Scott Jenkins

Forty-two years ago today President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. JFK has always been one of my political heroes. Even though he died 12 years before I was born I can say that he had a big impact on my dreams of going into politics. It actually was while doing a paper in 8th grade on how the world would have been different had he not been killed that I met Senator Thomas Bromwell, who has been the other huge political influence in my life.

So on the anniversary of his death I wanted to share an excerpt of a speech that had JFK not been killed he was set to deliver later that day in Texas. While he never was able to deliver this speech I feel these words hold so much meaning as where we need to be as a people so I wanted to share them here:

“For this country is moving and it must not stop. It cannot stop. For this is a time for courage and a time for challenge. Neither conformity nor complacency will do. Neither the fanatics nor the fainthearted are needed. And our duty as a party is not to our party alone, but to the nation, and, indeed, to all mankind. Our duty is not merely the preservation of political power but the preservation of peace and freedom. So let us not be petty when our cause is so great. Let us not quarrel amongst ourselves when our nation’s future is at stake. Let us stand together with renewed confidence in our cause – united in our heritage of the past and our hopes for the future – and determined that this land we love shall lead all mankind into new frontiers of peace and abundance.� - John F. Kennedy (excerpt from speech he was suppose to deliver 11/22/63)

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