Description:

Kennedy John

Two page typed speech draft, 8.5" x 11". Dated and titled  "New York Herald Tribune Excerpt - Oct. 29, 1957 on Communist Situation in Kerala." Kennedy added 3 words in pencil to the first page, additional crossing out of text may be in another's hand. Typed on rectos with versos blank. Near fine. Ex Malcolm Forbes.

This fantastic document was drafted during Kennedy's tenure as a Democratic Senator and, of heightened interest, actually addresses Communism from a stand point that is it not always evil, a theme which Kennedy would return to throughout his political career. The draft focuses on the impoverished Communist situation in Kerala. He makes note of this tropical coastal strip of 340 miles with 14 million inhabitants. The unemployment rate is high, but of more concern are the wages.

"Wages are miserable", Kennedy wrote, with a school teacher receiving a salary of about 12 to 24 dollars monthly, and an unskilled laborer earning 32 cents a day. Under these circumstances and due to the presence of a "Congress party machine that had been discredited by corruption, nepotism and inefficiency", the Communists won their election. Kennedy's position on Communism in this instance was: "The Communists have made mistakes since taking office, but it must be said that they have given the state a more honest and hardworking administration than their predecessors". Curious as it gives one pause to even hear Kennedy as admittedly being pro-Communist.

He further backed his position by saying, "The Communist Chief Minister, E.M.S. Nambudiripad .. When he joined the Communists he turned over his considerable personal wealth to the party. Even his enemies are usually willing to give him full marks for honesty". However, Kennedy's realism surfaces when he additionally notes that Communism here has a deceptively innocent look and "some short memories. Indians forgot that these well-mannered administrators only a few years ago were supporting activity or morally the bloody Communist insurrection in the Telangana region of South India".

A rare superb draft, allowing an inside look on Kennedy's philosophies and his interpretations of governmental intervention. Scarce in that Kennedy expressed even a small consideration to consider Communism was a positive force for this small state.

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