October 24, 1960 - Senator John F. Kennedy's Remarks at University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL

‘’….but if this is the way we turn out in these strong Republican centers, what is happening to Mr. Nixon all over the United States? This is an important campaign and these are important issues which face our country, and I appreciate your coming here. Prince Bismarck once said that one-third of the students - I guess maybe you better get down there a little - [applause], Prince Bismarck once said that one-third of the students of German universities broke down from overwork, another third broke down from dissipation, and the other third ruled Germany. I do not know which third of the student body of this university is here today, but I am confident I am talking to the rulers of America, in the sense that all educated men and women have the obligation to accept the discipline of self-government.
Mr. Nixon and I campaign for the most important office in the free world, but in my judgment this is more than a contest between Mr. Nixon and myself. It is more than a contest between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. It is a contest between the contented and the concerned, between those who wish to stand still and those who wish to move ahead. ‘’

[@dickalbright732]

I was there, grad in 61, joined NavAir, Wings in '62...off to Yorktown & Bennington. Kennedy said, "Ask not..." and...we did.

[@d.g.s.7699]

God bless you LT Dick!

[@nome5123]

JFK was great historian and boasts his knowledge of when and where. This is when he is up in the polls and is bringing it home.

[@soleilsoleil8287]

We were lucky to have him as a president luckily there were cameras to never forget and thanks to those making this available for jfk fans

[@ericparedes8160]

"It is a contest between the contented and the concerned!"

[@davidprosser7278]

Great Boston accent. And a speech with substance.

[@1burnman]

I've never seen president Kennedy the fired up either

[@trock6577]

Incredibly smart, greatest orator of my lifetime yet not without faults as have been covered extensively. In my opinion, no one comes close since.

[@postmoderncowboy93]

goddamn i never seen Kennedy this fired up! D:

[@vecumex9466]

Simply the best!

[@musicalmelodies3595]

LOL i was about to say the same! He is usually passionate but this was Level 11 out of 10

[@allaroundme5429]

A leader who saw the bigger picture ... Damn...

[@macintosh7169]

Wow! Great speaker! He has my vote!!

[@davidcory7241]

JFK was fired up in this speech, far more than usual.

[@OnePost909]

This was a campaign speech in the stretch run of a very tight race. He had this level of intensity for many weeks but naturally scaled it down after the election.

[@dannyburch2122]

Some people are born great some people achieve greatness others have it thrust upon them JFK

[@meganmcclaygamer3272]

all three applied to him hehe

[@ericparedes8160]

@@meganmcclaygamer3272 Hell yeah. Unfortunately slavery is upon us now.

[@zackc8705]

U OF I- "And I come the this University which is a center of knowledge, which is a center of truth..."

[@dannyburch2122]

An idealist without illusion JFK

[@jimregan2006]

The contrast to today...words fail... yes trying but words fails totally.

[@matiassebastianponcef.3689]

That is a president I'd like to have

[@weathersbythesavagereacts2853]

I second that

[@jkrasney1]

Instead... .

[@davidcory7241]

JFK: Cuber.

[@1burnman]

Thanks again my friend I appreciate it very much Helmer

[@jimbobjimjim6500]

Irish passion.

[@aladdinzwawi794]

What visionary man he was?

[@spicey6646]

Thanks loads!

[@d.g.s.7699]

JFK had quite the knowledge of geopolitics. (He rarely looked at his notes).

[@bertramattles1695]

Yes I have always said the same thing that he would only once in a while glace at the location of maybe a bullet point but mostly he was a remarkable orator

[@funnythat9956]

it is interesting that the US, throughout its history, has elected intellectual heavy weights and barely literate people to the presidency

[@ISCDESIGNAustralia]

if one watches any of JFKs speeches, one an clearly see WHY he was such a threat; he was AUTHENTIC

[@martinhinkley201]

It's a shame that Presidents and prime Ministers can't speak like this in today's times

[@josephgeorge7385]

Thanks for posting

[@funnythat9956]

interesting that the struggle between freedom and totalitarianism now seems to play out within the USA (as of course it had done in the civil war)

[@folarinadejube5721]

He was able to see year 2000 and beyond way back in 1960.

[@billscott4080]

Where.s.the.statesmen Off.today.no.where Glad.to.have.lived 1950s..1960s

[@Broliathos]

its just mid blowing how you can just change the names and the facts are the same today as 1960.....

[@isukaman4092]

One can't help wondering that if he had lived and been reelected in 68 how JFK would have handled Vietnam. Keep in mind he was no pushover, ie the Cuban mIssile crisis.

[@dannyburch2122]

Isukaman well I think for one thing JFK would have never introduced ground troops in Vietnam I think we would have got out the fact is after the 64 election he was planning on withdrawing but he wanted to wait till he was reelected

[@dannyburch2122]

Would have never committed ground troops like L.B.J. did. JFK was going to pull 1000 advisors out after the 64 election

[@allaroundme5429]

He showed great compassion and great courage

[@him12672]

He would've let the Vietnam War be a civil war between the North & South. No American interjection, but no cultural revolution.

[@everettduncan7543]

64*

[@transylvanianite3391]

Kennedy was the Library of Congress in addition to reading all of history

[@garylee9738]

If Joe Jr. survived the War I don’t think he would have been able to be President.

[@garylee9738]

@Norberto Fontanez I don't think Joe was as deep a thinker as John was, John had written two books, how many did Joe write? And I don't think Joe had the political instincts John had or the charisma.

[@ronaldrothchild4068]

UNITED STATES SENATOR JOHN F. KENNEDY of Massachusetts

[@AQ-uc4bb]

The Kraken started here = )

[@redawson001]

Better than the democrat in office today

[@ronaldrothchild4068]

Doesn’t even compare , when rich men gave him their lifestyle for public service not to be woke neolib war hawks but to be real liberals of the people !

[@chriscole7056]

The 2 dislikes are communist