Speeches of John F. Kennedy

1946

"Some Elements of the American Character"
(Independence Day oration, Boston, Massachusetts, July 4, 1946)

1953

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, February 1, 1953

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the New England Luncheon of the National Democratic Women's Club of Washington D.C., February 12, 1953

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy before the Young Democratic Club, Baltimore, MD, March 20, 1953

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at New York County Democratic Dinner, April 15, 1953

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee Dinner, April 24, 1953

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner at the Hotel Dupont in Wilmington, Delaware, May 14, 1953

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Executive Meeting of the American Legion National Headquarters, Indianapolis, Indiana, October 16, 1953

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy before the Boston Chapter of the National Association of Cost Accountants, October 21, 1953

Address at the Sixth Annual Conference of Profit Sharing Industries, Hotel Sheraton-Plaza, Boston, Massachusetts, November 12, 1953

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy for the Northeastern University Convocation, Symphony Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, December 2, 1953

Remarks by Senator John F. Kennedy at the Massachusetts State C.I.O. Convention, Massachusetts, December 3, 1953

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada, December 4, 1953

Remarks by Senator John F. Kennedy, Chattanooga, Tennessee, December 10, 1953

1954

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy on the Saint Lawrence Seaway before the Senate, Washington, DC, January 14, 1954

Remarks by Senator John F. Kennedy at the Cathedral Club, Brooklyn, New York, January 21, 1954

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy before the Young Presidents Organization at Harvard Business School, January 23, 1954

Remarks by Senator John F. Kennedy at the Introduction of Governor G. Mennen Williams of Michigan to the Massachusetts Democratic Party at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner, Boston, Massachusetts, January 23, 1954 

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy to the American Federation of Labor National Legislative Council, Tuesday, February 16, 1954

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy Before the State Finance Committee On H.R. 5173, Washington, DC, March 10, 1954

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy during his Western Tour, Washington, April 1954

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy on Indochina before the Senate, Washington, DC, April 6, 1954

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy for the Cook County Democratic Dinner, Chicago, Illinois, April 20, 1954

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy on the Boston Army Base Pier to Senate, May 11, 1954

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, May 11, 1954

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy before the Vermont State Holy Name Rally at St. Michael’s College, Burlington, Vermont, May 16, 1954

Partial remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy before The Executives' Club, Chicago, Illinois, May 28, 1954

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy to the Senate on "The Economic Problems of New England: The Need for Prompt Action by the Administration," June 3, 1954

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy to the Senate on Defense Department Appropriation Bill, June 17, 1954

Statement of Senator John F. Kennedy on Revisions in the Social Security Law before the Senate Committee on Finance, Washington, DC, July 12, 1954

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy before the Massachusetts State Federation of Labor Convention, August 4, 1954

1955

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy, Commencement Address, Assumption College, Worcester, Massachusetts, June 3, 1955

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy on Federal Flood Insurance to the Fall River Chapter of the National Association of Cost Accountants, Fall River, Massachusetts, October 13, 1955

Remarks by Senator John F. Kennedy at Sigma Delta Chi Journalism Fraternity Dinner, Boston, Massachusetts, October 27, 1955

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy before the Annual New England Air Reserve Review, South Weymouth Naval Air Station, Massachusetts, October 28, 1955

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy before the Annual Alumni Association Banquet of Boston College Business Administration in Boston, October 29, 1955

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Senate Banking and Currency Committee Hearings, November 9, 1955

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the 6th Annual Convention of United Cerebral Palsy, Boston, Massachusetts, November 11, 1955.

Remarks by Senator John F. Kennedy at the Annual Convention Banquet of the Farm Bureau Federation of Massachusetts, November 15, 1955

1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Inc., February 16, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Women's National Press Club Luncheon, February 23, 1956 

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy upon presentation of Carver Gold Award to Cardinal Spellman, New York, New York, February 24, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner, Hartford, Connecticut, February 25, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy before the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago, March 17, 1956 

Remarks by Senator John F. Kennedy at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, April 29, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Conference on Vietnam Luncheon in the Hotel Willard, Washington, D.C., June 1, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Fourth Annual Rockhurst Day Banquet of Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri, June 2, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy Introducing Governor Abraham Ribicoff at the Massachusetts State Democratic Convention in Worcester, Massachusetts, Friday June 8, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Commencement Exercises at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, June 13, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 14, 1956

Commencement Address by Senator John F. Kennedy at Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, June 17, 1956

Remarks by Senator John F. Kennedy at the Democratic National Convention, Conrad Hilton, Chicago, Illinois, August 16, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at United Steelworkers Convention, Los Angeles, California, September 19, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council Luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel,September 21, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Stevenson-Kefauver Campaign at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, California, September 21, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Annual Convention Banquet, Young Democrats of North Carolina in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, October 5, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Junior Chamber of Commerce Dinner in Richmond, Virginia, October 15, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy given at the Springfield Rotary Club, Springfield, Massachusetts, October 19, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy on New England Economic Prospects, Massachusetts, October 19, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at a Dinner Honoring Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel's Foreign Minister in Boston, Massachusetts, November 25, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Annual Banquet of Histadrut Zionist Organization, Baltimore, Maryland, November 27, 1956

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the American Farm Bureau Federation National Convention in Miami Beach, Florida, December 12, 1956

1957

Remarks by Senator John F. Kennedy at the Irish Institute, New York City, January 12, 1957

Remarks of John F. Kennedy at a Dinner Honoring The Honorable Herbert Hoover, February 4, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Annual Chamber of Commerce Dinner, Albany, Georgia, February 7, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the National Screw Machine Products Association, Hotel Shoreham , Washington, DC, April 10, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Universal Notre Dame Night Celebration, Washington, DC, April 29, 1957

Statement of Senator John F. Kennedy, Chairman, Special Committee on the Senate Reception Room, to be Delivered on the Senate Floor, May 1, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Symposium of the Associated Harvard Clubs, Washington D.C., May 3, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Annual Awards Dinner of the Overseas Press Club, New York City, May 6, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Democratic Club Meeting ("Women on Wheels"), May 11, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Convocation of University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, May 18, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Luncheon of the New England Publishers Association, Boston, Massachusetts, May 21, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Annual Dinner and Reception of the Democratic Party of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois, May 23, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, June 3, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Southeastern Peanut Association in Atlanta, Georgia, June 10, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the American Relief for Poland Dinner in Detroit, Michigan, June 13, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Milton Seminary Benefactor's Day, September 1, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Teachers' Association Convention in Swampscott, Massachusetts, October 9, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Teachers' Association Convention, Baltimore, Maryland, October 10, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Annual Meeting of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents in Boston, Massachusetts, October 14, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Blue Key Banquet at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, October 18, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity Breakfast at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, October 19, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Annual Freedom Award to the Hungarian Freedom Fighters in New York City, October 23, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Associated Industries of Massachusetts Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, October 24, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Democratic City Committee Annual Pre-Election Dinner in Easton, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1957

 Senator John F. Kennedy Reads the Declaration of Independence
(Recorded exclusively for New York radio station WQXR’s 1957 July 4th observance)

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy, "The New Dimensions of American Foreign Policy,"November 1, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the 10th Biennial Convention of the Young Democratic Clubs of America, Reno, Nevada, November 8, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Temple Emmanuel in New York City, November 19, 1957

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the National Conference of Christians and Jews Dinner, Chicago, Illinois, December 3, 1957

1958

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the 60th Anniversary Banquet of Pere Marquette Council of Knights of Columbus, Boston, Massachusetts, January 12, 1958

1959

Remarks at the Convocation of the United Negro College Fund, Indianapolis, Indiana, April 12, 1959

1960

 Announcement of Candidacy for the Presidency, January 2, 1960

"The Presidency in 1960," January 14, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Lake County Women's Club Breakfast, Gary, Indiana, February 5, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Democratic Luncheon, East Chicago, Indiana, February 5, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Stutusman County Democratic Committee Dinner, Jamestown, North Dakota, February 6, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Western Conference, Alburquerque, New Mexico, February 7, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Democratic Dinner, Newport, Oregon, February 10, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Student Convocation, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, February 12, 1960

Opening Statement by Senator John F. Kennedy for the Wisconsin Presidential Primary, Press Conference, Madison, Wisconsin, February 16, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Kenosha, Wisconsin, February 16, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, February 17, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner, Hartford, Connecticut, February 20, 1960

Text of Excerpts from the Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at East Side Optimists, Madison, Wisconsin, February 24, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Antigo, Wisconsin, February 25, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, February 26, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, March 6, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, March 7, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Luncheon Meeting, Mauston, Wisconsin, March 9, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Appleton, Wisconsin, March 11, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Shawano, Wisconsin, March 11, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Sixth Annual National Legislative Conference Building and Construction Trades, Washington, D.C., March 14, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Madison, Wisconsin, March 16, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Androy Hotel Reception, Superior, Wisconsin, March 18, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Young Democrats State Convention Banquet, Racine, Wisconsin, March 19, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Reception, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 20, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Marinette, Wisconsin, March 20, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 24, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at REA County Meeting, March 25, 1960, Wisconsin

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Dodgeville, Wisconsin, April 1, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Wisconsin Association of Student Councils, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 2, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Lafayette, Indiana, April 7, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Convocation of Marshall County Junior and Senior High School, Morning, April 8, 1960, Plymouth, Indiana

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at District Democratic Committee Dinner, South Bend, Indiana, April 8, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Democratic Luncheon, Tucson, Arizona, April 9, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Phoenix, Arizona, April 9, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Reception, Beckley, West Virginia, April 11, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Morgantown, West Virginia, April 18, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Clarksburg, West Virginia, April 18, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy, Fairmont, West Virginia, April 18, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Wheeling, West Virginia, April 19, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia, April 19, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Mount Hope, West Virginia, April 20, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Charleston, West Virginia, April 20, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at South Eugene, Oregon, April 22, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at North Clackamas, Oregon, April 22, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Hinton, West Virginia, April 27, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Concord College, Athens, West Virginia, April 27, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Bluefield State College, Bluefield, West Virginia, April 27, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy in Indiana, April 29, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Howard County Court House, Indiana, April 29, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at St. Albans, West Virginia, April 30, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at South Charleston, West Virginia, April 30, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Weirton, West Virginia, May 1, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Athens, West Virginia, May 4, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the New Mexico State Democratic Convention, New Mexico, June 4, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 4, 1960

Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy in the Senate, June 14, 1960

Address Accepting the Democratic Party Nomination for the Presidency, July 15, 1960

Address to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, September 12, 1960
(Religious Issue)

 First Televised Presidential Debate, September 26, 1960

 Second Televised Presidential Debate, October 7, 1960

 Third Televised Presidential Debate, October 13, 1960

 Remarks at the University of Michigan, October 14, 1960 (Proposes a Peace Corps)

 Fourth Televised Presidential Debate, October 21, 1960

Acceptance Speech by John F. Kennedy, Hyannis Armory, Hyannis, Massachusetts, November 8, 1960

1961

 Address to the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, January 9, 1961
("City upon a hill" speech)

Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961
 Audio only (text also included)
 Video (text also included)

 Statement Upon Establishing the Peace Corps, March 1, 1961

 Address at a White House Reception for Members of Congress and for the Diplomatic Corps of the Latin American Republics, March 13, 1961
(Announces the Alliance for Progress)

 Address to the American Association of Newspaper Editors, April 20, 1961 (President Kennedy speaks about the failed Bay of Pigs invasion)

 The President and the Press: Address Before the American Newspaper Publishers Association, April 27, 1961

 Special Message to the Congress on Urgent National Needs, May 25, 1961(Establishes the goal of landing a man on the moon)

 Radio and Television Report to the American People on the Berlin Crisis, July 25, 1961

 Address to the General Assembly of the United Nations, September 25, 1961

 University of Washington 100th Anniversary Program, November 16, 1961

1962

 Annual Message to the Congress on the State of the Union, January 11, 1962

 Address at the Inaugural Anniversary Dinner, January 20, 1962
(Humorous parody of the Inaugural Address)

 Address at the University of California, Berkeley, March 23, 1962

 Remarks at West Point to the Graduating Class of the U.S. Military Academy, June 6, 1962

 Commencement Address at Yale University, June 11, 1962

 Address at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, July 4, 1962

 Address at Rice University on the Nation's Space Effort, September 12, 1962

 Remarks at the America's Cup Dinner Given by the Australian Ambassador, September 14, 1962;
("...And we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it we are going back from whence we came.")

 Radio and Television Address on the Situation in Mississippi, September 30, 1962

 Radio and Television Report on the Soviet Arms Buildup in Cuba, October 22, 1962
(Naval quarantine of Cuba)

 Radio and Television Remarks on the Dismantling of Soviet Missile Bases in Cuba, November 2, 1962

 Remarks at a Closed Circuit Television Broadcast on Behalf of the National Cultural Center, November 29, 1962

 Address at the Economic Club of New York, December 14, 1962

 Remarks in Miami at the Presentation of the Flag of the Cuban Invasion Brigade, December 29, 1962

1963

 Annual Message to the Congress on the State of the Union, January 14, 1963

 Remarks in Nashville at the 90th Convocation of Vanderbilt University, May 18, 1963

 Remarks at the Opening Session of the World Food Congress, June 4, 1963

 Remarks at Colorado Springs to the Graduating Class of the U.S. Air Force Academy, June 5, 1963

 Commencement Address at American University, June 10, 1963
(Beginning of detente)

 Radio and Television Report on Civil Rights, June 11, 1963
(Civil rights issue represents a "moral crisis")

 Address at the Free University of Berlin, June 26, 1963

 Remarks at the Rudolph Wilde Platz, June 26, 1963

 Address to the Irish Parliament, June 28, 1963

 Remarks at Eyre Square in Galway, June 29, 1963

 Remarks at a Reception in Limerick, June 29, 1963

Remarks at Shannon Airport Upon Leaving for England, June 29, 1963

 Radio and Television Address on the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, July 26, 1963

 Remarks at the U.S. Naval Academy, August 1, 1963

 Interview with the President Broadcast on NBC's "Huntley-Brinkley Report," September 9, 1963

 Address to the General Assembly of the United Nations, September 20, 1963

 Address in Salt Lake City at the Mormon Tabernacle, September 26, 1963

 Remarks at the Signing of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, October 7, 1963

 Remarks at Amherst College, October 26, 1963
(Importance of the Arts)

 Remarks at the Ground Breaking for the Robert Frost Library at Amherst College, October 26, 1963

Remarks at the Dinner of the Protestant Council of the City of New York, November 8, 1963

 Remarks at Dedication of the Aerospace Medical Health Center, San Antonio, Texas , November 21, 1963
("This Nation  has tossed its cap over the wall of space, and we have no choice but to follow it.")

Remarks at the Breakfast of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, November 22, 1963

Remarks Prepared for Delivery at the Trade Mart in Dallas, November 22, 1963

Remarks Prepared for Delivery to the Texas State Democratic Convention, Austin, November 22, 1963.