Web Dropin 2

The Kennedy Experience

1. Read or listen to Kennedy's speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association on September 12, 1960, in which he responded to certain concerns that had been raised regarding the issue of a Catholic running for President. As a class, answer the following questions:

(a) What kinds of concerns had been expressed about his Catholicism?

(b) How did Kennedy respond to those concerns?

(c) Did Kennedy believe the issue of his Catholicism had received the right amount of attention during the campaign?

Explain.

http://www.cs.umb.edu/jfklibrary/j091260.htm

2. As an extension for homework, imagine that you are the first person of a particular group to be nominated by a major party for the office of President -- for example, the first woman, the first African American or Hispanic, the first Muslim or Jew, or the first homosexual (or some combination of these). Write a speech in which you respond to the kinds of concerns that might be expressed about your candidacy. State in your speech whether you believe this element of your identity should be an important issue in the campaign, as well as whether you think this element of your identity could make you a better president than someone else (and if so, why). Read your speech to the class.