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Welch Daily News
April 26, 1960

Senator Kennedy And FDR, Jr., Here Today

Sen. John F. Kennedy, accompanied by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., was scheduled to make a 20-minute stop in Welch this afternoon.

The Democratic presidential hopeful and the son of the late president of the United States were expected to arrive at the local Municipal parking building at 4 o'clock on the second day of a three day tour of southern West Virginia counties. Kennedy is to return to McDowell county May 3 for an all-day stay which will be climaxed by a rally in the courthouse here.

The senator from Massachusetts is known to many McDowell countians, having appeared at a Democratic fund-raising dinner here last May. Roosevelt, who has been "stumping" the state in Kennedy's behalf, will be making his first appearance here.

The Kennedy group opened today's tour in Logan county and will wind up tonight at a rally at Glenwood Park near Princeton. After leaving Welch, Kennedy is scheduled to make stops in Kimball, Keystone, Northfork and Maybeury.

In Logan county at mid-morning Kennedy said that "every presidential candidate should come to West Virginia and see the Eisenhower curtains."

The Democratic aspirant said these "curtains" are boarded up houses and buildings in closed-down coal camps where miners were left without jobs and moved away.

"I have traveled this state from one end to the other, and I know its problems," he said. "This state needs action this year, not next year or the year after."

The 42-year-old candidate came out with a flat prediction that if he wins the West Virginia primary May 10, he'll get his party's nomination at the Democratic national convention in Los Angeles in July.

Senator Kennedy's remarks came while talking from the top of a sound truck to a know of coal miners and their families at Amherstdale.

"I think if I win in West Virginia, I will get the nomination and I believe I stand a good chance of being elected," he said.

Kennedy will probably find hundreds of warm supporters in the swing through this area. While local party leaders have not made, and probably will not make an official endorsement, the majority of them are know to favor his candidacy and will be giving their support on election day.

Many political observers are of the opinion that Kennedy will "carry" the county on May 10.


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