GREAT BEND, Kan. - Sunday November 22 marks the 46th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. On this anniversary many in America and around the world remember JFK's idealism, accomplishments and style. Kansans have good reason to remember JFK, as he considered Kansas to be more than just a "flyover state" to be conceded to the opposition party.
In today's world, no Democrat presidential candidate would even consider "wasting time" to campaign in Kansas two weeks before a Presidential election. So what was JFK doing holding a large rally in Wichita, Kansas just days before the general election?
He was doing two things. First, although he ended up losing Kansas to Nixon, he considered Kansas to be a state he had a chance to win. Second, he was appearing in Kansas to support Governor Docking and the entire Kansas Democratic ticket. His speech at the downtown baseball stadium in Wichita (now called Lawrence-DuMont stadium) was a barn-burner.
The Kennedy's had no greater friends than the Docking family in Kansas. Governor George Docking's key role in helping JFK snare the Democratic nomination in 1960 was recalled by Robert F. Kennedy at Allen Fieldhouse during his 1968 visit there. This time, another Docking was Governor, as Kennedy said...
"And I'm happy to be here with an old friend, Governor Docking. I don't think there was anyone that was more committed to President Kennedy and made more of an effort under the most adverse circumstances and with the most difficult situations than his father, who was then Governor of the State of Kansas - nobody I worked with more closely, myself, when I was in Los Angeles, that was a relationship I will always value and I know how highly President Kennedy valued it and I'm pleased to see him - and to have seen his mother, Mrs. Docking today."
By the time Robert Kennedy made his speech at Allen Fieldhouse, both Governor George Docking and JFK were dead. But the strong relationship between the Kennedys and Kansas Democrats remained, having been sealed by George Docking's work for JFK at the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles in 1960.
In my home county, Barton County, JFK snared 44% of the vote, in spite of Barton County being heavily Republican. Truman got 46% in Barton County in 1948, and Lyndon Johnson actually won Barton County (and the state of Kansas) in 1964. Today Democratic presidential candidates in rural areas like Barton County get only 28% to 32% of the vote.
So why did JFK even bother to spend time in places like Hays, Hutchinson and Wichita, Kansas in 1959 and 1960? Because he wanted to win, and he campaigned hard everywhere. If you read the text of his speech in Wichita, it is aimed at Kansas farmers.
Things have changed. Today Kansas is written off by Democrats in presidential elections, and taken for granted by Republicans. As a solid "red state," Kansas gets no special attention from Washington, D.C. like swing states such as neighboring Colorado and Missouri. Presidents and presidential candidates rain money and attention on swing states. It is expensive for any state to be taken for granted or written off. But JFK wanted to win Kansas, so he spent time here.
On the anniversary of John F.Kennedy's death, we remember a leader who made us believe in America and ourselves. And we also remember a President who considered places like Kansas to be a key part of that American Dream. We are not two nations, but one nation, under God.
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