Title: JFK's Speech on the Responsibilities of Citizenship, May 18, 1963

" Welcome to the John F Kennedy presidential speech series. In May of 1963. President Kennedy -- his way to the federal government's preparation -- the impending clash with the state of Alabama. Over the integration of the university of Alabama. Less than a week after the bombing of -- black Americans home and hotel in Birmingham president Kennedy made a one day trip to Tennessee and Alabama. Saluting the nineteenth anniversary of Vanderbilt university and the thirtieth anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Authority but in addition reminding his listeners of their roles and responsibilities as citizens. And spirited and eloquent speech before an estimated crowd of the 2000 people in the stadium at Vanderbilt university in Nashville Tennessee. On May eighteenth 1963 president Kennedy reminded his listeners. That it falls to the educated man to assume the greater obligations of citizenship of the pursuit of learning to serve the public and to uphold the rule. Speaking of the responsibilities of all Americans president Kennedy counseled his listeners that liberty without learning. Is always in apparel and learning without liberty is always in vain. Any educated citizen who seeks to some horrible suppress freedom. -- to subject other human beings to acts that are less than human degrades his heritage. Ignores his learning. And betrays his obligations. Less than one month after delivering this speech president Kennedy federalized the Alabama national gore forcing governor George Wallace to step aside and allow the admission of two black students of the university of Alabama."

" Castle mister Vanderbilt. And the keep offer. Tentative goal. Congress in Poland and an -- congressman bad. Congressman Everett. -- distinguished -- members of the judiciary and the army corps of engineers and Tennessee valley. -- first of all want to express. I want appreciation. Through the governor and the mayor of this data and hitting and to the people -- very generous welcome. And particularly to all of our young men and women. Lined the street. And a played a music -- as we drove in -- this stadium that day here with us. And we feel the music the future of this city and state isn't sure it. Many things bring us together today. We asked saluting the ninetieth anniversary of Vanderbilt University. Which is grown from a small Tennessee -- university an institution to one of our nation's greatest. With seven different colleges. And with more than half its 4200 students from outside of the state of Tennessee. And we are saluting the thirtieth anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Which transformed -- depressed and flood ravaged region. Into a federal productive Sena an industrial science and agriculture. We are floating by initiating construction on the -- in his name. A great Tennessee State. Kordell how the the father reciprocal trade. The grandfather of the United Nations. The secretary of state who presided over the transformation. All of this nation from a life of isolation and almost indifference. Through a state of responsible world leadership. And finally we are saluting. By the recognition they -- coming dam in his name. -- period to -- All of a colleague of mine in the House of Representatives. Who represented this district this date and this nation in the congress a sixteen turbulent years. Years which witnessed the crumbling a vampire the spreading of the Adam. The conquest of one threat to freedom and the Americans just yet another."

" If there is one unchanging theme that run throughout mean separate stories. It'd -- everything changes like changing now. We live in an age of movement and change both evolutionary and revolutionary both -- and enable. And in such an a a university head hate that you'll obligation. -- to the best of the past and move fast to the best of the future. LA a hundred years ago. -- his -- said that 13 of the students have Jeremy universities broke down from all the work. Another third broke down participation and the other third road Germany's. I do not know which they're out of the student body of Vanderbilt is here today. But I am confident we're talking into the future road to Tennessee and America. In the Spirit of this university. The F since abandoned them. It's still learning. The essence of its outlook it's still liberty and liberty and learning. We know me and must be the touchstone the Vanderbilt university and at any pre university in this country -- the world. I state Joe touched bill yet they are almost inseparable inseparable if not indistinguishable. All live anywhere about learning. Is always in apparel and learning without -- Is always in Maine. This state this city this campus have -- long while both human rights. And human enlightenment and let that forever be true. This nation is now engaged in a continuing debate. About the right debate portion of its citizens. That will go on. And I was right and expand. Until disbanded hurt more by the nation's founders has been -- And all Americans. Enjoy equal opportunity and liberty. Under a law. But this nation was not bounded totally. On the principle of citizen right. Equally import. The all too often not discussed. Is that citizen's responsibility. Or are privileges can be no greater. Then our obligations the protection of our right. -- and -- no longer than the performance of our responsibilities. Each -- being neglected only -- apparel the other. I speak to you today there are not -- all right that Americans but I'll be our responsibilities. They are many in number and different in nature. They do not rest -- equal weight up on the shoulders of all. Equality of opportunity does not mean equality of responsibility. All Americans but being responsible citizen. But some must be more responsible than others. By virtue of their public or their private position they're role in the family -- community. That prospect for the future are their legacy from the past. Increased responsibility goes with increased ability. Bob Dole is still much is given much is required. Commodore Vanderbilt recognize this responsibility. And his recognition made possible. The establishment of a great institution of learning all which he will be long remembered. After -- steamboats and ray -- have been forgotten. I speak in particular they have fought all the responsibility of the educated citizen. Including the students the faculty and the alumni have this great institution. The creation NN naked -- Vanderbilt University. Like that how all great university. And it required considerable -- an expenditure and I cannot believe that all of this was undertaken. Near -- again this school's graduate. And economic advantage in the life struggle. Every man stand out from the university at professor Woodrow Wilson. Every man and out from a university should be a man and his nation. As well as a man of -- time. You have responsibility in cure ought to -- yard talent for the benefit of the society which helped develop those talent. You must if I didn't hear it upload it. Where did you will be NN boulder a hammer. -- you'll give to the world. In which you are rid an educated about it possible benefit of that education. I've done many special obligation. Incumbent upon an educated citizen I would site three -- outstanding. -- our obligation to the pursuit of learning. Your obligation to serve the public your obligation to uphold the law. If the pursuit of learning. Is not defended by the educated -- it will not be defended at all. All there will always be dolls boost profit intellectuals who cry out against three search. Who seek to limit our educational system. Mod infinity and skeptic. Seeing no more reason. A landing a man on the -- which we shall juror then that's an -- skeptic."

" Okay."

" Bob Papa millennium a goal often a discovery of this country. They -- hop. In Pei knows the -- main -- the minds of their children a small way. That he's paid to those to whom they entrust the care they're bombing. But the educated citizen knows how much law there is you know. He knows that knowledge is now more so today than ever be Paula. Keynote that only educate and inform people will be 83 people. They're being ignorant some one vote in a democracy. And -- the security of all. And that if we handed Jefferson what it enlighten the people generally. Tyranny and the impressions of mind and body will vanish like evil Spirit at the dawn of day. And therefore be educated citizen and they special obligation. To encourage the pursuit of learning. To promote exploration of the unknown. To preserve the freedom of inquiry that the -- advancement of research and to a fifth at every level of government. The improvement of education for all Americans from grade school graduate school. Speculating educated citizen as an obligation to serve the public he may be a precinct where error or president. He may get his talent took -- caught out. Statehouse the White House he may be a Phillips ever arts Canada a candidate or campaign work out a winner are loaded. Body might be eight but at the and not expected."

" At the Olympic Games Aristotle wrote. It is not the finest and strongest man who work around that day who went on the list. We're out of the surprised man not selected. So -- he said on the audible in the go what it is they who act. -- win the prize. I urge all of you today especially those who -- students to act. -- and let the public service and -- win or lose surprised. All we can have only one fall of aristocracy in this country. At Jefferson -- long ago. In rejecting John adams' suggestion of -- not official aristocracy of wealth and bear. It is he wrote a natural aristocracy of character and talent. And the best form of government he added with that we elected these men or positions of responsibility. I would hope that all educated citizens. Would fulfill this obligation. In politics. In government here in Nashville. Here in this state in the peace go off in the foreign service in the government service in the Tennessee valley in the world. You'll find the pressure is great and and okay. You may endure more public attack and support. Watch your hat the -- equal satisfaction. -- knowing that your dog character and talent. I contributing to the direction and success of this free society."

" Third and finally. The educated citizen."

" Had an obligation to uphold the law. -- the obligation of every citizen in a free and peaceful society. But the educated citizen had a special responsibility by the virtue of these great understanding. Already he has never studied history or current -- ethics or civics. The rules of a profession all the tools of the trade. He knows that only a respect for the law. Make it possible for free men well together in peace and progress."

" He knows that law is the end he he had bought of the commander of society. Creating order out of chaos and coherent in play semantic. He knows that a one man who defy a law -- pull an -- he does not like is to invite others. To defy those which they do not like leading to a breakdown of law against -- and all ought to. He knows -- that every fellow man is entitled to be regarded."

" With decency and treated with dignity any educated citizens. We think to subvert the law gives a press freedom. -- subject other human being. To act that -- less than human degrade its inherent ignore it is learned and the great obligation. Certain other societies -- respect the rule of force. We respect the rule of law."

" The nation and indeed the whole world. Let's watch recent events in the United States will and --"

" No one can deny the complexity of the problems. Involved in securing to all of our citizens their full rights as American. But no one can gain data back. That the determination due to cure all of these rights is in the highest traditions of American freedom. In these moments of tragic -- a special burden rests on the educated men and women of our country. To reject the temptation to prejudice and violence. And to reaffirm the values of freedom and law on which operate society depends. When ninety years ago it was proposed to commodore Vanderbilt. He -- common -- our country had been torn to pieces by a civil war we want to repair this damage. And commodore Vanderbilt reported I want to unite this country. And all sections of it true that all our people we'll be won its response. Did recognition of his obligation and opportunity gave Vanderbilt University. Not only an endowment but also a mission. Now ninety years later."

" In a time attention. It is more important than ever to unite this country and strengthen these ties. So that all of our people will be one. Ninety years from now I have no doubt at Vanderbilt University we'll still be fulfilling this nation. It will spell. It will still uphold learning encourage public service and teach respect for the law. It will night -- turn it back on proven wisdom -- from new broad challenge. It will still pass thought that a youth of our land -- whole meaning of their rights and their responsibilities. And it will still be teaching the truth that truth that makes us free. And we'll keep it free"