RFK Q&A with Columbia University Students
RFK Q & A with Columbia University Students
Robert F. Kennedy walking into auditorium with wife Ethel Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy seen waiting for introduction. Mrs. Kennedy introduced, seated in the audience; she stands to be recognized. Young man introduces Robert F. Kennedy.
RFK Q&A with Columbia University Students
Young woman asks, "Sir, could you tell us why you chose to run from New York rather than Massachusetts or Virginia or someplace else? (laughter) Robert Kennedy responds that he has a close association, identification with the state of New York, lived there for the first 20 years of his life; family has owned homes in N.Y., etc. RFK says the election should be decided on which candidate can do more for the state of New York.
RFK Q&A with Columbia University Students
Young man asks Robert F. Kennedy, "Aren't you really using New York State as a kind of jumping off place for your own presidential ambitions?" RFK responds he had two choices: he could have retired and lived off his fathers wealth (laughter); or he could continue to work for the government, which is his major interest. Kennedy says "Frankly, I don't need the title, because I can be called General for the rest of my life.... and I don't need the money and I don't need the office space."
RFK Q&A with Columbia University Students
Young man asks Robert F. Kennedy, "Mr. Kennedy, just how extensive is your moral commitment to Civil Rights in New York State?" Mr. Kennedy responds, "I've been involved in the struggle now for 3 and a half years. I think I've indicated how I feel about it, all over the country and the efforts I've made and I think a good deal more can be done elsewhere. In my judgment, the answer as far as the state of New York is concerned now rests with education, and it rests with employment, and it rests with decent housing, and it rests with proper recreation facilities, and it rests basically in giving our young people some hope. Now let me just say that for instance, there's twenty six and a half percent of the young Negroes in the city of New York who are out of school and out of work. The negro child going to many of the schools in Harlem between the 3rd grade and the 6th grade loses 10 points on his I.Q., by the time he gets to the 8th grade he's already 2 years behind white students. The dropout rate amongst Negroes sometimes goes up to 75 or 80 % , I think therefore we have to have a major effort in the field of education." RFK continues about children coming from broken homes, being culturally deprived, the high rate of illiteracy, and that more efforts have to be made regarding unemployment. 01.52.44 Young man asks "Your views are radically opposed to Senator Keating’s on such fields as education and housing, although Senator Keating voted for the Housing Bills of '61 and '64, could you please elaborate on other specific issues which the views of yourself and Senator Keating’s differ radically? Robert Kennedy mentions the basic problems facing the state of New York - housing, education, transportation, hospital construction.....it's about direction, leadership, showing some imagination. Robert Kennedy says "I think we have problems to face in this country, I think we have problems to face in this state over the period of the next 10 years, as President Kennedy said "We have the capacity to make this the best generation in the history of mankind or make it the last", and I don't think that we can just afford to stand still or sit, and I think that we have to give some direction. I think that the Senate of the United States is a place where the problems that we're going to work out, the problems that are facing this country internally, the problems that are facing us around the world the Senate is going to give some leadership, the Senate is going to give some direction. I don’t think that we can afford in the 1960s any state, anybody in the United States just being a follower." 01.57.15 Young man asks question "Your opponent has made many charges opposing your candidacy, accusing you of walking out on the Civil Rights movement, by resigning as Attorney General during the thick of the fight. Do you have an answer to this accusation?" Robert Kennedy responds by saying "I think that the statement on the NAACP was an attempt to prejudice those who were interested in civil rights, against my candidacy. I think as far as the statement on the nazi deal was an effort to influence the voters of the State of New York, particularly Jewish voters who suffered so much from the nazis, against my candidacy. I lost both my brother and my brother in-law in the fight against nazi's, I'm not making a deal with nazis." (audience clapping, applauds)
RFK Q&A with Columbia University Students
Young man asks, "Your views are radically opposed to Senator Keating’s on such fields as education and housing, although Senator Keating voted for the Housing Bills of '61 and '64. Could you please elaborate on other specific issues which the views of yourself and Senator Keating’s differ radically?" Robert F. Kennedy mentions the basic problems facing the state of New York: housing, education, transportation, hospital construction... it's about direction, leadership, showing some imagination.
RFK Q&A with Columbia University Students
Robert Kennedy says, "I think we have problems to face in this country. I think we have problems to face in this state over the period of the next 10 years, as President Kennedy said, 'We have the capacity to make this the best generation in the history of mankind or make it the last,' and I don't think that we can just afford to stand still or sit, and I think that we have to give some direction. I think that the Senate of the United States is a place where the problems that we're going to work out, the problems that are facing this country internally, the problems that are facing us around the world the Senate is going to give some leadership, the Senate is going to give some direction. I don’t think that we can afford in the 1960s any state, anybody in the United States, just being a follower."
RFK Q&A with Columbia University Students
Young man asks RFK, "Your opponent has made many charges opposing your candidacy, accusing you of walking out on the Civil Rights movement, by resigning as Attorney General during the thick of the fight. Do you have an answer to this accusation?" Robert Kennedy responds, "I think that the statement on the NAACP was an attempt to prejudice those who were interested in civil rights against my candidacy. I think as far as the statement on the Nazi deal was an effort to influence the voters of the State of New York, particularly Jewish voters who suffered so much from the Nazis, against my candidacy. I lost both my brother and my brother in-law in the fight against Nazis. I'm not making a deal with Nazis." (audience clapping, applauds)