John F. Kennedy in Detroit, Labor Day 1960: "Give me your help, your hand, your voice. . . "

[Faygo Kid]

Labor Day is a good time to remember the stakes. They are again very high.



. . . I take my case to you because I am confident that the American people do not want to continue in this country poverty and discrimination and disease and slums. They want to move ahead again, and we are going to do it beginning January 1961. I take my case to the American people because I am confident that the American people will want to bring an end to racial discrimination everywhere, in the schools, in the homes, in the churches, in the lunch counters. I want every American free to stand up for his rights, even if some times he has to sit down for them. And finally I am here because we share a common, deep-seated belief in the workings of free collective bargaining and in the growth of free, responsible unions, and, unlike our opponents, we don't just believe that on Labor Day. . . .

. . . The facts of the matter are that the Republican Party for 40 years has opposed all kinds of progressive social legislation. They did it in the special session in the last 4 weeks, and if they are successful they will oppose legislation for the next 4 years. That is not what we want for this country. We want America to move again. . . .

. . . I run for the office of the Presidency not because I think it is an easy job. In many ways I think the next years are going to be the most difficult years in our history. I don't run for the office of the Presidency telling you that if you elect me life is going to be easy, because I don't think that life is going to be easy for Americans in the next decade. But I run for the Presidency because I do not want it said that in the years when our generation held political power that those were the years when America began to slip, when America began to slide. I don't want historians writing in 1970 to say that the balance of power in the 1950's and the 1960's began to turn against the United States and against the cause of freedom. I don't want it said that when we held office and when we were citizens that the Russians and the Chinese Communists began to expand their power. The new frontier is not what I promise I am going to do for you. The new frontier is what I ask you to do for our country. Give me your help, your hand, your voice, and this country can move again. . . .

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=60409

[Demeter]

1. Seven Years Later, Detroit Was in Flames

[Faygo Kid]

2. And I was there.

The next year, the Tigers won the Series, and it was incredible.

Nobody knows Detroit better than me. It's home. And it's heartbreaking to see the problems. Fortunately, I think Kwame will step down this week, and at least that page will be turned.

[Demeter]

4. I Was There, Too

Left in 1969 at age of 14.

[Faygo Kid]

6. I turned 18 that year.

My claim to fame is that Denny McLain won his 30th on my 17th birthday in 1968.

I am sure you remember that.

I live in Maryland now, but Michigan is and always will be home. I hope to retire to Traverse City.

[Demeter]

7. After 29 Years in Exile, I Made It Back to Ann Arbor

I didn't see any sense in trying to return to Detroit.

I'd go a bit further north--Petoskey or Harbor Springs, or even Cross Village.

I'd like to meet a fruit farmer with a cherry orchard and a hankering for a wife....and a sailboat.

[Royal Oak Rog]

8. You two amuse me

I was here in '60 for Kennedy (although I was only 2 at the time) and after an early morning stroll on the river walk (which is one of the coolest things that's happened to this city in years) I plan on climbing the short wall to Hart Plaza to see the next President of the United States. I kid about you two amusing me, you two were here in the cities hay day when we had a great Baseball/Football stadium, Plum St.,John Sinclair and of course "The Big 8".

This city has been beaten down quite a bit, but I still think it's one of the coolest places in the world, but I guess it's an acquired taste. Kwame resigning will indeed turn a page hopefully for the better.

One last thing; Faygo Kid are you the same Faygo Kid that Frank Beckman cut off on a morning interview a few years ago? If it was you my condolences, that guy is the biggest buffoons around, he's actually right of Rush Limballs.

[Faygo Kid]

9. No, that wasn't me.

But Frank Beckmann is a foaming at the mouth right wing, steaming pile of turd.

In case you haven't guessed, I really don't care for the man.

I still love Detroit, too, and it will always be home, wherever I am.

Guess you're too young to remember the Ford Rotunda, in Dearborn. That's where Christmas lived, for this Boomer.

http://info.detnews.com/redesign/history/story/historytemplate.cfm?id=188

[Royal Oak Rog]

10. It was a great time down there

you Rock-n-Rye maniac, you would have loved it. The labor parade was back like it was the 60's and Barack had well over 50,000, I'd say 75,000 people down there. It was electric. I stood in line to get into Hart Plaza for over two hours and loved every minute of it. I also got to shake James Hoffa's hand. When I saw him coming from the parade into the Plaza on Jefferson I yelled "Hey look there's Jimmy Hoffa", the lady standing next to me thought I meant Sr. and thought I was nuts until I explained to her, no his son".

Stood on a patch in back of the stage about 10 to 15 yards in back of Obama. Aretha Franklin came right by us before he spoke and took a seat on stage. Man, she looked like she was ailing, but still the "Queen of Soul" in Detroit on Labor Day I was geeked.

It was a short speech no longer than 5-10 minutes, and he asked the crowd to support the people on the Gulf Coast in the hurricane. I don't care how the press plays this down this was quite an impressive spectacle. Obama's volunteers go through the crowd as they wait and make sure anyone who's not registered to vote has that chance, even yelling that "if you are a felon, you still have the right to vote as long as you are free". It was a great day in Detroit

[Faygo Kid]

11. Thanks for the report! Sounds like it was a great day.

I still love Detroit.

Great place to grow up in the '50s and early '60s.

[StopTheMadness]

3. Help me expose Norm Coleman's behavior toward women

If you really want to stop the right-wing wing-nuts, here is a concrete way: Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman is one of George W's biggest lapdogs. He has also fought gay marriage, claiming it's because he's so interested in preserving the "sanctity of marriage." At the same time, there are many reports about Mr. Family Values' extra marital affairs, his sexual harassment of women in bars, restaurants and elsewhere, his racist comments, and his receipt of illegal "gifts" (campaign contributions in the multiple thousands of dollars at a shot). At the same time, he is airing commercials featuring his alleged "wife", to show how much of a family man he is. He is also criticizing his opponent, Democrat Al Franken, for writing what Norm calls "porn" 20 years ago. Well, Al may have WRITTEN porn, but Norm LIVES IT. We are now working on an expose about Norm and his treatment of women. Please, if you want to help stop the madness of the republican right, contact me if you have ANY information about that hypocrite Coleman that might be helpful or relevant. Thank you.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Wish folks had exposed JFK's behavior toward women...

he told John Kenneth Galbraith that because of the nature of the sexual act, women did not have what it took for political leadership or the presidency. Galbraith told him he was nuts. JFK said, "name me ONE woman who has what it takes to be president," and JKG responded, "Eleanor Roosevelt." JFK said, "Okay, but name me another...."

It was a different time, but even folks in his day were kind of disgusted by his sexist attitude. And the press covered up for him.

Good luck with Coleman. Another election in which the incumbent is so incredibly stupid and loathesome, ousting him shouldn't even be a contest.

[Hidden Stillness]

12. Thread Pictures

Oh, my God! A thread with a picture of both the Rotunda Building, and a group with Milky the Clown, Captain Jolly, and (Detroit) Bozo the Clown! I'm going to cry.. All you have to do is add Bill Kennedy and the late, great Lou Gordon. The Rotunda was a magical kid place at Christmas. I remember when it burned down; it was like a great big friend had died.