Record. This is the background for speeches made by political nominees john f. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. John f. Kennedy was a u. S. Senator representing massachusetts. Here he is at the Democratic National convention in los angeles, followed by Richard Nixon in chicago. [applause] [cheering] senator kennedy governor stevenson, senator johnson, senator humphrey, speaker rayburn, fellow democrats, i want to express my thanks to governor stevenson for a generous and heartwarming introduction. [applause] it was my great honor to place his name in nomination at the 1956 democratic nomination, i am delighted to have his support and his counsel and his advice in the coming months ahead. [applause] let me say first, that i accept the nomination of the Democratic Party. [applause] i accept it without reservation, and with only one obligation, the obligation to devote every effort of my mind and spirit to lead our party back to victory , and our nation to greatness. I am grateful too, that you have provided us with such a strong platform to stand on and run on. [applause] pledges which are made so eloquently are made to be kept. The civil andman, economic rights essential to the economic dignity of all men are indeed our goal, and are indeed our first principle. This is a platform on which i can run with enthusiasm and with conviction. And i am grateful, finally, that i can rely in the coming months of many others. On a distinguished running mate who brings unity and strength to our platform and ticket, lyndon johnson. [applause] and one of the most articulate okesmen of our times, addley stevenson. A great fighter for our needs and our people, stewart signington. And my traveling companion in wisconsin and west virginia, senator hubert humphrey. On paul butler, our devoted and courageous chairman, and on that fighting campaigner whose support i welcome, president harry truman. [applause] i feel a lot safer with all of them on my side. And i am proud of the contrast of our republican competitors. For their ranks are so thin that not one challenger has dared to put his head up in the last 12 months. [applause] i am fully aware of the fact that the Democratic Party, by nominating someone of my faith, has taken on what many regard as new atnd hazardous risk, least since 1928. The Democratic Party has placed its confidence in the american people, and in their ability to free and fair judgment, and in my ability to render a free and fair judgment. [applause] to uphold the constitution and my oath of office. To reject any kind of religious pressure or obligation that might directly or indirectly interfere with my conduct of the presidency in the natural interest. [applause] my record of 14 years in supporting public education, supporting complete separation of church and state, and resisting pressure of sources of nowkind, should be clear by to everyone. [applause] i hope that no american, i hope that no american, considering the really Critical Issues facing this country, will waste his franchise and throw away his vote by voting either for me or against me because of my religious affiliation. It is not relevant. [applause] i am telling you what you are entitled to know, as i come before you seeking your support for the most powerful office in the free world. I am saying to you that my decisions on every Public Policy will be my own as an american, as a democrat, and as a free man. [applause] i mention all of this only because this country faces so many serious challenges, so many great opportunities, so many responsibilities, that i hope that it is those great matters that we can address ourselves in the coming months. And if this statement of mine makes it easier to concentrate on our nations problems, then i am glad that i have made it. [applause] under any circumstances, the victory we seek in november will not be easy. We know that in our hearts, we know that our opponent will invoke the name of Abraham Lincoln on behalf of their candidate. Despite the fact that his political career has often seemed to show Charity Towards non, and malice towards all. Show Charity Towards none, and malice towards all. We know that it will not be easy to campaign against a man who has spoken and voted on every side of every issue. [applause] mr. Nixon may feel that it is his turn now, after the new deal and the fair deal. But before he deals, someone is going to cut the cards. [applause] that someone may be the millions of americans who voted for president eisenhower, but would balk at electing his successor. For just as historians tell us that richard the first was not fit to fill the shoes of the bold henry the second, and as and that Richard Cornwall was not fit to wear the medal of his uncle, they might add in future years that Richard Nixon did not measure up to the footsteps of dwight d. Eisenhower. [applause] that he could carry on the party policies, the policies of andn and benson and dirksen goldwater, but the nation cannot afford such a luxury. We could afford a coolidge following harding, and perhaps we could afford a pierce but afterfillmore, buchanan, this nation needed lincoln. After taft, we needed wilson. And after hoover, we needed franklin roosevelt. [applause] but we are not merely running against mr. Nixon. Ne ofask is not merely o itemizing republican failures, nor is that only necessary, for the families forced from the farm do not need to tell them for the plight. The unemployed minors and the and textileners workers know that the decision is before them. The families without a decent home, the parents of children without a decent school, they all know that it is time for a change. [applause] we are not here to curse the darkness, we are here to light a candle. [applause] as Winston Churchill said on taking office some 20 years ago, if we open a quarrel between the present in the past and be in danger of losing the future. Our concern must be with the future because the world is changing and the old era is ending, and the old ways will not do. Abroad the balance of power is shifting, new and more terrible weapons are coming into use. One third of the world may be free, but one third is a victim of a cruel repression and the other third is rock i and hunger and disease. Communist influence has penetrated into asia, it stands in the middle east, and now, some 90 miles off the coast of florida. Friends have slipped into neutrality and neutrals have slipped into hostility. As our keynote reminded us, the president who began his career it ng to korea and did by going to korea ended it by staying away from japan. [applause] the world has been close to war before, but now man, who has survived all previous threats, has taken into his mortal hands the power to exterminate his species seven times over. Here at home, the future is equally revolutionary. The new deal, and the fair deal put bold measures for their generations, but now this is a new generation, a technological output, explosion on the farms has led to an output explosion. An urban population revolution andovercrowded our schools flooded our cities and crowded our slums. A peaceful resolution for human rights, demanding an end to Racial Discrimination in all parts of our community life, has strained at leashes imposed by a timid executive leadership. It is time, in short [applause] it is time, in short, for a new generation of leadership. All over the world, particularly in the newer nations, young man young men are coming to power, men who are not bound by the traditions of the past. Men who are not blinded by the old fears and hate send rivalries, young men who can cast off the old slogans and the old delusions. The republican nominee, of course, is a young man, but his approach is as old as mckinley. [applause] his party is the party of the past, the party of memories. His speeches are generalities from Poor Richards almanac. Their platform, made up of all leftover democratic planks, has the courage of our old convictions. Their pledge is for the status quo, and today there is no status quo. For i stand here tonight, facing west on what was once the last frontier, from the lands that stretched 3000 miles behind us , the pioneers gave up their safety, their comfort, and sometimes their lives to build our new west. They were not the captives of their own doubt, or the prisoners of their own. They were determined to make the world strong and free, an example to the world, to overcome its hazards and its hardships, to conquer the enemies that threatened within and without. Some would say that those over, that allll the horizons have been explored, that all the battles have been won, that there is no longer an american frontier. But i charge that no one in this convention would agree with that sentiment. For the problems are not all solved, and the battles are not all won, and we stand today on the edge of a new frontier, the frontier of the 1960s, the frontier of unknown thertunities and perils, frontier of unfilled hopes and unfilled threats. Woodrow wilsons new freedom promised our nation a new economic framework. Franklin roosevelts new deal uccor to security and s those in need. But the new frontier of which i speak is not a set of promises. It is a set of challenges. It sums up not what i intend to offer to the american people, but what i intend to ask of them. It appeals to their pride. [applause] it appeals to our pride, not our security. It holds out the promise of more sacrifice, instead of more security. A new frontier is here, whether we seek it or not. Beyond that frontier are uncharted areas of science and space, unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered providence of ignorance and and prejudice, Unanswered Questions of poverty and surplus. It would be easier to shrink from that new frontier, to look to the safe mediocrity of the past, to be lulled by good intentions and high rhetoric and those who prefer that cause should not vote for me of the Democratic Party. [applause] but i believe that the times require imagination, courage, and perseverance. I am asking each of you to be pioneers towards that new frontier. My call is to the young at heart, regardless of age, to the stout in spirit, regardless of party, to all who respond to the call to be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, neither be dismayed. Four for courage, not complacency is our need today. Leadership, not salesmanship. And the only valid a test of leadership is the ability to lead, and lead vigorously. A tired nation, said david lloyd george, is a tory nation. And the United States today cannot afford to be either tired or tory. [applause] there may be those who wish to hear more, more promises to this group or that, more harsh rhetoric about the men in the kremlin as a substitute for policy more assurances of a , golden future where taxes are always low in the subsidies are and the subsidies are always high. But my promises are in the platform that you have adopted. Our ends will not be won by rhetoric, and we can only have faith in the future only if we have faith in ourselves. [applause] for the harsh facts of the matter are that we stand at this frontier at a turning point of history. We must prove all over again to we stand onorld, as a most conspicuous stage, whether this nation conceived as it is with its freedom of its opportunity, and range of alternatives can compete with the singleminded advance of the communists. Can a nation organized and governed such as ours and your endure . As ours that is the real question. Have we the nerve and the will . Can we carry through it age where we will witness not only new breakthroughs, but also raise for the mastery of the ocean and the tides the far side , of space, and the inside of mens mind. That is the question of the new frontier and the choice that our nation must make. A choice that does not rely between two men or two parties, but between private interest and public comfort, from breathing the fresh air of progress and this tale, dank atmosphere of normalcy, between dedication and mediocrity. All mankind waits for our decision, a whole world looks to see what we shall do, and we cannot fail that trust, and we cannot fail to try. It has been a long road from the first, snowy day in New Hampshire many months ago, to this crowded convention city. Now begins another long journey, taking me into your cities and homes across the United States. Give me your help, and your hand, and your voice. [applause] recall with me the words of isaiah, they that wait upon the lord shall receive strength. They shall mount up on the wings of eagles. They shall run and not be weary. As we face the upcoming great challenge, we shall wait upon the lord and ask that renew our strength. Then we shall be equal to the test. Then we shall not the weary. Then we shall prevail. [applause] [happy days are here again playing] when Richard Nixon accepted the republican nomination for president in 1960, he was the incumbent Vice President after spending eight years in the eisenhower administration. Earlier, he was elected to two terms in the u. S. House and one in the senate, representing california. Richard nixon accepted the nomination at the republican National Convention in chicago. [applause] [applause] yahoo David Brinkley more bags of balloon have been released. It has been a big year of balloons. The celebration last night, balloons were filled up with gas and released as folks lined up. Popping] that sound, which you may possibly hear on your home receiver, Something Like a telegraph in operation, that is caused by these bursting balloons, thousands of them. Popping] mrs. Nixon, the Vice President s wife, and his mother, two little girls. They are describing the costume of a lady, but mrs. Nixons dress, incidentally, is a right green, and a hat to match. David brinkley nbcs margins zanoski asked misses nixon to step out from the vip line long enough to ask her a few questions, and she said she would like to, but the children were so excited that she was reluctant to come. [cheering and applause] hoo. O the ticket. [cheering and applause] the demonstration may be hard to stop, because the man we have , thisearing about or days is the first time he has been up there himself. [indistinct chatter] [applause] [crowd cheering] them have ao let chance to get to their spots. They will move as quickly as they can. That is a huge gathering. The aisles are so narrow. [crowd chanting] there is texas, arizona again, ole, ole. Delegates are still facing the aisles and carrying signs, waiting to them are begin. [crowd starts chanting] thank you. The delegates will take their places as quickly as they can. And if you will just be quiet, you are going to have dick nixon. [cheering and applause] mr. Chairman, delegates of Vice President nixon mr. Chairman, delegates of this convention, my fellow americans, i have made many speeches in my life, and never have i found it more difficult to find the words adequate to express what i feel as i find them tonight. To stand here before this great convention, to hear your expression of affection for me, for pat, for our daughters, for my mother, for all of us who are representing our party is of course the greatest moment of my life. And i want you [applause] and i just want you to know that my only prayer, as i stand here, is that in the months ahead, i may be in some way worthy of the affection and trust which you have presented to me on this occasion, and everything i say, everything i do, everything i in everything i do in this campaign, and after. [applause] may i say also that i have been wanting to come to this convention, but because of the protocol that makes it necessary for a candidate not to attend the convention until the nominations are over, i have had to look on it on television. But i want all of you to know that i have never been so proud of my party as i have been in these last three days. [cheering and applause] and as i have compared this convention, the conduct of our delegates and our speakers with what went on in my native state of california dust two weeks ago [cheering and applause] , and i congratulate the chairman, and chairman martin and all of those who have helped , to make this convention one that will stand in the annals of our party forever as one of the finest we have ever held. Have you ever stopped to think of the memories you will take away from this convention . The things that run through my mind are these, that first day with the magnificent speeches. Mr. Hoover with his great lessons for the american people. [applause] walter judge with one of the most outstanding keynote addresses in either party in history. [applause] and last night, our beloved , fighting president making the greatest speech i have ever heard him make before this convention. [applause] your platform and its magnificent reason tatian by chuck magnificent percy, then by chuck chairman. [applause] for these and for so many other things i want to congratulate you tonight, and the thank you from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of america, not just republicans, americans everywhere, for making us proud of our country and our twoparty system, for what you have done. [cheering and applause] and tonight, too, i particularly want to thank this convention for nominating as my running mate a world statesman of first rank, my friend and colleague Henry Cabot Lodge of massachusetts. [applause] in refreshing contrast to what happened in los angeles, you nominated a man who shared my views on the great issues and who will work with me and not against me in carrying out our magnificent platform. [applause] and may i say that during this week, we republicans who feel strongly about our party and about our country have had our differences, but as the speech by senator goldwater indicated yesterday [applause] and the elegant eloquent and gracious remarks that my friend rockefeller indicated tonight, [applause] we republicans know the differences that divide us are incontestable compared to what the democrats would upon us from what they did in their convention two weeks ago. [applause] it was only eight years ago that i stood in this very place, after you had nominate as our candidate for president