The second Kennedy-Nixon Presidential Debate in Washington DC, United States. Harold R Levy of Newsday asks Republican candidate U.S. Vice President Richard M Nixon to comment on the importance of party labels. Nixon answers and talks about Democratic and Republican Presidents. He says that the party label is not important, it is the belief and the leadership qualities of the presidential candidate that are important. He states that it is the people who determine and elect their presidents. He disagrees with Kennedy's statement that his party has not proposed programs. He mentions the programs proposed by his party in fields like education, housing and defense that would lead to the overall development of the nation. Democratic candidate Senator John F Kennedy presents his views and states that party labels are important as they tell about the programs and the candidate. He says that the Democratic party has stood for progress, people's welfare, strong foreign policy and national defense. He compares the approaches used by Democratic presidents with those used by the Republican presidents. He concludes that in the past years the Republicans have opposed housing, care for old age, federal aid to education and minimum wage. Moderator Frank McGee thanks the candidates and mentions future program details.
The third Kennedy-Nixon Presidential Debate in the United States. Charles Van Fremd from CBS News asks Republican candidate U.S. Vice President Richard M. Nixon that if he were the president would he launch a war if the Chinese Communists began an invasion of Quemoy (Kinmen) and Matsu Islands and if he would authorize the use of nuclear weapons if regular conventional forces failed to halt the invasion. Nixon answers and states that it is irresponsible for a presidential candidate to indicate the course of action and the weapons he would use in the event of such an attack. He states that he would not say in advance how the U.S. would respond. He states that the Chinese Communists do not want just Quemoy and Matsu or Formosa (Republic of China or Taiwan), but the world. He concludes that defense of the free world territories and not surrender will lead to the path of peace. Democratic candidate Senator John F. Kennedy talks about a treaty to defend Formosa (Taiwan) and the Pescadores Island. He states that the U.S. would meet its commitment to Formosa. He disagrees with Nixon's suggestion that the United States should go to war if Quemoy (Kinmen) and Matsu islands are attacked as the treaty does not include these two islands. He concludes and says that the U.S. would defend if Formosa (Taiwan) or the Pescadores Island is under attack.
The third Kennedy-Nixon Presidential Debate in the United States. Douglass Cater from Reporter magazine asks Democratic candidate Senator John F Kennedy about what sort of prolonged period does he envisage before there could be a summit conference and if he thinks that there could be any new initiatives on the grounds of nuclear disarmament during that period. Kennedy answers and talks about the need of strengthening of U.S. conventional forces and increasing missile production. On the question of nuclear weapon disarmament he states that the new administration should renew negotiations with the Soviet Union. He disagrees with the present administration's efforts regarding nuclear controls and general disarmament. He states that if he would get a chance he would make efforts to provide for control of nuclear weapons testing and begin general disarmament levels. Republican candidate U.S. Vice President Richard M Nixon mentions about his speech on this subject. He disagrees with Kennedy's statement that the administration is not making any effort because this is the highest level of operations in the whole State Department which is under the President himself. Roscoe Drummond from New York Herald Tribune asks Vice President Nixon about defending Quemoy and Matsu islands. Nixon answers and states that the U.S. should not deal with dictators and should not indicate which particular area it would defend. He gives the examples of the Korean War and World War II where the U.S. made a mistake. He says that Kennedy should change his position in this regard and not encourage the Chinese Communist and Soviet aggressors to react. Kennedy says that the treaty with the Republic of China excludes Quemoy and Matsu from the treaty area. He states that the treaty only includes defending of Formosa (Taiwan) and the Pescadores. He concludes that the U.S. should meet its commitments and raise war if the Chinese Communists attack the Pescadores and Formosa.
Nixon and Kennedy debate questions regarding relations with Communists during the third Kennedy-Nixon Presidential Debate in the United States. Douglass Cater of Reporter magazine asks Republican candidate U.S. Vice President Richard M Nixon to comment whether there was a valid criticism of his statement of foreign policy. Nixon answers and states that the criticism is not valid. Regarding Indochina, he says that the U.S. would not have tolerated Indochina falling under Communist domination. And as a result of that the civil war there ended. He states that he supports the President's position and thinks that the President was correct in ordering the U-2 flights. Referring to Quemoy and Matsu he states that he objects to the constant reference to surrendering these islands. Democratic candidate Senator John F Kennedy disagrees with Nixon's statement on Indochina and states that reason Indochina was preserved was the Geneva Conference. On the question of the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft flights he states that he has never criticized them and never suggested stopping of espionage. On the question of keeping the Communists in doubt about the U.S. defending Quemoy and Matsu he states that the U.S. should meet its commitments to Formosa (Taiwan) and the Pescadores. He concludes by saying that he disagrees with Nixon as Nixon is extending the administration's commitment.
The third Kennedy-Nixon Presidential Debate in the United States. Roscoe Drummond of New York Herald Tribune asks Democratic candidate Senator John F Kennedy to comment on the purpose of the secret domestic militant organization Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in the presidential campaigns. Kennedy answers that the head of the Ku Klux Klan in a statement stated that he would vote for Nixon and not him. Kennedy states that he has never suggested that Nixon has slightest sympathy and involvement with the Ku Klux Klan. Republican candidate U.S. Vice President Richard M Nixon states that it is the Americans who will choose the President. He states that elections are not any test of religion, race but test of a man. He states that Communism is the enemy of all religions and he opposes the Klan organization. He concludes, early in the civil rights movement, that if civilians believe in America they cannot have religious or racial prejudice in the presidential campaign.
The third Kennedy-Nixon Presidential Debate in the United States. Roscoe Drummond of New York Herald Tribune asks Republican candidate U.S. Vice President Richard M Nixon to comment on declining economic growth and what steps he would take to improve it. Nixon answers that he is not satisfied with the economic growth of the U.S. He compares the nation's growth rate during the Truman Administration and the Eisenhower Administration. He urges for the development of private enterprise sector of the economy. He talks about his program of tax reform which would stimulate more investment in U.S. economy. He talks about the upliftment of the distressed areas and full utilization of resources of those areas. He talks about the adequate use of talents of the Americans and their civil rights. He concludes and states that there has been a continuous development of American economy in the past years. Democratic candidate Senator John F Kennedy states that Nixon has pointed a rise in food prices in his proposed agricultural program which is not true. He comments on the statement given by Nixon on aiding distressed areas and education. He says that the bills of these program have been opposed by the administration. He talks about the lowest rate of economic growth during this administration.