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Coal Valley News
April 14, 1960

Roosevelt and Humphrey Given Good Reception in Madison

Humphrey Dinner

To give a more complete account of the Humphrey talk here - we have reserved it for next week, giving the Roosevelt account the limelight this week.

In a talk at Madison last Saturday noon, Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., an able speaker, told some 250 people why he was for Sen. Kennedy for president.

It was a cold day and the speaking was moved into the courthouse. Fred Ramsey presented Mr. Roosevelt.

In a family reference, Mr. Roosevelt said, "Your editor says my mother stopped in front of this courthouse back in the days of the depression - on the way to investigate the grave conditions of miners of Logan County.

"It was under the leadership of my father that this nation licked the depression and then Hitler. I am proud to be my father's son - I am equally proud to be my mother's son."

Mr. Roosevelt continued -

"We have been through one depression in our day and time - that Hoover could not bestir himself to do anything about. Now we are skirting close to the fringes of another... Does it matter if we balance the national budget if the people are unable to balance their own budget?

"Official Washington today does not have either the heart or the mind (will) to meet the problems of this critical day - either problems of unemployed, national defense or international relations.

"We are fortunate to have two great men like Humphrey and Kennedy running for president - between whom you are privileged to register your preference.

"This I am sure about. All Republicans are not going to vote Republican this year. May I emphasize - this is the most important election since 1932.

"I am for Jack Kennedy - because I know him. I know the fiber out of which he is made and what makes him tick. I know his qualifications, his indomitable spirit, the strength of his character and his deep, abiding, innate good will. I know, as president, he will rise to the emergencies of his administration - and that HE will be president if the people of this great democracy repose that faith and responsibility in him.

"I know - because we were in college together; we served in the Navy and in the Pacific theater of combat together; and we served in Congress together. He has served well in war and in peace - and when he went, with millions of others of valiant sons and daughters, no one thought to ask him if he were a Catholic, a Jew or a Protestant? I know that as president John Kennedy will serve this country's best interests - and yours here in West Virginia - with loyalty and devotion.

"I speak as a Protestant whose forbears came to this country in 1621 - fleeing from religious persecution."

"Will Kennedy be a vote-getter? Judge for yourself. Massachusetts is a state like yours - with economic troubles like yours. Henry Cabot Lodge Sr. defeated John Kennedy's father; but John Kennedy won over Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. by 500,000 votes, the greatest majority ever accorded any candidate in Massachussetts [sic]. He won the New Hampshire primary by the biggest vote for any one person, in his own back yard - and he won in Wisconsin, in Humphrey's back yard, by 57 percent of the total vote.

"The eyes of the nation and probably of the world are on West Virginia. What you do here will count for much. This is one time when your vote could determine the outcome of our national election - and could vitally influence the trend of world events."

The people heard Roosevelt and they were impressed.


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