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President Kennedy Indirectly Parries with Goldwater

Sept. 12, 1963 - President Kennedy dealt lightly at his news conference today with mounting political criticism. But he put Senator Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.) on notice that the honeymoon might be about over. Senator Goldwater, a leading possibility for the Republican Presidential nomination, leveled broadsides at Mr. Kennedy’s Administration this week. Last night in Chicago, he warned against what he called its trend toward a “socialized welfare state” and “national bankruptcy.” Did Mr. Kennedy, a reporter asked, care to comment on “this type of attack” by Senator Goldwater? “No, no,” said Mr. Kennedy ruminatively. After a perceptible pause, he added: “Not yet. Not yet.” The President also was asked he thought of a recent resolution by the California Federation of Young Democrats that urged the withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Vietnam. “I didn’t agree with them,” Mr. Kennedy said. “I don’t know what is happening with the Young Democrats and Young Republicans — but time is on our side.”

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