Description:

John F. Kennedy
n.p., ca. Fall 1952
John F. Kennedy Autograph & Typed Speech, Extensively Annotated by Kennedy & With Over a Page in his Handwriting
Manuscript

John F. Kennedy (1917-1963). Autograph and Typed Manuscript Campaign Speech. No place, [1952]. Unsigned and possibly incomplete, 8.5" x 11", eleven pages on eight leaves of wove paper: four pages typed with extensive holographic emendations in pencil by Kennedy, including a reference to him as "Mr. Kennedy"; six pages in pen and pencil in an unidentified hand; one page in pencil in Kennedy's hand. Expected folds and creases. Minor toning and light soiling. Three pages archivally hinged at the top. A few small tears to one page. In very good condition.

Delivered during the 1952 Massachusetts Senate campaign that ultimately unseated Henry Cabot Lodge, answering charges by Lodge that he did not take the Korean War seriously enough, in which he mentions his own personal experience in World War II and the possibility of provoking World War III and atomic warfare.

In part: "It was my intention tonight to discuss certain questions which are important to you, the people of Massachusetts, in selecting your representative in the United States Senate. All this has now been changed. In the last two days, my opponent Mr. Lodge has made charges against me of such a serious personal nature they cannot go unchallenged. On Saturday, in New Bedford, Mr. Lodge said that Mr. Kennedy does not take Korea seriously. Yesterday in Lowell Mr. Lodge went so far as to suggest that the heavy burdens placed on our people by the Korean War are a matter of indifference to Mr. Kennedy. This is not discussing the issues, the facts, or the record. It is all part of a pattern - a pattern which is to play upon the fears and anxieties of every family with a boy in Korea...No American is indifferent to the Korean War or any other war in which our boys and the boys of our friends and neighbors have fought and died.

War, which all its sorrows and miseries, has a deep personal meaning for me. I saw it at close range in the waters of the South Pacific during the early days of World War II, where some of the noblest pages in our history were written. I know as one who lived it - the lonesomeness, the heartbreak, and the bitter cost of war in lives taken and bodies broken. Great sorrow was visited upon my own family. My older brother, Joe, dear to me as only an older brother can be [struck through by Kennedy] lost his life in a volunteer missions over the English Channel in 1944. Two months later my sister's husband died in action in France. I have some understanding of what the loss of a boy in Korea or in any war means to those who loved him. I don't need to be told about it by Mr. Lodge. I have been as seriously concerned about the Korean War as any man could be. I have been to Korea but [added by Kennedy: to the best of my knowledge] I have never seen any record that Mr. Lodge was ever there...

To me the important question is this: What can be done now about Korea? It seems to me there are three alternatives...Drive the Chinese out of Korea. That in my opinion is wholly unsatisfactory [and] because of the terms of the Russia-Chinese agreement...it might be the beginning of World War III and atomic warfare...Withdraw from Korea completely...[it] is not advocated by any American is a responsible position, including General Eisenhower. Such a course would mean that all of our effort for the past two or three years would be wasted...All of Asia would be lost to the Communists...And of greater importance it would mean deserting American prisoners of war, to whom our obligations are supreme. The third alternative is to maintain our present line in Korea, to work assiduously for a truce - to promote the military development of the South Koreans and other nations engaged in the common struggle, and particularly to attempt to get from countries that are allied with us in the far east and in Europe a share of troops proportionate to their populations and comparable to our own effort. This policy of using as many South Korean troops as possible on the front lines has already been proceeding under the successive commands of MacArthur, van Fleet, Ridgeway and Mark Clark..."

The following is in Kennedy's hand, in pencil: "I think we have every right to expect that the other members of the United Nations should bear their proportionate share of the burden of the fighting. The only way this can be done is by insisting that all of the assistance that we give them should be on a reciprocal basis - that we will help them if they will help us. This, I have long believed, should be the motivating force behind our entire foreign policy..."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 8.5" x 11"
  • Medium: Manuscript

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

April 23, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000