The Kennedys

So tonight marks the end of this campaign.

Tomorrow, in our time-honoured tradition of freedom, America will make its choice.

If elected, I welcome the challenge of serving as President

and of defending that freedom in its hour of maximum danger.

Though half the globe now lives under tyranny,

the kind of society that we build here,

the kind of power we generate, the kind of enthusiasm we incite,

will tell whether darkness or light overtakes us all.

Sol ask that you join us tomorrow, in moving America forward,

making America a great beacon of light for the 19605 and for all time.

(CHANTING) Kennedy! Kennedy! Kennedy!

Senator Kennedy, at 43,

would be the youngest man ever elected and the first Roman Catholic.

and received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism.

The Kennedy campaign has been largely a family affair.

The candidate's brother, Robert, has served as campaign manager

and, with financing provided by Senator Kennedy's father, Joseph P. Kennedy,

one of America's richest men.

Though the elder Kennedy is estimated to have spent as much as $10 million,

the race between Senator Kennedy and Vice President Nixon is a virtual dead heat.

Damn it! If I don't do it myself it never gets done!

The buses in Bridgeport never showed up.

There are old people who can't make it to the polls, and we need every vote.

Lyndon tells me his people need another 300 grand.

Wire it to him, but not to his headquarters. Go through Al Wirtz.

Then I want to talk to Mayor Daley and Pat Brown in California.

Dad, I think the weather is looking good in the entire East coast.

- The buses in Bridgeport never showed up. - No, no, I had that all arranged.

I had to take care of it myself.

I got cabs and limos from funeral homes.

So if Jack loses out there, it's on your head.

I know, Dad, I know.

Anyway, Mayor Wagner called, said the turnout in Harlem is running...

18% higher than projected.

You got anything useful to tell me about besides the weather?

- Would like some grapefruit? - No he doesn't want grapefruit,

he needs to check on the buses in Trenton.

Bobby...

Just go out there and help us win.

It's what we do around here.

It kicked again. - It's been doing it all morning.

Daddy, you want to come feel the baby?

Of course.

- Let's see what's going on in there. - Hi.

- Do you feel it? - I do.

Today is a big day. Your daddy is going to become President.

Now go get dressed.

Bye, honey.

- (JACK SIGHS) - How are you feeling?

Oh, like hell.

They don't have a nursery in the White House.

They do. It's called the Cabinet Room.

Let's not worry about the floor plan until, uh, until they count the votes.

- You know you're going to win. - No, I really don't.

Then why were you singing Hail to the Chief in the shower?

Was I, uh... Was I doing that?

It's a very catchy tune.

Tom! Tom!

I want you to get on the phone,

make sure those buses are rolling in Trenton the minute the polls open.

Jack? We're behind schedule.

Sorry to rush you, but you have radio interviews at 9:00, 9:30 and 10:00.

And then this afternoon I have you set up with the AP, UPI and possibly Cronkite.

I was hoping to go to the golf course.

Jackie, I need you to do an on-air segment with WBX Boston. Can you do that for me?

No, you cancel that, Bobby. She's worked hard,

she's done enough interviews. I want her to rest.

Well, Jack, I appreciate that,

but it would help his campaign tremendously if you could rest tomorrow.

With all due respect, I don't believe one interview

is going to make a lot of difference.

It's all right, Jack, I'll do it.

No, when we get back from voting I want you to relax with Caroline. Really.

- All right. Where's Dad? - Probably fixing my mistakes.

A record number of Americans,

upwards of 67 million go to the polls

to elect the 35th President of the United States.

Citizens from Maine to Hawaii record their choices

as the attention of the entire globe focuses on the contest

for the leadership of the most powerful nation of the free world.

The democratic nominee is an early favourite

and first returns veer on prediction that Mr Kennedy...

Is that it?

Senator, here are the latest numbers from North Carolina and West Virginia.

How has the turnout been so far?

- Heavier than expected. - Really?

- Mmm. - Thank you.

Harry, you were one of the great Presidents

and Jack is going to rely on you, but we got to win first.

Now those Baptists in your state are worried about this Catholic thing.

Now, you got to let them know

that he won't let his strings be pulled by the Pope.

Yeah, I know you will, Harry, you're a true patriot.

Yes, regards to Bess.

Thank you.

That son of a bitch.

You know, he wouldn't let them drink Scotch at the White House

'cause I owned the import rights?

- Joe dear, are you ready? - For what?

Will you come to Mass with me?

Oh, Rosie, I've got a stack of calls this high, each one more important than the last.

What can be more important than praying for Jack?

Getting the Polack vote out in Detroit.

I'll go with you tomorrow, sweetheart, after Jack's elected.

See that he eats a good lunch, will you, Michelle dear?

Yes, Mrs Kennedy.

Finest wife a fellow could have, but I don't understand her faith.

I admire it, but I don't understand it.

You don't believe that God had a hand in all this?

Oh, absolutely.

Here is God's hand, my hand.

- Gotcha! - Hey!

Just short of the first down.

- How are you? - Good. You?

- Good - Jackie all right?

I think she's fine, really.

I ran into the crew at WBX,

they said she wasn't feeling well, couldn't do the interview.

No, Jack just wanted her to rest. She's... She's fine.

Well, I can pinch hit for her if you think it would help.

I can tell them what's like to be part of the Kennedy team.

You wouldn't mind doing that? I think you'd be great.

I'm gonna tell them.

- I'll go get changed. - All right.

That's Daddy and me at our wedding.

- Who's that? - Grandma and Grandpa.

Daddy and me.

Who's that?

Your Uncle Joe. - I don't have an Uncle Joe.

He was Daddy's older brother.

Wasn't he handsome?

Ambassador Kennedy is very anxious to talk to the Governor.

Well, can you ring through to the residence?

All right. Yes.

Please have him call Ambassador Kennedy as soon as he arrives.

Yes. Thank you.

Left word for Governor Brown.

Why are they writing about me?

Wall Street manipulator, appeaser of Hitler. None of it's true.

You shouldn't read these things, they just upset you.

- They could cost Jack the election. - It won't. He'll be fine.

- Let me make you some tea. - No, no, no, no, I don't want any tea.

Just stay with me.

- Are you feeling all right? - Yes, yes, I'm...

I've been thinking a lot of Joe Jr today.

I miss him.

Roosevelt named you Ambassador to England.

How do you like that?

- Proud of you, Pop. - Me, too.

Well, you know this job is a springboard for me.

War may break out in Europe and I'll be in a perfect position

to make sure we stay out of it.

In two years' time, they'll be handing me the nomination on a plate.

- What do you mean? - Dad's gonna be President, Jack.

Roosevelt will have finished his two terms.

If I keep us out of the war, I'll be a shoo-in.

But you're a Catholic.

I'm an American.

When my parents came over in steerage, they worked themselves sick

so there'd be clothes and food and something for the plate on Sunday.

In the old country, they were Mr and Mrs Kennedy.

In Boston they were a couple of micks.

Well, this mick is going to the White House and nobody will ever say we don't belong.

Now, if you boys don't remember anything else I say, remember this.

It's not what you are, it's what people think you are.

And with the right amount of money, you can make them think whatever you want.

We're on our way, boys. This country is ours for the taking.

Despite a series of broken promises by Adolf Hitler,

Prime Minister Chamberlain of Great Britain has staked his political future

on a negotiated settlement with the German Chancellor.

Hopes seem to be fading, however, that war can be avoided.

And this is for the President only.

"Dear Boss. Perhaps a note from you could buck up Chamberlain,

"assure him that America is committed to avoiding conflict in Europe at all costs."

"And any concessions to Hitler must be viewed in that light."

That's very good, you can add that.

What makes you so sure Hitler is going to keep his word this time?

It's not our concern.

You read what Lindbergh's been saying? We couldn't beat the German's anyway.

I'm confident, Mr President, that you share this view.

Keeping us out of the war will, in this young man's opinion,

will be the enduring legacy of your Administration.

With love, as always, etcetera, etcetera.

And put it in the noon pouch.

All right, Pop, I'm off to the club.

Lunching with the Foreign Secretary.

And I'm (CLEARING THROAT) lunching with the Secretary's secretary.

Oh, we're due at The Palace at 8:00.

That Jack is quite delightful.

Yes, but it's... It's Joe who's going places.

Hitler's demands on the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia

amount to nothing more than a re-unification of the greater German Reich.

The desire of German-speaking peoples to be part of the same nation

seems to me to be no more unreasonable

than the desire of English-speaking people

to be united on this blessed island.

Has he cleared this with Washington?

Why should he? It's the truth.

It's not the truth, it's his opinion.

We referred to the expansion of our boundaries