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Alderson Times
May 5, 1960
Sen. Kennedy Speaks Briefly At Local High School Wed.
Senator John F. Kennedy spoke briefly to an overflow crowd at the
Alderson high school auditorium where he was greeted by school
principal, Neil McEachron, Dick Strealey, president of the student body
and Charles Huffman, president of the senior class.
Preceding the senator's speech his brother Ted Kennedy spoke in behalf
of his brother as candidate for president and explained that the senator
would not be able to speak but briefly because he was suffering with a
throat infection.
Both speakers were introduced by James Manchen [sic], of Parkersburg,
who is campaigning for Kennedy in West Virginia.
In speaking of his campaign in West Virginia Kennedy stated that a
candidate for the high office of president of the United States should
take his candidacy to the people. This he gave as his reason for his
touring the state before the primary election.
He emphasized the fact that you are never able to arouse interest and
gain support unless you go out and seek it.
He emphasized the problems facing West Virginia in 1960 and said it will
take vital and energetic forces to solve these problems. He also
stressed the fact that they eyes of the country are on West Virginia and
that if he is elected he would do all in his power as president to help
solve these problems.
A large crowd of Alderson residents and those of the near vicinity
welcomed Kennedy and his party which arrived about 11:45 a.m. and left
after 1 p.m.
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Remarks of Senator John
F. Kennedy at Alderson, West Virginia, May 4, 1960
J. F. Kennedy Library |
This is a transcription of this
speech made for the convenience of readers and researchers. A copy of
the speech exists in the Senate Speech file of the John F. Kennedy
Pre-Presidential Papers at the John F. Kennedy Library.
"The most urgent and critical need of the people of Greenbrier County -
and of all the people of West Virginia - is the need to attract new
industry - new jobs and new incomes - to your state.
And there is no place in West Virginia more ideally suited to industrial
development than Greenbrier County. You have some of the best and most
beautiful business sites in the world. You have a strong, determined and
skilled people - people who want to work, are willing to work, and
should be given the chance to work. You are situated within easy reach
of America's most important markets. And you have the resources - the
human resources and the material resources which new industry demands.
All you need in order to start a vital, booming industrial development
in Greenbrier County, is a little help and a little understanding from
Washington.
We Democrats have given you this help and understanding. We have
proposed legislation in Congress to help stimulate new jobs and new
industry in Greenbrier County, and the many other hard-hit areas of this
country - legislation which will restore prosperity and hope to your
state - a bill which provides long-term loans, technical assistance,
help in building roads and water supplies, and all the essential
prerequisites of economic growth.
A Democratic Congress passed this bill in 1958 - but it was vetoed -
vetoed without regard to the suffering and tragedy that fills the more
than 100 distressed communities of heavy unemployment - vetoed by a
Republican President, Dwight D. Eisenhower. But in 1961 - with a
Democratic President in the White House, this legislation will become a
reality - and in 1961 Greenbrier County will begin the march back to
prosperity and abundance for all its people." |
