Senator kennedy with less than 1 of the popular vote separating the two candids. Ans speech is just under hour. Our coverages from nbc news. The demonstration may be a little hard to stop. This is the first time he has done here himself. The delegates are still going up the aisles. Nixon thank you. The delegates will take their as they can. Ckly if you are quiet, you are going to have dig nixon. Vice president s in vice mr. Chairman, delegates to this convention, my fellow americans, i have made many speeches in my life, and never have i found it more difficult to find the words adequate to express what i feel as i find them tonight. To stand here before this great convention, to hear your expressions of affection for me, for pat, for our daughters, for my mother, for all of us who are representing our party, is, of course, the greatest moment of my life. [applause] i just want you to know that my only prayer as i stand here is that in months ahead i may be in some way worthy of the affection and the trust which you have presented to me on this occasion in everything that i say, everything that i do, everything that i think in this campaign and afterwards. [applause] may i say also that i have been wanting to come to this convention, but because of the protocol that makes it necessary for a candidate not to attend the convention until the nominations are over ive had to look at it on television; but i want all of you to know that i have never been so proud of my party as i have been in these last three days as i have compared this convention, the conduct of our delegates and our speakers, with what went on in my native state of california just two weeks ago i congratulate chairman halleck and chairman morton and all of those who have helped to make this convention one that will stand in the annals of our party forever as one of the finest we have ever held. Have you ever stopped to think of the memories you will take away from this convention . The things that run through my mind are these that first day with the magnificent speeches; mr. Hoover with his great lesson for the American People; walter judd with one of the most outstanding keynote addresses in either party in history; and last night our beloved, fighting president making the greatest speech that i have ever heard him make; your platform and its magnificent presentation by chuck percy, the chairman. [applause] for these and for so many other things, i want to congratulate you tonight and to thank you from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of americansnot just republicansamericans everywhere, for making us proud of our country and of our twoparty system, for what you have done. [applause] tonight, too, i particularly want to thank this convention for nominating as my running mate a world statesman of the first rank, my friend and colleague, Henry Cabot Lodge of massachusetts. [applause] in refreshing contrast to what happened in los angeles, you nominated a man who shares my views on the great issues and who will work with me and not against me in carrying out our magnificent platform. [applause] and may i say that during this week we republicans, who feel our convictions strongly about our party and about our country, have had our differences, but, as the speech by senator goldwater indicated yesterday, and the eloquent and gracious remarks of my friend, nelson rockefeller, indicated tonight, we republicans know that the differences that divide us are infinitesimal compared to the gulf between us and what the democrats would put upon us from what they did in los angeles at their convention two weeks ago. [applause] it was only eight years ago that i stood in this very place after you had nominated as our candidate for the president one of the great men of our century, and i say to you tonight that for generations to come america, regardless of party, will gratefully remember Dwight Eisenhower as the man who brought peace to america as the man under whose leadership america enjoyed the greatest progress and prosperity in history, but, above all, they will remember him as the man who restored honesty, integrity and dignity to the conduct of government in the highest office of this land. [applause] and, my fellow americans, i know now that you will understand what i next say, because the next president of the United States will have his great example to follow, because the next president will have new and challenging problems in the world of utmost gravity. This truly is a time for greatness in americas leadership. I am sure you will understand why i do not say tonight that i alone am the man who can furnish that leadership. That question is not for me, but for you to decide, and i only ask that the thousands in this hall and the millions listening in to me on Television Make that decision in the most thoughtful way that you possibly can, because what you decide this november will not only affect your lives and your future, it will affect the future of millions throughout the world. I urge you to study the records of the candidates, listen to my speeches and those of my opponent, and those of mr. Lodge and those of his opponent, and then, after you have studied our records and listened to our speeches, decidedecide on the basis of what we say and what we believewho is best qualified to lead america and the free world in this critical period. To help you make this decision i would like to discuss tonight some of the great problems which will confront the next president of the United States and the policies that i believe should be adopted to meet them. 100 years ago, in this city, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for president of the United States. The problems which will confront our next president will be even greater than those that confronted him. The question then was freedom for the slaves and survival of the nation. The question now is freedom for all mankind and the survival of civilization, and the choice you makeyoueach of you listening to me makesthis november can affect the answer to that question. What should your choice be and what is it . Well, lets first examine what our opponents offered in los angeles two weeks ago. They claimed theirs was a new program, but you know what it was . It was simply the same old proposition that a Political Party should be all things to all men, and nothing more than that. They promised everything to everybody, with one exception they didnt promise to pay the bill. [applause] and i say tonight that, with their convention, their platform and their ticket, they composed a symphony of political cynicism which is out of harmony with our times today. [applause] now, we come to the key question. What should our answer be . Some might say do as they dooutpromise them because thats the only way to win. I want to tell you my answer. I happen to believe that their program would be disastrous for america. It would wreck our economy; it would dash our peoples hopes for a better lifeand i serve notice here and now that whatever the political , we are not going to try to outpromise our opponents in this campaign. [applause] we are not going to make promises we cannot and should not keep, and we are not going to try to buy the peoples votes with their own money. [applause] to those who say that this position will mean political defeat, my answer is this we have more faith than that in the good sense of the American People, provided the people know the facts. Thats where we come in. I pledge to you tonight that we will bring the facts home to the American People off if, and we will do it with a campaign such as this country has never seen before. [applause] i have been asked by the newsmen sitting on my right and on my left all week long when is this Campaign Going to begin, mr. Vice president . On the day after labor day or one of the other traditional starting dates . This is my answer this Campaign Begins tonight, here and now, and it goes on. [applause] this campaign will continue from now until november 8 without any letup. Ive also been asked by my friends in the press on either side here mr. Vice president , where are you going to concentrate . What states are you going to visit . This is my answer in this campaign we are going to take no states for granted, and we arent going to concede any states to the opposition. [applause] i announce to you tonight, and i pledge to you, that i, personally, will carry this campaign into every one of the fifty states of this nation between now and november the eighth. And in this campaign i make a prediction. I say that just as in 1952 and in 1956 millions of democrats will join usnot because they are deserting their party, but because their party deserted them at los angeles two weeks ago. [applause] now, i have suggested to you what our friends of the opposition offered to the American People. What do we offer . First, we are proud to offer the best eightyear record of any administration in the history of this country; but, my fellow americans, that isnt all and that isnt enough because we happen to believe that a record is not something to stand on, but something to build on and, building on the great record of this administration, we shall build a better america; we shall build an america in which we shall see the realization of the dreams, the dreams of millions of people not only in america, but throughout the world for a fuller, freer, richer life than men have ever known in the history of mankind. Let me tell you something of the goals of this better america toward which we will strive. In this america our older citizens shall not only have adequate protection against the hazards of ill health, but a greater opportunity to lead a useful and productive life by participating to the extent they are able in the nations exciting work rather than sitting on the sidelines. [applause] and in the better america, Young Americans shall not only have the best basic education in america, but every boy and girl of ability, regardless of his financial circumstances, shall have the opportunity to develop his intellectual capabilities to the full. [applause] our wage earner shall enjoy increasingly higher wages in honest dollars, with better protection against the hazards of unemployment and old age. And, for those millions of americans who are still denied equality of rights and opportunities, i say there shall be the greatest progress in human rights since the days of lincoln 100 years ago. [applause] americas farmers to whose hard work and almost incredible efficiency we know the fact that we are the best fed, best clothed people in the world and i say americas farmers must and will receive what they do not have today, and what they deserve a fair share of americas everincreasing prosperity. [applause] to accomplish these things we will develop to the full the untapped natural resources, our water, our minerals, our power, with which we are so fortunate to be blessed in this rich land of ours. We shall provide for our scientists the support they need for the research that will open exciting new ways into the future, new highways in which we shall have progress which we cannot even dream of today. Above all, in this decade of the sixties, this decade of decision and progress, we will witness the continual revitalization of americas moral and spiritual strength, with a renewed faith in the eternal ideals of freedom and justice under god which our are priceless heritage as a people. [applause] now im sure that many of you in this fall and many of you on television might well ask, but, mr. Nixon, dont our opponents favor just such goals as these . And my answer is; yes, of course. All americans, regardless of party, want a better life for our people. Whats the difference, then . Ill tell you what it is. The difference is in the way we propose to reach of these goals, and the record shows that our way works and theirs doesnt, and were going to prove it in this campaign. We produce on the promises that they make. We succeed where they fail. You know why . Because we put, as governor rockefeller said in his remarks, our primary reliance not upon government, but upon people for progress in america. That is what we will succeed. [applause] we must never forget that the strength of america is not its government, but in its people; and we say tonight that there is no limit to the goals america can reach, provided we stay true to the Great American traditions. A government has a role, and a very important one, but the role of government is not to take responsibility from people, but to put responsibility on them. It is not to dictate to people, but to encourage and stimulate the creative productivity of 180 million americans. Thats the way to progress in america. [applause] in other words, we have faith in the people and, because our programs for progress are based on that faith, we shall succeed where our opponents will fail in building the better america ive described. But if these goals are to be reached, the next president of the United States must have the wisdom to choose between the things that government should and should not do. He must have the courage to stand against the pressures of the few for the good of the many. He must have the vision to press forward on all fronts for the better life our people want. Now, ive spoken to you of the responsibilities of our next president at home. Those which he will face abroad will be infinitely greater, but before i look to the future let me say a word about the past. At los angeles two weeks ago, we heard the United States our government blamed for mr. Khrushchevs sabotage of the paris conference. We heard the United States blamed for the actions of communistled mobs in caracas and tokyo. We heard that American Education and american scientists are are inferior. Were heard that america, militarily and economically, is a secondrate country. We heard that american prestige is at an alltime low. This is my answer i say at a time the communists are running us down abroad, its time to speak up for america at home. [applause] my friends, let us recognize american has its weaknesses, and constructive criticism of those weaknesses is essential essential so that we can correct our weaknesses and the best traditions of our democratic process. But let us also recognize this while it is the intent to see nothing wrong in america, is just as wrong to refuse to recognize what is right about america. [applause] tonight i say to you no criticism no criticism should be allowed to obscure the truth, either at home or abroad, but today america is the strongest nation, militarily, economically and ideologically, in the world; and we have the will and the stamina and the resources to maintain that strength in the years ahead. [applause] and now, if we may turn to the future, we must recognize that the Foreign Policy problems of the sixties will be different and theyll be vastly more difficult than those of the fifties through which we have just passed. We are in a race tonight, my fellow americans, in a race for survival, in which our lives, our fortunes, our liberties are at stake. We are ahead now, but the only way to stay ahead in a race is to move ahead; and the next president will make decisions which will determine whether we win or whether we lose this race. What must he do . These things i believe. He must resolve, first and above all, that the United States must never settle for second best in anything. [applause] lets look at the specifics. Militarily, the security of the United States must be put before all other considerations. Why . Not only because this is necessary to deter aggression, but because we must make sure that we are never in a position at the conference table where mr. Khrushchev or his successor is able to coerce an american president because of his strength and our weakness. [applause] diplomatically, let us look at what the problem is. Diplomatically, our next president must be firmfirm on principlebut he must never be belligerent. He must never engage in a war of words which might heat up thc International Climate to the igniting point of nuclear catastrophe. But, while he must never answer insults in kind, he must leave no doubt at any time that, whether it is in berlin or in cuba or anywhere else in the world, america will not tolerate being pushed around by anybody any place. [applause] because we have already paid a terrible price in lives and resources to learn that appeasement leads not to peace, but to war, it will, indeed, take great leadership to steer us through the years, avoiding the extreme of belligerency on the one hand and appeasement on the other. Now, mr. Kennedy has suggested that what the world needs is young leadership; and, understandably, this has great appeal because it is true that youth does bring boldness and imagination and drive to leadership, and we need all those things. But i think most people will agree with me tonight when i say that president de gaulle, Prime Minister macmillan and chancellor adenauer are not young menbut we are indeed fortunate that we have their wisdom and their experience and their courage on our side in the struggle for freedom today in the world. [applause] and i might suggest, as we consider the relative merits of youth and age, it is only fair to point out that it was not mr. De gaulle or mr. Macmillan or mr. Adenauer, but mr. Kennedy who made the rash and impulsive suggestion that president eisenhower could have apologized or sent regrets to mr. Khrushchev for the u2 flightswhich the president had ordered to save our country from surprise attack. But formidable as will be the diplomatic and military problems confronting the next president , far more difficult and critical will be the decisions he must make to meet and defeat the enemies of freedom in an entirely different kind of struggle. Now i want to speak to you of another kind of aggression, aggression without war, where the aggressor comes not as a conqueror but as a champion of peace, of freedom, offering progress and plenty and hope to the unfortunates of the earth. I say tonight that the major problem, the biggest problem, confronting the next president of the United States will be to inform the people of the character of this kind of aggression, to arouse the people to the mortal danger it presents and to inspire the people to meet that danger. He must develop a brand new strategy which will win the battle for freedom for all men, and win it without a war. That is the great task of the next president of the United States. [applause] this will be a difficult task, difficult because at times our next president must tell the people not what they want to hear, but what they need to hear. Why, for example, it may be just as essential to the National Interest to build a dam in india as in california. It will be difficult, too, because, you know, we americans have always been able to see and understand the danger presented by missiles and airplanes and bombs; but we have found it bard to recognize the even more deadly danger of the propaganda that warps the mind, the economic offensive that softens a nation, the subversion that destroys the will of the people to resist tyranny. And, yet, may i say tonight that the fact that this threat is, as i believe it to be, the greatest danger we have ever confronted, this is no reason for lack of confidence in the outcome. Do you know why . Because there is one great theme that runs through our history as as a nation. Americans are always at their best when the challenge is greatest. [applause] and i say tonight that we americans shall rise to our greatest heights in this decade of the sixties as we mount the offensive to meet those forces which threaten the peace and the rights of free men everywhere; but there are some things we can do and some things we must do, and i would like to list them for you tonight. First, we must take the necessary steps which will assure that the American Economy grows at a maximum rate so thata maximum rate, so that we can maintain our presence present massive lead over the coming just block. Any magic formula by which government in a free nation can bring this about. The way to ensure maximum growth is not by expanding the functions of government, but by increasing the opportunities for investment and creating enterprise for millions of individual americans. At a time when the communists have found it necessary to turn to decentralization of their economy and turned to the use of individuals to increase increase productivity, at a time at other words, when they are turning our way, i say we must and we will not make the mistake of turning their way. There is another step that we must take. Our government activities must be reorganized, reorganized to take the initiative from the communist and carry on a worldwide strategy for decent freedoms. The complex agencies that we have grown up with through the for information, for loans and grants, all these must be welded together into one powerful economic and ideological Striking Force under the direct supervision and leadership of the president of the United States. Do ise what we must wage the battles for peace and freedom with the same unifying direction and dedication with which we wage battles of war. If these activities are to succeed, we must develop a better Training Program for the men and women who represent our country at home and abroad. With broadd are men knowledge of the intricacies and techniques and a strategy of , with principles for which free people stand and withl, men who would zeal and dedication the communists cannot match, will out inc. And out work and outlast the enemies of freedom wherever they are in the world. This is the kind of men we must train. We must recognize something else. Government cannot do this job alone. The most effective proponents of freedom are not government, that free people. This means that every american, every one of you listening to me who works or travel abroad must represent his country at its best in everything that he does. The United States, big and strong as it is, we cannot do this job alone. Brains, the resources of other nations which have a great as great a stake in freedom as we have, must be mobilized to participate with us in this path. Do you know what is most important . Thee all, we must recognize greatest economic strength we can imagine, the greatest of government organizations, all this will fail if we are not united and inspired by a great ideal. An idea which will be about cry the minds andn hearts and souls of the men. The communists proclaim that their aim is the victory of communism throughout the world. It is not enough for us to revise that our effort is to contain communism, to defend the free world against communism, to hold the line against it. The only answer to a strategy of victory for the communist world is a strategy of victory for the free world. Let the victory we seek the not victory over any other nation or any other people. Let it be the victory of freedom over tyranny, of plenty over hunger, of health over disease in every country of the world. When mr. Khrushchev says our grandchildren will live under communism, let us say, has grandchildren will live in freedom. His grandchildren will live under freedom. [applause and cheering] when mr. Khrushchev says the say theoctrine we doctrine of freedom applies everywhere in the world. Us welcomeht, let cruz joe mr. Cruz jeff mr. Khrushchevs challenge. Let us compete in the communist world as well as the free world, because the communist dictators must not be allowed the privileged sanctuary from which to it once their guerrilla attacks on the fidel of freedom on the city dell of freedom citadel of freedom. Extend it not only to include food and factories, but extend it to include the great spiritual and moral values which characterize our civilization. Let us welcome the challenge, not to be disconcerted by it, not fail to meet it, the trend challenge presented with a resolution of peaceful peoples in south america, in asia, in africa. We cannot fail them in this mission, we cannot fail to assist them to find progress with freedom, so that they will be faced they wont be faced with the terrible alternative of turning to communism with its promise of progress at the cost of freedom. Let us make it clear that our aim in helping them is not merely to stop communism, but in the Great American tradition of concern, for those less fortunate than we are, that we welcome the opportunity to work with people everywhere in helping them to achieve their aspirations, for a life of human dignity. This means that our primary needs must be not to help government, but to help people, to help people obtain the life they deserve. In essence, what i am saying tonight, that our answer to the threat of the communist revolution is renewed devotion to a great ideal of the american revolution. That caught the imagination of the world 180 years ago, and still lives in the minds and hearts of people everywhere. I could tell you that all you need to do to bring all these things about that i have described is to elect the right man as president of this country and leave these tasks to him. But, america demands more than that of me and of you. When i visited the soviet union. In every factory, there was a huge sign which read, work for the victory of communism. What America Needs today is not just a president , not just a few leaders, but millions of americans working for the victory of freedom. H american lust each american must make a total commitment to the cause of freedom and what it stands for. It means wage earners and employers making an extra effort to increase the productivity of our factories. It means our students in schools striving for excellence rather than mediocrity. It means supporting and encouraging our scientists to explore the unknown, not just for what we can get, but for what we can learn. It means on the part of each american, assuming personal responsibility to make this country, which we love, a proud example of freedom around the world. Each of us an example, doing our part in ending the prejudice which 100 years to our after linking to our shame, still embarrasses abroad and saps our strength at home. Each of us because it hating and other political campaigns, not just by going to the polls and voting, but working for the candidate of your choice. Sacrifice,t means but not the grim sacrifice of desperation, but the rewarding liftsice of choice, which us out of the humdrum life we live and gives us the supreme satisfaction which comes from working together in a cause greater than ourselves, greater than our nation, as great as the whole world itself. Cheering]and tonight isroposed not new, it is as old as america and as young as america, because america will never grow old. You will remember Thomas Jefferson said, we act not for ourselves alone, for the whole human race. Lincoln said in giving freedom to the slaves, we assure freedom to the free. Lose thenobly serve or last best hope of earth. Teddy roosevelt said our first ,uty as citizens of the nation but if we are true to our principles, we must also think of serving the interests of mankind at large. Woodrow wilson said a patriotic so proud ofnever the flag under which he lives as when it comes to mean to others as well as to himself, a symbol of hope and liberty. Today, that a Young America shall fulfill her destiny by helping to build a new world in which men can live together in peace and justice and freedom with each other. But there is a difference today. It isiting difference and because of the dramatic breakthroughs in science. For the first time in human history, we have the resources to wage a winning war against poverty, misery and disease wherever it exists in the world. Upon the next presidency of the United States will rest the responsibility to inspire and a leave the forces of freedom toward this goal and lead the forces of freedom toward this goal. I am sure now that you understand why i said at the beginning that it would be difficult for any man to say that he was qualified to provide this kind of leadership. Say that i believe in the american dream, because i have seen it come true in my own life. [applause] i know something of the threat which confronts us, and i know something of the efforts which will be needed to meet it. America,en hate for not only in the kremlin, but in the eyes of kindness in our own country eyes of communists in our own country and in the angry faces of a mob. I have heard doubts about america, expressed by sincere students and labor leaders in other countries. Searching for the way to a better life and wondering if we have lost the way. , inve seen love for america countries throughout the world. Bogota, and the heart of siberia, in warsaw. People on the streets on a sunday afternoon, singing, crying with tears running down long cheeks and shouting live the United States. My fellow americans, i know that we must resist the hate. We must remove the doubt. Above all, we must be worthy of the love and the trust of , for whomn this earth america is the hope of the world. 100 years ago, Abraham Lincoln dayssked during the dark of the tragic war between the states, whether he thought god was on his side. , my concern is not whether god is on our side, but whether we are on gods side. There is a standing ovation. My fellow americans, may that ever be our prayer, for our country and in that spirit, with faith in america, with faith in people, i and in her accept your nomination for president of the United States. [cheering] the democratic and National Convention begins tomorrow in philadelphia. We are featuring speeches from past democratic conventions. Up next, Robert F Kennedy at the 1964 convention. The speech was nine months after his brothers assassination in dallas. The speech is just under 20 minutes an hour coverage is courtesy of nbc news and our coverage is courtesy of nbc news. [cheering]