 50% of our steel mill capacity unused. I'm not satisfied when the United States had last year the lowest rate of economic growth of any major industrialized society in the world. Because economic growth means strength and vitality. It means we're able to sustain our defenses . It means we're able to meet our commitment abroad. I'm not satisfied when we have over 9 billion dollars worth of food, some of it rotting, even though there is a hungry world and even though 4 million Americans wait every month for a food package from the government, which averages five cents a day per individual. I saw cases in West Virginia, here in the United States, where children took home part of their school lunch in order to feed their families because I don't think we're meeting our obligation towards these Americans. I'm not satisfied when the Soviet Union is turning out twice as many scientists and engineers as we are. I'm not satisfied when many of our teachers are inadequately paid or when our children go to school part time shifts. I think we should have and educational system second to none.
Dictation #2 Nixon Video
The things that Senator Kennedy has said many of us can agree with. There is no question but that we cannot discuss our internal affairs in the United States without recognizing that they have a tremendous bearing on our international position. There is no question but that this nation cannot stand still. Because we are in a deadly competition. A competition not only with the men in the Kremlin but the men in Peking. We're ahead in this competition as Senator Kennedy I think has implied. But when you're in a race the only way to stay ahead is to move ahead. And I subscribe completely to the spirit that Senator Kennedy has expressed tonight. The spirit that the United States should move ahead. Where then do we disagree? I think we disagree on the implications of his remarks tonight and on the statements that he has made on many occasions during his campaign to the affect that the United States has been standing still. We heard tonight for example the statement made that our growth in national product last year was the lowest of any industrialized nation in the world. Now last year of course was 1958. That happened to be a recession year. But when we look at the growth in GNP this year a year of recovery we find that it's 6 and 9/10ths percent and one of the highest in the world today. More about that later. Looking than to this problem of how the United States should move ahead and where the United States is moving I think it is well that we take the advice of a very famous campaigner. Let's look at the record. Is the United States standing still? Is it true that this administration as Senator Kennedy has charged has been an administration of retreat, of defeat, of stagnation? Is it true that as far as this country is concerned in the field of electric power in all of the fields he has mentioned we have not been moving ahead? Well we have a comparison that we can make. We have the record of the Truman administration of seven and a half years and the seven and a half years of the Eisenhower Administration. When we compare these two records in the areas that Senator Kennedy has discussed tonight I think we find that we have been moving ahead.
Dictation #3 Elenor Roosevelt
I'm very glad to be with you to preside over this round table because the subject that we are concerned with seems to me extremely important. You know, it's a matter of history what women have done in the last 100 years. Now we have to think through what our objectives are for the next 100 years. It seems to me that one of the things most closely felt and actually in the minds of every women present here is how we are going to function so as to bring about a civilized and peaceful world. Now I am going to introduce the members of this round table who are to be joined I hope after they have started the discussion by all the delegates present who I will I am sure have many important things to say.
Dictation #4 Hoover Video
The Federal Bureau of investigation is waging and will continue to wage a relentless warfare against crime and criminals. Progress has been made. Further advances against the insidious activities of underworld characters and their vicious conspiring parasites must yet be made. Our work in the future best can be judged by the events of the past. Every kidnapping case brought to our attention has been solved. Bank robberies have been cut in half. Extortionists have been consistently apprehended and other forms of federal offenses have been vigorously prosecuted. 94 of every 100 persons whom we have brought to trial are convicted. What is America's greatest need in law enforcement? There are three needs: lack of politics, emphasis on efficiency and cooperation between law enforcement agencies. There should be no such thing as factional or geographical jealously. We all should be concerned with only one goal, the eradication of crime. That goal will not be reached until every law enforcement agency works in smooth coordination, free from the stultifying influences of politics and dedicated to one purpose and one purpose alone - the protection and safety of the law abiding citizens. May I emphasize that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is as close to you as your nearest telephone. It belongs to you. It seeks to be your protector in all matters within its jurisdiction. However if you are in receipt of a kidnapping threat and do not report it and keep it secret all the law enforcement agencies of the world cannot aid you. But if you promptly report the receipt of any threats of kidnapping or extortion to this bureau the entire power and facilities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation will be placed at your disposal to bring the culprits to justice.
Dictation #5 Declaration of Independence
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and the nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the cause which impelled to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, having its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
Dictation #6 THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining which they fought here thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.
Dictation #7 Ich bin ein Berliner
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. I want to say, on behalf of my countrymen, who live many miles away on the other side of the Atlantic, who are far distant from you, that they take the greatest pride that they have been able to share with you, even from a distance, the story of the last 18 years. I know of no town, no city, that has been besieged for 18 years that, still lives with the vitality and the force, and the hope and the determination of the city of West Berlin. While the wall is the most obvious and vivid demonstration of the failures of the Communist system, for all the world to see, we take no satisfaction in it, for it is, as your Mayor has said, but an offense not only against history but an offense against humanity, separating families, dividing husbands and wives and brothers and sisters, and dividing a people who wish to be joined together.
What is true of this city is true of Germany--real, lasting peace in Europe can never be assured as long as one German out of four is denied the elementary right of free men, and that is to make a free choice. In 18 years of peace and good faith, this generation of Germans has earned the right to be free, including the right to unite their families and their nation in lasting peace, with good will to all people. 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, of 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.
Dictation #8 Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death - Patrick Henry
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have us bound hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three million of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we are base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
