THANK YOU, MR. NIXON.
THAT COMPLETES THE OPENING STATEMENTS.
AND NOW THE CANDIDATES WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENT UPON ONE ANOTHER'S ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
PUT BY CORRESPONDENTS OF THE NETWORKS.
THE CORRESPONDENTS:
I'M SANDER VANOCUR, NBC NEWS.
I'M CHARLES WARREN, MUTUAL NEWS.
I'M STUART NOVINS, CBS NEWS.
BOB FLEMING, ABC NEWS.
THE FIRST QUESTION TO SENATOR KENNEDY
FROM MR. FLEMING.
SENATOR, THE VICE PRESIDENT IN HIS CAMPAIGN HAS SAID
THAT YOU WERE NAIVE AND AT TIMES IMMATURE.
HE HAS RAISED THE QUESTION OF LEADERSHIP.
ON THIS ISSUE, WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE
SHOULD VOTE FOR YOU RATHER THAN THE VICE PRESIDENT?
WELL, THE VICE PRESIDENT AND I CAME TO THE CONGRESS TOGETHER
IN 1946; WE BOTH SERVED IN THE LABOR COMMITTEE.
I'VE BEEN THERE NOW FOR 14 YEARS,
THE SAME PERIOD OF TIME THAT HE HAS,
SO THAT OUR EXPERIENCE IN, UH- GOVERNMENT IS COMPARABLE.
SECONDLY, I THINK THE QUESTION IS,
WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ADVOCATE?
WHAT IS THE PARTY RECORD THAT WE LEAD?
I COME OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
WHICH IN THIS CENTURY HAS PRODUCED
WOODROW WILSON AND FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT AND HARRY TRUMAN.
AND WHICH SUPPORTED AND SUSTAINED THESE PROGRAMS
WHICH I'VE DISCUSSED TONIGHT.
MR. NIXON COMES OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
HE WAS NONIMATED BY IT.
AND IT IS A FACT THAT THROUGH MOST OF THESE LAST 25 YEARS
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS OPPOSED
FEDERAL AID FOR EDUCATION,
MEDICAL CARE FOR THE AGED,
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY,
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.
I THINK MR. NIXON IS AN EFFECTIVE LEADER OF HIS PARTY.
I HOPE HE WOULD GRANT ME THE SAME.
THE QUESTION BEFORE US IS,
WHICH POINT OF VIEW AND WHICH PARTY
DO WE WANT TO LEAD THE UNITED STATES?
MR. NIXON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT STATEMENT?
I HAVE NO COMMENT.
THE NEXT QUESTION TO VICE PRESIDENT NIXON
FROM MR. VANOCUR.
UH, MR. VICE PRESIDENT, SINCE THE QUESTION OF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
IS A VERY IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN ISSUE,
I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW MR. NOVINS' QUESTION.
NOW, REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN SLOGANS-
YOU'LL SEE THEM ON SIGNS AROUND THE COUNTRY
AS YOU DID LAST WEEK - SAY "IT'S EXPERIENCE THAT COUNTS"-
THAT'S OVER A PICTURE OF YOURSELF, SIR.
UH, IMPLYING THAT YOU'VE HAD MORE
GOVERNMENTAL EXECUTIVE DECISION-MAKING,
UH, EXPERIENCE, THAN UH, YOUR OPPONENT.
NOW, IN HIS NEWS CONFERENCE ON AUGUST 24,
PRESIDENT EISENHOWER WAS ASKED TO GIVE ONE EXAMPLE
OF A MAJOR IDEA OF YOURS THAT HE ADOPTED.
HIS REPLY WAS, AND I'M QUOTING:
"IF YOU GIVE ME A WEEK, I MIGHT THINK OF ONE."
"I DON'T REMEMBER."
NOW, THAT WAS A MONTH AGO SIR,
AND THE PRESIDENT HASN'T BROUGHT IT UP SINCE.
AND I'M WONDERING, SIR, IF YOU CAN CLARIFY
WHICH VERSION IS CORRECT-
THE ONE PUT OUT BY REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN LEADERS
OR THE ONE PUT OUT BY PRESIDENT EISENHOWER?
WELL, I WOULD SUGGEST, MR. VANOCUR,
THAT, UH, IF YOU KNOW THE PRESIDENT,
THAT WAS PROBABLY A FACETIOUS REMARK.
UH, I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT INSOFAR AS HIS STATEMENT IS CONCERNED,
THAT I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE IMPROPER
FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
TO DISCLOSE, UH, THE INSTANCES IN WHICH
MEMBERS OF HIS OFFICIAL FAMILY
HAD MADE RECOMMENDATIONS
AS I HAVE MADE THEM THROUGH THE YEARS TO HIM,
WHICH HE HAS ACCEPTED OR REJECTED.
THE PRESIDENT HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED AND VERY PROPERLY SO
THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO GET WHAT ADVICE HE WANTS
FROM HIS CABINET AND FROM HIS OTHER ADVISERS
WITHOUT DISCLOSING THAT TO ANYBODY.
INCLUDING, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE CONGRESS.
NOW, I CAN ONLY SAY THIS.
THROUGH THE YEARS, I HAVE SAT IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE CABINET.
I HAVE MET WITH THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS.
I HAVE MET WITH THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE MADE THE GREAT DECISIONS
WITH REGARD TO LEBANON, QUEMOY, MATSU, OTHER MATTERS.
THE PRESIDENT HAS ASKED FOR MY ADVICE.
I HAVE GIVEN IT.
SOMETIMES MY ADVICE HAS BEEN TAKEN.
SOMETIMES IT IS NOT.
I DO NOT SAY THAT I HAVE MADE THE DECISIONS.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT NO PRESIDENT
SHOULD EVER ALLOW ANYBODY ELSE
TO MAKE THE MAJOR DECISIONS.
THE PRESIDENT ONLY MAKES THE DECISIONS.
ALL THAT HIS ADVISERS DO IS TO GIVE COUNSEL
WHEN HE ASKS FOR IT.
AS FAR AS WHAT EXPERIENCE COUNTS,
AND WHETHER THAT IS EXPERIENCE THAT COUNTS,
THAT ISN'T FOR ME TO SAY.
UH, I CAN ONLY SAY THAT MY EXPERIENCE IS THERE
FOR THE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER,
SENATOR KENNEDY'S IS THERE FOR THE PEOPLE TO CONSIDER.
AS HE POINTED OUT, WE CAME TO THE CONGRESS IN THE SAME YEAR.
HIS EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN DIFFERENT THAN MINE.
MINE HAS BEEN IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
HIS HAS BEEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE PEOPLE NOW HAVE THE OPPPORTUNITY
TO EVALUATE HIS AS AGAINST MINE
AND I THINK BOTH HE AND I ARE GOING TO ABIDE BY
WHATEVER THE PEOPLE DECIDE.
SENATOR KENNEDY?
WELL, I'LL JUST SAY THAT THE QUESTION IS OF EXPERIENCE
AND THE QUESTION ALSO IS UH, WHAT OUR JUDGEMENT IS OF THE FUTURE.
AND WHAT OUR GOALS ARE FOR THE UNITED STATES
AND WHAT ABILITY WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE GOALS.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN CAME TO THE PRESIDENCY IN 1860
AFTER A RATHER
LITTLE-KNOWN SESSION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND AFTER BEING DEFEATED FOR THE SENATE IN '58
AND WAS A DISTINGUISHED PRESIDENT.
THERE'S NO CERTAIN ROAD TO THE PRESIDENCY.
THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES THAT, UH,
IF YOU TAKE ONE ROAD OR ANOTHER THAT YOU WILL BE
A SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENT.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE CONGRESS FOR 14 YEARS.
I HAVE VOTED IN THE LAST, UH, 8 YEARS
AND THE VICE PRESEDENT WAS UH, PRESIDING OVER THE SENATE
AND MEETING HIS OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.
I HAVE MET, UH, DECISIONS OVER 800 TIMES
ON MATTERS WHICH AFFECT NOT ONLY
THE DOMESTIC SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES,
BUT AS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE.
THE QUESTION REALLY IS:
WHICH CANDIDATE AND WHICH PARTY
CAN MEET THE PROBLEMS THAT THE UNITED STATES
IS GOING TO FACE IN THE '60S?
MR. VANOCUR'S QUESTION FOR VICE PRESIDENT NIXON.
MR. VICE PRESIDENT, UH,
IN ONE OF YOUR EARLIER STATEMENTS, YOU SAID
WE'VE MOVED AHEAD, WE'VE BUILT MORE SCHOOLS,
WE'VE BUILT MORE HOSPITALS.
NOW, SIR, ISN'T IT TRUE THAT THE BUILDING OF MORE SCHOOLS
IS A LOCAL MATTER FOR FINANCING?
UH, WERE YOU CLAIMING THAT THE EISENHOWER ADMINISTRATION
WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUILDING OF THESE SCHOOLS,
OR IS IT THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT PROVIDE FOR IT?
NOT AT ALL.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOUR QUESTION BRINGS OUT A POINT
THAT I AM VERY GLAD TO MAKE.
TOO OFTEN IN APPRAISING WHETHER WE ARE MOVING AHEAD OR NOT,
WE THINK ONLY OF WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING.
NOW, THAT ISN'T THE TEST OF WHETHER AMERICA MOVES.
THE TEST OF WHETHER AMERICA MOVES,
IS WHETHER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PLUS THE STATE GOVERMENT,
PLUS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PLUS THE BIGGEST SEGMENT OF ALL-
INDIVIDUAL ENTERPRISE- MOVES.
WE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, A GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
OF APPROXIMATELY $500 BILLION.
ROUGHLY A HUNDRED BILLION TO A HUNDRED AND A QUARTER BILLION
OF THAT IS THE RESULT OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY.
400 BILLION, APPROXIMATELY, IS A RESULT OF WHAT INDIVIDUALS DO.
NOW, THE REASON THE EISENHOWER ADMINISTRATION HAS MOVED,
THE REASON THAT WE'VE HAD THE FUNDS, FOR EXAMPLE,
LOCALLY, TO BUILD THE SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS,
AND THE HIGHWAYS, TO MAKE THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE,
IS BECAUSE THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS ENCOURAGED
INDIVIDUAL ENTERPRISE; AND IT HAS RESULTED IN THE
GREATEST EXPANSION OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY
THAT HAS EVER BEEN WITNESSED
IN AN 8 YEAR PERIOD.
AND THAT IS GROWTH.
THAT IS THE GROWTH THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.
IT IS THE GROWTH THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS SUPPORTED
AND THAT ITS POLICIES HAVE STIMULATED.
SENATOR KENNEDY?
I MUST SAY THAT I THINK THE REASON THAT THE
SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED IS BECAUSE THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS
WERE WILLING TO INCREASE THE PROPERTY TAXES
TO A TREMENDOUSLY HIGH FIGURE.
IN MY OPINION, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF DIMINISHING RETURNS
IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN THESE SCHOOLS.
SECONDLY, I THINK WE HAVE A RICH, UH, COUNTRY.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A POWERFUL COUNTRY.
I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, HOWEVER,
IS HAVE THE PRESIDENT AND THE LEADERSHIP
SET BEFORE OUR COUNTRY EXACTLY WHAT WE MUST DO
IN THE NEXT DECADE, IF WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN
OUR SECURITY IN EDUCATION, IN ECONOMIC GROWTH,
IN DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
THE SOVIET UNION IS MAKING GREAT GAINS.
IT ISN'T ENOUGH TO COMPARE WHAT MIGHT HAVE BE DONE 8 YEARS AGO,
OR 10 YEARS AGO, OR 15 YEARS AGO, OR 20 YEARS AGO.
I WANT TO COMPARE WHAT WE'RE DOING
WITH WHAT OUR ADVERSARIES ARE DOING,
SO THAT BY THE YEAR 1970, THE UNITED STATES IS AHEAD
IN EDUCATION, AND HEALTH,
IN BUILDING, IN HOMES, IN ECONOMIC STRENGTH.
I THINK THAT'S THE BIG ASSIGNMENT, THE BIG TASK,
THE BIG FUNCTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.