| Summary: | Senator Robert F. Kennedy is the keynote speaker on March 21, 1968 just five days after he declared his candidacy on March 16. Includes audio and transcript of introduction by John Glenn. Redding Pitt, Student Government Association's co-chairman on policy, also introduces Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Transcript of Kennedy's speech was provided by Senator Kennedy's office. After initial remarks, using humor to relate to his audience and to set the tone for the University of Alabama as an open-minded place, Kennedy speaks of the relative lack of unity in this country: though it has men of wide vision, there are too many conflicts dividing the people. He’s running to end such divisions, notably over the war in Vietnam. He believes a military victory is not worth fighting for nor is it possible. He supports the only plausible solution: diplomacy. He says the United States’ behavior in Vietnam has repercussions for the whole world, just like problems in one region of the United States are problems for the whole country. He is concerned about the ongoing struggle for civil rights and he calls for national action to ensure equality. He says violence is as undesirable as leaders who only seek to increase paranoia. He seeks to be the voice for all those who need justice.
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