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President Kennedy Speaks at Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City

Sept. 26, 1963 - In a speech that seemed aimed at such conservative critics as Senator Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.), President Kennedy rejected tonight a foreign policy based on “black-and-white choices of good and evil.” “In this dangerous world,” he said, such a policy is one “of retreat, not of strength.” Speaking in the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City at the end of the third day of his “nonpolitical” tour of 11 states, Mr. Kennedy declared: “If we were to resign from the United Nations, break off with all countries of whom we disapprove, end foreign aid, call for the resumption of atmospheric nuclear testing, and turn our back on the rest of mankind, we would not only be abandoning American influence in the world — we would be inviting a Communist expansion which every Communist power would welcome.” The President was given a tremendous ovation by the overflow crowd in the Tabernacle, both before and after his address. Mr. Kennedy did not mention Senator Goldwater by name. Most of the proposals rejected by Mr. Kennedy, however, have been made by Senator Goldwater. And the Arizona Republican, a leading contender for his party’s 1964 Presidential nomination, often has been criticized for having “black-and-white” views.

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