June 8, 1963 - President Kennedy warned again today of an economic recession in sounding a vigorous call for enactment of his program of tax reductions. “We’re either going to have this program, I can assure you,” he said, “or we’re going to move into a recession as we did in the 1950s, when we moved through 3 of them.” If the current economic recovery can be maintained through the end of 1966 with the help of a tax cut, it will provide “a unique record in the history of the United States,” he said. He declared that such a record would lead to “a society which blooms and blossoms and is an ornament to the free world.” Part of the task of building that society, he said, is “to meet our responsibility in the 1960s to provide equality of opportunity, to give every child, regardless of his color, a fair chance.” Mr. Kennedy spoke at a breakfast of 2,500 Democratic women at the Hollywood Palladium (pictured). The women gave him an ovation when he concluded: “We’ve got a long way to go, and I want you to come with us.” They immediately gave evidence that they would. Sponsors of the $10-a-plate breakfast passed out pledge cards reading: “I want to enroll now to work for the re-election of John F. Kennedy in 1964.” Pens and pencils quickly emerged from handbags all over the room.
Comments