Religion - Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), [Democratic], 1960

Item — BurtonHall Cold Storage: 1, PCC - Film Reel - 16mm: 156

Identifier: P-1498-74102

Staff Only

Scope and Contents Issue: Being Catholic has no bearing on ability to lead the country. Agency or Creating Entity:

Dates

1960

Conditions Governing Use

While the University owns the materials in its collection, it does not own copyright to any of the materials. It is the responsibility of the user to acquire any necessary copyright authorizations for use of the materials such as may be required.

Extent

From the Series: 14,137 Items (14,137 items (This series includes United States Office of President Campaign Ads from 1912-2016): Each item within this collection falls under the following categories: 16mm film reels, VHS videotape, 3/4" U-Matic videotape, 1" and 2" tap, Beta SP, Betamax, Mini DV, DVD, and born-digital video formats.)

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

The Political Communication Collection, located in the Carl Albert Center Congressional Research and Studies Center Archives, contains political television and radio commercials from the beginning of the 20th century through the present day.

Transcript – Full

You would be divided between two loyalties to your church and to your state if you were to be elected president? The question is whether I think that if I were elected president, I would be divided between two loyalties, my church and my state. Let me just say that I would not. I have sworn to uphold the Constitution in the 14 years I've been in Congress, in the years I was in the service. The Constitution provides in the First Amendment that Congress shall make no laws abridging the freedom of religion. I must say I believe in it. I think it's the only way that this country can go ahead. Many countries do not believe in it. Many countries have unity between church and state. I would be completely opposed to it. And I say that whether I'm elected president or whether I continue as a senator or whether I'm a citizen. That is my view based on a long experience. So in answer to your question, I would fulfill my oath of office as I have done for 14 years in the Congress. There is no article of my faith that would in any way inhibit, I think it encourages the meeting of my oath of office. And whether you vote for me or not, because of my competence to be president, I am sure that no one believes that I'd be a candidate for the presidency if I didn't think I could meet my oath of office. Secondly, Article 6 of the Constitution says there shall be no religious test for office. That's what was written in the Constitution. Jefferson, Washington, and all the rest. They said every American will have an opportunity. Now you cannot tell me that the day I was born it was said I could never run for president because I wouldn't meet my oath of office. I would not have come here if I didn't feel that I was going to get complete opportunity to run for office as a fellow American in this state. I would not run for it if in any way I didn't feel that I could do the job. I come here today saying that I think that this is an issue that's up for discussion. Thank you. Thank you very much, Senator Kennedy. Thank you very much.