“WE IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THIS GENERATION,
ARE
-- BY DESTINY RATHER THAN CHOICE –
THE WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS OF WORLD FREEDOM.
WE ASK, THEREFORE, THAT WE MAY BE WORTHY
OF OUR POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY,
THAT WE MAY EXERCISE OUR STRENGTH
WITH WISDOM AND RESTRAINT,
AND THAT WE MAY ACHIEVE IN OUR TIME
AND FOR ALL TIME THE ANCIENT VISION OF
“PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN.”
THAT MUST ALWAYS BE OUR GOAL,
AND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF OUR CAUSE
MUST ALWAYS UNDERLIE OUR STRENGTH.
FOR AS WAS WRITTEN LONG AGO:
“EXCEPT THE LORD KEEP THE CITY,
THE WATCHMAN WAKETH BUT IN VAIN.”
”
JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY
35TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
UNDELIVERED REMARKS PREPARED FOR
DELIVERY
AT THE TRADE MART, DALLAS, TEXAS
NOVEMBER 22, 196
