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JFK and the Speech That Was Not to Be

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Associated Press

President Kennedy was on his way to deliver a speech at the Trade Mart in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, when he was assassinated.

The speech he never delivered ended with these words:

“We in this country, in this generation, are--by destiny rather than choice--the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of ‘Peace on earth, good will toward men.’ That must always be our goal, and the righteousness of our cause must underlie our strength.

“For as it was written long ago: ‘Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.’ ”

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