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University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 1963
The Chancellor
On Friday last a shadow crossed our land, suddenly and without warning, a shadow that erased the bold and youthful spirit of leadership that had been ours in the person of our president.
For the fourth time in a few months less than a century, this land of freedom and of peace has suffered the anguished result of the assassin's bullet. For the fourth time a vicious, cowardly, inexplicable, senseless assault has carried a president from the height of his powers to the gloom of the grave and has plunged a nation into overwhelming grief. Today our university in solemn convocation memorializes him who so recently we have lost. In so doing it looks back, as it must, but forward also as it always will.
There is much to compare between the men and the times of the first and the latest of these calamities. Each occurred when the nation required inspired leadership, each occurred in the midst of a continuing struggle for the freedom and dignity of all men, each occurred at the height of the chief executive's popular appeal. Each of these presidents had addressed himself to positive leadership for this nation, toward the ultimate destiny of these United States to be the citadel of freedom and opportunity toward which all other peoples could look with hope and aspiration.
The lesson of Lincoln is not to be forgotten in these hours. That lesson points out to us that there is no finality in tragedy, that the ideals, the words, the spirit of a leader live long after him, enshrined in the hearts of generations that came after. That lesson teaches also that when the voices of the carping critics are stilled, the judgment of history confers immortality on those who by word and deed provide the embodiment of all of the best in human yearning.
As it did on Lincoln, the judgment of history will confer this immortality on John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Like no other man, he appealed to those for whom a university is created, "the young in heart, the brave in spirit, the young upon whom, by whom and for whom the future will be built." Wherever he went he was surrounded by them. At every opportunity he was with them. He restored, if you will, the feeling of youthful accomplishment to our country. There are some here today who remember his triumphant visit to this campus, who recollect his appearance at this rostrum, who recall that he was one of the few in our days who magnetically attracted a full auditorium of students to listen to his words.
He lived in marvelous years, in years that more than any others, saw the realization of education as our greatest hope. With fervor he pressed the cause of education as no one before him ever has done. In his years of service he made it his purpose to put scholarship into action. He surrounded himself in his executive position with leading figures from the academic world. In so doing he translated scholarship as we know it into government in action as we came to know it.
What he said here, what he said elsewhere, what he accomplished, what he believed, will not be forgotten.
Aware of the latent power, of the needs of education, he worked to strengthen what we had at the same time that he pressed for our expansion into new worlds of activity. He lived in an age of technology. He recognized the requirements of and for science. During his years of leadership, man catapulted himself beyond the confines of his terrestrial existence into the fantastic future of outer space. He was aware of the necessity for a better understanding of outer space and of the infinite possibilities of that understanding. He pleaded for an intensified effort toward unraveling the mysteries and he spurred that effort to our benefit.
But he was not so engrossed with science and technology and space that he neglected all the other aspects of our existence. He did not limit himself to categories of educational effort and scholarly research. He understood man's continuing need for the humanities and the arts and he gave them unstinting support also. His life was immersed in them, his home became a center for them.
What we remember best of his person is his refreshing appearance, his sensitivity and his sympathy, his ready wit, his youthful outlook, his way with words, his zest, and his zeal. He could have made his way in the academic world; he was one of us.
Not one of us will forget him; his impact on all of us will not be lost. His ideals of meaningful brotherhood, of peace with dignity, of opportunity for all—are a part of us and will not die.
Even now in the light of our remembrance of him, in the realization of the continuing vitality of his and our ideals, the shadow that fell across our land begins to dissipate. Out of the dusk and the night inexorably we move toward the dawn and the day; out of sorrow inevitably we move into joy. Humbly we can give thanks for the grace that has provided us with leaders like him.
The flag has been lowered before, has fluttered at half position in other days. Always we have raised it again—to even greater heights—and so we will now. Our work goes on, the work that he would have accomplished. Work and service and sacrifice are those things to which he had dedicated himself; work and service and sacrifice combined with a deep and abiding faith. In his memory we dedicate ourselves again to them.
The great strength of our nation lies in its continuity. From his hands has passed the responsibility of leadership. Already that responsibility has been accepted by our new President. He and we could do no better than to move forward echoing the final words of John Kennedy's inaugural address:
"With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own."
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Convocation University of Kansas November 23,1963
Invocation
Almighty Father, we stand before you in sorrow and shame at an hour of deepest grief for our people and nation. Even while we mourn the senseless slaying of our brilliant and courageous young President, our very grief has been outraged by a new act of savagery.
God of Mercies, we have great need of mercy, for we have all contributed by our indifference, our contempt or our active hatred, to that poison of the spirit which has produced such dreadful convulsions in our land. We pray that the hideous face of evil shown forth in these enormities may move us to root out the seeds of hatred and violence from our own hearts and from our national life.
We thank thee, Lord of compassion, for granting to us in a time of frightful peril to our nation and to the world, the leadership of a man of such cool intelligence and steadfast courage as John Fitzgerald Kennedy. We thank thee for the great tradition he followed, of responsible leadership to a responsible people.
We pray that we may be found worthy to preserve that great tradition in following his vision of peace and order in our own society and among the nations, by conquering ignorance and hunger and fear, by refusing to rest until decency and truth and honor are accorded as their birthright to all men everywhere.
Through the tragic immolation of this great and good man, may we find wisdom and strength thus to fulfill the splendid promise of this fortunate land—in the hands of thy inexhaustible love. Amen.
—Rev. Brendan Downey, O.S.B.
Editor's Note: Reprinted on this page are the texts of the statements made Nov. 25 at the convocation honoring John Fitzgerald Kennedy. What was said here was, to us at least, history, and the statements are reprinted so that each person might have a copy to keep and pass on, to reread and to remember by.
The Students
I have tried, during these last few days, to ask myself why this tragic event has had such a profound and meaningful effect upon students—at this school and around the world. Trying to discount my own personal political respect for the late President, I have found four reasons why his death has such special significance for young people, in addition to its obvious meaning for everyone everywhere.
In the first place, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the youngest man elected President of the United States. His youthful zest and enthusiasm, his young family, made it easy for college-age students to identify themselves with him. His magnetic personality, in public and in private, attracted people—and respect.
PRESIDENT KENNEDY also surrounded himself with academicians and scholars, and this endeared him to a University community such as ours. His was an administration dedicated to expertise and precision, wherever possible, and education was always emphasized. Students realized that when John F. Kennedy stressed education, he helped them individually, as well as helping the nation collectively.
Many of the late President's policies were geared especially to young people. The first, and probably best known, was the tremendously successful Peace Corps, a program in which citizens our age could actively assist the United States of America in a worthwhile manner. The program of Aid to Education was always on the President's list of objectives.Likewise, his Physical Fitness Program, and finally the recently-proposed Domestic Youth Corps. John F. Kennedy did more than merely claim to support and respect youth. He frequently encouraged and assisted them in an active dynamic manner.
FINALLY, I realized that this is the first national tragedy that most of my generation can remember. Few of us were born when Pearl Harbor was attacked. We were, at best, infants during World War II. Franklin D. Roosevelt's death found most of us still too young to realize its significance. Then came the Korean Conflict, which we really cannot recall with any certainty. All these crises occurred over a relatively short span of years before we reached a rational age. From that time until now, although the news has been occupied with tensions and conflicts, nothing has happened to really shake the American people in a manner similar to the violent and terrible assassination of our President.
On November 7, 1957, then-Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts spoke from this stage to 4500 persons in this auditorium. It was the first capacity crowd in Hoch Auditorium for a convocation in more than two years. He came from Topeka that morning and should probably have been in bed. His temperature was about 103 degrees, and his first stop on campus was the Student Health Service. It was suggested that he should not speak, but he had a message that he wanted to convey, and it was not like him to pass up an opportunity to speak to a gathering of students.
His theme that day was what we, as college students, could contribute to the United States. He told that audience that politics needed "college trained men who will bring candles to illuminate our way. College men must be able to grasp the realities of politics as well as bring their intellectual knowledge forward."
ULTIMATELY, he said, "the object of the scholar is to contribute his objective views and sensitivity to affairs of his state and nation." Certainly in this respect, John F. Kennedy was a scholar, for he contributed this—and so very much more.
Of course, the American people were understandably shocked by Friday's news. It is possible that the increased effect upon them is proportional to the increased efficiency in communications and transportation. But the shock will wear off, and the republic, united behind a new President, will operate in as normal a manner as possible.
Lyndon B. Johnson does have our hopes and our prayers as he assumes the Presidency. But he has more than that to guide him. As President, he has innumerable memories and recollections of the late John F. Kennedy, President of the United States.
Selections
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Opening Sentences
Before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world
From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.
Thou turnest man back to the dust, and sayest, "Turn back, O children of men!"
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
Thou dost sweep men away; they are like a dream, like grass which is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.
The years of our life are three-score and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore;
Yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone and we fly away.
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Psalms 90
Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.
The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning.
Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies:
Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent in their instructions:
All of these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.
But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten.
With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant.
There be of them, that have left a name behind them that their praises might be reported.
Their bodies are buried in peace; but their names liveth for evermore.
Ecclesiastes 44
For the whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men, and that fame remains not only on graven tablets in their homeland, but also, unwritten, in lands not theirs—the memory of their spirit, not of their fate.
—Pericles' Funeral Oration
Selected and read by William J. Moore, Dean of the School of Religion.