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Beckley Post-Herald

October 20, 1960

3,500 Greet Her Here

Mrs. Roosevelt Favors Cabinet Post For Adlai

An estimated crowd of 3,500 gathered in front of the Raleigh County Courthouse Wednesday to see and hear Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mrs. George M. Harvey of 201 Orchard Ave. presented Mrs. Roosevelt with a corsage on behalf of Raleigh County Democrats. Mrs. Harvey told the crowd Mrs. Roosevelt was "Strong in spirit, courageous, of tremendous vitality, and moves across the United States giving strength and purpose to our prayers and hopes for lasting peace."

"It's been a long while since I heard a republican administration say it is planning for the future - before things happen"- Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt told an audience of about 2,500 at the courthouse here Wednesday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, in a speech at Athens, Mrs. Roosevelt indicated she would like to see Adlai Stevenson get a cabinet post if Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kennedy is elected.

"We haven't advanced much toward a peaceful world in the past few years," the former First Lady told some 1,500 students and residents in front of the Administration Building on Concord College campus.

"Our political problems have remained unsolved," she said. "It will take a new approach to solve them."

"John Kennedy with Adlai Stevenson to help him on foreign policy, can solve the problems," Mrs. Roosevelt said shortly after beginning a one-day swing through southern West Virginia on behalf of Democratic candidates.

Stevenson twice was the unsuccessful democratic nominee for president.

At her arrival at Bluefield Airport at mid-morning the late president's wife was greeted by an estimated 2,500.

Mrs. Roosevelt spoke on the courthouse lawn at Princeton to some 3,000 persons before going to a factory to meet employees, mostly women.

At Mercer County Airport outside Bluefield she told a crowd estimated by sheriff's deputies at about 2,500 that she had asked Kennedy what could be done to improve economical conditions in West Virginia.

Mrs. Roosevelt replied he had already asked a group to make a study on the state's problems. She added it was gratifying to "see someone determined to try to find a solution to the economic problems in depressed areas."

At Athens she also told the groups outside Concord College that "young people have a tremendous stake in the next election."

"The Democratic candidate (Kennedy) is trying to tell the people the truth about the world in which we live," Mrs. Roosevelt said. "We must be very sure of what we believe in - that there is dignity in every human being."

Mrs. Roosevelt also appeared in Hinton.

An estimated 2,000 braved the rain at Charleston Wednesday night for Mrs. Roosevelt's speech in the Municipal Auditorium. The speech was carried over a statewide radio hookup.

She touched on religion, foreign affairs and the Kennedy-Nixon debates.

She termed some of the anti-Catholic literature she received as "ridiculous." She said that Kennedy had voted in opposition to Congressional measures favored by the Roman Catholic Church.

She said Vice President Nixon has not accepted a Kennedy request for a fifth nationwide television debate because "he feels he's not on very safe grounds."


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