President Kennedy’s Famous 1960 Liberal Quote

Truthmonk

 

During his acceptance of the New York Liberal Party’s nomination, President John F. Kennedy made his famous liberal quote —

What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label “Liberal?” If by “Liberal” they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer’s dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of “Liberal.” But if by a “Liberal” they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a “Liberal,” then I’m proud to say I’m a “Liberal.”

This elegant quote was from the first paragraph of the September 14, 1960 speech.

The Monastery’s library multimedia section has a free PDF, “Kennedy’s Acceptance Liberal 1960” article of the entire text of his speech. The PDF also has an embedded mp3 audio of Kennedy speaking his famous, elegant, liberal quote along with background material about President Kennedy and the New York Liberal Party.

Gratuitous plug: Last October 5, we released an elegant design that befits Kennedy’s quote. His quote is printed in the shape of a large capital ‘L’ that is available on a number of great products including t-shirts, mugs, buttons, etc.

As always, store proceeds go to help those with autism spectrum disorders.

Download “Kennedy’s Acceptance Liberal 1960” article as a free PDF file containing the Kennedy mp3 audio and background information on President Kennedy and the New York Liberal Party.

Check out all our products with this great design based on Kennedy’s elegant quote in defense of liberalism.

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An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917 – 1963 In this riveting tour de force, Boston University history professor Robert Dallek delivers what will most assuredly become the benchmark JFK biography for this generation. Dallek breaks significant new ground on a range of fronts including but not limited to Kennedy’s health. Dallek’s revelations about JFK’s health, based on previously unavailable medical files reveals the full extent of the medical coverup orchestrated by the Kennedy family. Close to two-thirds of this biography covers Kennedy’s truncated presidency. Dallek marshals new evidence that JFK did not view with favor the expansion of the war in Vietnam, and that he most likely would not have sanctioned such an expansion.

Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero This book shows Jack Kennedy in the company of friends. We see and feel him close-up, having fun and giving off that restlessness of his. We watch him navigate his life from privileged, rebellious youth to gutsy American president. We witness his bravery in war and selfless rescue of his PT boat crew. We watch JFK as a young politician learning to play hardball and watch him grow into the leader who averts a nuclear war. The Jack Kennedy you discover here wanted never to be alone, never to be bored. He loved courage, hated war, lived each day as if it were his last.