Original subtitles

[music] (drumming)

[music] (band: "Yellow Rose of Texas")

Taxes, taxes.

I used to pay $300. You know what I pay now?

1,408 bucks.

Over $100 a month, I gotta pay Uncle Sam first.

- MAN: Too high. - Too high. Well, the school...

Here he is now. What do you think of him?

Mr. Humphrey, I hope you get good luck.

- Thank you so much, my friend. - Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

- Thank you very, very much. - Sure.

- You're very fine. - I'll see you tomorrow.

You betcha. I'll be listening in tomorrow night.

If you ever get in, I will see you, by God.

Say, you come on down to the White House and have a cup of coffee. Okay?

Maybe a Schnapps.

(laughing) Yeah. Good.

Yeah.

MAN: [music] The farmer all around is taking a shellacking [music]

[music] The money in the till is the thing that is lacking [music]

(horn honking)

[music] Your troubles will cease' [music]

[music] Put Humphrey in the White House and use our food for peace' [music]

- [music] Yes, vote for Hubert [music] - [music] Hubert [music]

[music] Hubert Humphrey' [music]

[music] The president for you and me' [music]

(crowd cheering)

(applauding)

CROWD: [music] Jack is on the right track [music]

[music] 'Cause he's got high hopes [music]

[music] He's got high hopes [music]

[music] 1960's the year [music]

[music] For his high hopes [music]

[music] Come on and vote for Kennedy [music]

[music] Vote for Kennedy [music]

[music] And we'll come out on top [music]

[music] Oops, there goes the opposition, ker... [music]

[music] Oops, there goes the opposition, ker... [music]

[music] Oops, there goes the opposition Kerplop [music]

(crowd cheering)

- (crowd whistling) - WOMAN: We want Kennedy!

MAN (narrating): The big handshake, the big rally,

the wild race across the landscape searching out voters...

all repeated endlessly for days and weeks and months.

These are the ordeal and the exhilaration of the US presidential candidate.

In the entire campaign,

nothing is wilder than the battle of an important state primary

fought in every town and precinct,

with the prospect that the candidate might be knocked out of the nomination

if he loses.

But even if he wins, his victory might count for nothing at the convention.

Now, traveling along with them,

hot on the heels of two fast-moving presidential hopefuls,

you are about to see a candidates view of this frantic process

and an intimate view of the candidates themselves

in their cars and buses,

behind the scenes, in TV studios and hotel rooms...

excited, exhausted

and tensely awaiting the verdict of the voters.

The names could be Taft, Wilkie, Kefauver,

the time, any election year,

the place, any of several key states.

This happens to be 1960.

Senator John Kennedy, millionaire,

Catholic, Easterner from Massachusetts,

is challenging a Midwesterner, Huben' Humphrey,

senator from Minnesota,

in his own backyard, the state of Wisconsin.

FRANK SINATRA (on radio): [music] They're voting for Jack [music]

[music] 'Cause he's got what all the rest lack' [music]

[music] Everyone wants to back Jack' [music]

[music] Jack is on the right track' [music]

[music] 'Cause he's got high hopes' [music]

[music] He's got high hopes' [music]

[music] 1960's the year. [music]

[music] For his high hopes' [music]

[music] Come on and vote for Kennedy' [music]

[music] Vote for Kennedy' [music]

[music] And we'll come out on top' [music]

[music] Oops, there goes the opposition, ker... [music]

(chattering)

(chattering continues)

(girls chattering)

I give you Senator Kennedy.

(crowd cheering, applauding, whistling)

Uh-

If we can hold the darts till the speaker is retired...

Campaigning is hazardous enough.

But, uh, we want to express our appreciation to all of you

for coming here today.

I think it is a fair question

as to why I should campaign, really, in a sense, since last summer

and most intensively since the first of January

in only one of 50 states.

I think the reason for that is a quite simple one.

This is one of the few states in the United States

which permits the people themselves in primaries

to participate in the election of presidential candidates.

[music] He's got high hopes' [music]

[music] He's got high ...' [music]

Kennedy headquarters.

Racine's ready with your call. Go ahead.

There was a letter pledging themselves as one of the Democratic candidates

to, uh, observe any moratorium

on small arms... small nuclear arms testing

that the president might agree to.

Thank you.

How do you do? Thank you very much.

How are you?

- Good luck to you. - Thanks a lot.

Thanks. Looking good.

- I don't know. - I mean next time.

Next time.

- Mr. Kennedy. - Thanks a lot. Thanks for coming today.

- Here's the next president. - Well, I'll be... We're working hard.

Thank you very much.

How are you?

- I wish you good luck. - Thank you very much indeed.

WOMAN: I, uh, had your sister Eunice at my house.

Oh, listen. Thank you very much. I'm glad to see you.

Listen, you were awfully nice to her.

WOMAN: I enjoyed it.

It's nice to know. She's coming back today.

- I can't get over how you two look alike. - I know.

Well, good to see you. Thanks. I'll tell her I saw you.

- Oh, you do that. - Right.

Thank you very much.

- KENNEDY: I got your vote? - Yup.

GIRL: I'm thrilled I got to meet you. Yeah!

Thank you. This was a big thrill for my kids at school.

[music] (accordions: "The Ballad of Davy Crockett")

(man chattering)

HUMPHREY: I appreciate what you folks do.

[music] (man singing)

CROWD: [music] Hubert, Hubert Humphrey [music]

[music] The president for you and me [music]

[music] (singing continues, faint)

(applause)

Mr. Mayor, representatives and my friends,

I have really just finished the very last bite

of that wonderful ham, mashed potatoes and string beans,

and I was just beginning to enjoy it.

Well, we have a surprise for you this afternoon.

Uh, we are very fortunate this afternoon to have in our studios right now

Senator Hubert Humphrey from Minnesota.

- How are you, Senator? - I'm just fine.

And I've had a wonderful reception downtown on the streets of Tomah.

It has been one of the most enthusiastic and pleasant I've had.

Well, that's very fine. How long do you intend being in our fair city?

Well, Tom, I am not going to be here nearly long enough.

And, uh, my good friend Senator Eugene McCarthy,

I understand, is really plugging for you too.

The senator's wife Abigail and my wife were raised in the same town.

Wabasha, Minnesota. You probably know where that is.

I think both you and Gene McCarthy out-married yourselves, I'm sure.

- Yeah. - I know that Abigail is a wonderful woman.

Well, Senator, now that you're here,

and of course our community in this area is strictly farm community...

(man on radio, indistinct)

So, any farm implements you want,

stop into the Mack Implement Company of Camp Douglas,

your Oliver tractor and Gale implement dealers in this area.

They're waiting to serve you.

Well, I'll be very frank with you... the question has been asked of me

if I think that Senator Kennedy will, uh, be out of the election.

In other words, will not win the election.

To be very frank with you, gentlemen,

the impression that I gather in and around this area,

the answer is yes.

I don't believe that he can win in the primary in Wisconsin.

Senator Hubert Humphrey will be defeated in the primary election

in the state of Wisconsin

and the senator John Kennedy of Massachusetts

will win the primary in our state.

I'm Senator Humphrey. Pleased to meet you.

Let me give you my card.

Nice to see you. I'm Senator Humphrey.

- Just stopping by to say hello. - Hello.

You betcha.

Okay. And how are you today?

I'm Senator Humphrey.

This your boy here? How do you do? Hello, son.

Good boy. What do you got, a lot of money there?

Say, that's just what I need for my campaign.

Can I have that? I'm running short.

This is really... It's just play money.

Oh, it's just play money? Well, that'll maybe work.

Here, I'll give you one of these.

You bet. Nice to see you.

I hope you'll be at the election booth tomorrow, April 5.

And my name is Humphrey.

- What's your name? - Blair. Bill Blair.

- And this is Mrs. Blair. - Very good. Thank you.

If you have as good a judgment in politics as you have for your wife,

I'll get your vote.

- You'll get it. - Bye.

- Thank you. - Hello, young man. How are you?

- What's your name? - Bryan.

Glad to meet you. Well, I'm glad to meet you.

It's a pleasure. Good to see you again.

Yeah. (laughing)

- (no audible dialogue) - (woman laughing)

(car horn honks)

(indistinct)

Lucky man.

How are you? How do you do?

- And how are you, princess? - Fine.

Take this home and show it to your mama. Tell her hello from Senator Humphrey.

Tell her to vote for me April 5.

Hello there. How are you, young lady?

- How are you? - Fine.

- Are you working for Humphrey? - No. I mean, yes, I am.

- But I'm not voting. - But you're going to work for me?

- Yes. Work hard. - You're going to talk to the folks about me?

- Yes. - Okay. And your neighbors?

- Yes. - Okay. Fine. Good.

If I can just have you girls working for me, we'll win hands-down.

That's right. Now, I want you to do that.

(chattering)

Tell the folks, tell Daddy and Mama to vote for Senator Humphrey.

How are you? Here you are. You take that home to your folks.

That's right.

How do you do, sir? How are you?

Let me give you one of my cards. Tell the folks hello for me, will you?

My name is Humphrey.

MAN: Would you like to talk to a reporter, Senator?

I talk to the people that vote.

REPORTER: What about this Symington thing?

What about this?

Well, I would honestly read it.

Seriously, a guy named Robert Groener, he's head of the Symington Committee.

He got on the box today down there, and they had a big panel show.

He announced they're coming all out for Hubert Humphrey.

- Very fine. - But you didn't know about this?

No, sirree.

Sir, now, if I can get the Kennedy committee for me,

we can make it unanimous.

(laughter)

Talk to them in there.

CHILD: He's going to vote for him.

HUMPHREY: That's wonderful.

Hello there. How do you do, sir? Glad to see you.

Let me give you one of my cards, sir. Thank you.

Hello. How do you do?

Nice to see you. I'm Senator Humphrey.

All right, all set. Let's go. Yeah.

Wrap the fingers around just a touch, Senator, just easy-like.

Kind of intertwine the fingers a little.

There. That's it. Fine there.

That's it. Easy there.

So few of my clients are Democrats, but I like to kind of get a look in on.

(camera whirring)

It's not time to smile yet.

(man laughing)

You do it all by yourself.

A quarter of an inch.

About a quarter of an inch of cuff, so...

There. That's it.

Eyes just above the camera. That's it. Fine.

Now, just one more. Then you're all free.

(coughs)

Could you swing your body a little bit more to the camera there?

No different from the rest of our states, you know, in Minnesota.

WOMAN: Right.

(woman continues, indistinct)

One of the most beautiful parts of Wisconsin.

WOMAN: It's very, very beautiful.

The rolling, uh, terrain.

Wooded, yet nice fields.

(woman continues, indistinct)

Yeah.

MAN: It makes you sleepy.

HUMPHREY: Yeah. Then speaking right afterwards is, uh...

Nudge me. I know better than that.

WOMAN: Just put your head back and take a little nap until you get to Mindoro.

Yes. How far is Mindoro?

Well, it'll take half an hour to get over there.

MAN (on radio): Now the news... A political bombshell has been set off

in Wisconsin.

The Symington for President Committee threw its weight

behind Minnesota's Hubert Humphrey.

This brought a strong reaction from the Kennedy camp.

The Missouri senator, however, is said to have had nothing to do

with the action of his committee.

WOMAN: Thank you.

(chattering)

Thank you very much for coming today.

CHILD: May I shake your hand?

May I shake your hand, please?

- Thank you! - We can go this way.

- CHILD: Thank you! - Now, anybody I didn't get?

- I guess we're late. - Mine!

- Whose is this? - Mine!

If you would write me at the Senate,

I'll send you a picture and autograph and something about the Capitol.

(children clamoring)

Just write me... Senator Kennedy, the Senate, Washington, DC.

Then we'll send you all some stuff.

(windshield wipers clicking)

Two weeks, this will be the end... It'll be green though.

Because the snow brings with it a great amount of nitrogen for the soil.

WOMAN: That's right.

And that fertilizes it.

WOMAN: Believe it or not, North Dakota and... where our farm is,

210 miles further north of it...

I have much more identification with the vigilant Congress

than my friend Jack does.

He's never... Jack's identification in Congress

has been with one group... labor.

Labor legislation.

My identification has been with the UN, disarmament,

foreign policy,

not just most recently, but since I've been there

with, uh... with broad areas of social welfare legislation.

But I agree that you don't project this necessarily.

NARRATOR: This is the heart of Senator Humphrey's strength...

the farm areas of Wisconsin, close to the border of Minnesota.

And though he likes to discuss everything from foreign policy to disarmament,

here there is only one issue to test the skill of an orator.

MAN: Senator, I am the president of the village.

- How do you do? - Certainly happy to have you in town.

Say, I'm glad to see you, Mr. Gilbert. Thank you so much.

- Here's Mr. Peazer. - How do you do, sir?

Glad to see you, Mr. Peazer.

- MAN: What is your name? - Gunderson.

Gunderson. Gunderson.

How do you do? Good to see you there.

Yes, sir. Nice to see you.

- What is your name? Mr. Michaelson. - How do you do, Mr. Michaelson?

And yours, sir?

(speaking Norwegian)

Oh, yeah? (Stammering) All I know is... (Norwegian phrase)

(man repeats phrase, laughs)

You got a lot of Norwegians around here.

Pretty good. That's good.

How many Swedes?

- You heard of them too? - (laughing)

I, uh, still have my cup of coffee here.

After all, I met a couple of Norwegians over here, you see,

and since I'm only half Norwegian, they only give me a half a cup.

I wanted to finish it off.

Anyway, when you're out speaking, as I have been,

why, once in a while a good cup of coffee

sort of braces you up for the next meeting.

Now, gentlemen,

I am one of the candidates in your Wisconsin presidential primary race.

We're going to have an election here Tuesday, April 5,

and this election is, of course,

a very important one in terms of your state.

Now, my friends, during my service in the United States Senate for 12 years,

I have given more time, more attention

to matters of agriculture than any other one subject.

Now, Senator Humphrey is not out here just to please you

by these comments.

I say that Wisconsin

has lost hundreds of millions of dollars of sales.

I say that the businessmen of Wisconsin

have lost hundreds of millions of dollars worth of business

because of reduced foreign income,

and I charge here that not a single candidate in this primary election

has paid any attention to the farmer at all except Hubert Humphrey,

and I make that statement without any boast or any claim.

Instead of you reading about who you ought to have as president in Life magazine,

you oughta take a good look at him in the flesh.

You oughta hear what they've got to say.

Because let me tell you something, Life, Time, Fortune, Look and Newsweek

don't give a hoot about your dairy prices.

And I know they laugh at you.

I've been down at their editorial boards... some of them...

and I'll tell you, they have no more appreciation of a farmer's problem

than they have of what's going on on the other side of the moon.

Frankly, they don't know the difference between a corncob and a ukulele.

I can tell you that my votes aren't very popular sometimes

in New York City or Boston

because back there, what they want...

when I read the editorials, The Wall Street Journal,

Boston Globe, The New York Times...

they want a price support program that's lower.

They say that the farmer is being subsidized,

and they look at Hubert Humphrey's record and they say,

"Well, this fellow, this Humphrey, he's just from the Midwest."

"He's just for those farmers."

That's what they say. They're right.

I am.

But I am not, if you please, for a farm program

that will destroy agriculture.

I think Benson's farm program is insane,

and I'll guarantee you one thing... if I get to be president of the United States,

I'm going to buy that man a ticket personally

and send him right back to Utah, where he ought to have been all the time.

(applause)

Now, thank you very much for letting me speak to you.

You've been a fine and a good audience.

Good luck. Safe journey home. We're going on to La Crosse.

By the way, tune in tonight at 7:30.

We're gonna have another one of those television shows.

And if you got a question you want to ask,

just pick up the phone and call me collect.

Just pick it up and say, "I want to talk to that fellow Humphrey

at the TV station at La Crosse,"

and put that call through and ask me on the air,

and you can make it tough, make it real tough.

'Cause people like it better that way. They like to see me squirm.

- (laughter) - You make it real tough,

and I'll try to give you a good answer.

Thanks very, very much.

Yes, sir. Good to be with you.

I'm going right back out there.

Thank you so much. Thank you.

Thank you so much.

- ...coat, and we'll get, uh... - Well.

That reminds me, I gotta get my coat out of the bag over there too.

I was gonna put on the wrong coat.

Tell you what you have to do tonight is to be sure to remind these people

to call person-to-person.

- Person-to-person? - Rather than collect station-to-station.

'Cause we just get all these extra calls.

- Isn't that the idea, Norm? - All right.

So that we... Yeah.

Well, I gave Norm, uh... I gave Norm, uh...

On this chart, when the... the way this thing works,

the lieutenant governor says,

"Senator, there's been quite a lot of talk about the record.

What's this all about?" Or something.

Then I say something about that I put my campaign

on the basis of the public issues and the record,

and I've been trying to emphasize some of the differences that exist

between the Democratic candidates.

And here, for example, are some of them.

MAN: All right. Will this be early in the program?

Right in the beginning.

And then you focus in, you phase right in on that.

Then when I say, "Now we have a call here"...

And at that point when they're saying, "Now we have a call,"

you get off that and get back on to me.

The answer must end about one minute.

Now, uh, when it comes down,

before you come to me...

CAMERAMAN: All right, thank you. We're four seconds down.

Uh, five minutes down. Yeah.

HUMPHREY: Just joke about your husband wondering all day long

where you have been and so on.

I could say that I've come here to meet you.

On the TV. Well, but you're on this show now.

Just take about 30 seconds to tell us where you've been.

Then you gotta come right back to me and say,

"Now, Senator, I want to come on this record,"

'cause we want to get on those questions.

You want Muriel to have 30 seconds to tell where she's been, what's she's been doing.

HUMPHREY: Yes, sir.

Moment of suspense.

Senator Humphrey.

MAN (on telephone): Sir, you're advocating the family farm...

Well, I don't think the family farm is impractical at all.

In fact, I would say it's highly desirable,

both economically and, more so, socially.

The family farm has social and spiritual values to it

that are of immense...

You should realize that you are voting for the most important individual

in the entire free world,

and that the welfare of our country is heavily involved

in his good judgment, his sense, his responsibility,

his confidence, his integrity,

his ability to meet the problems head on.

Though I'm not, certainly, the president... I'm a long way from that...

I am one of the candidates.

There are about six of us.

And I, therefore, felt that it would be helpful

if the president had, at least, my assurance,

and I am sure the other candidates...

What has happened... What will happen here in Wisconsin today

will happen in the other 49 states.

MAN: Terrific.

On tomorrow, election day,

every one of the 3,446 precincts

will be covered by a Kennedy worker.

The hardest thing to do in a Kennedy campaign

is to properly harness the enthusiasm he generates.

Everyone that meets him seems to like him,

and then they all want to help.

[music] For his high hopes [music]

[music] Come on and vote for Kennedy [music]

[music] Vote for Kennedy [music]

[music] Keep America strong [music]

[music] Kennedy, he just keeps rollin' a... [music]

[music] Kennedy, he just keeps rollin' a... [music]

[music] Kennedy, he just keeps rollin' along [music]

MAN: That was much better.

You know, you gotta put feeling into it.

WOMAN: ...Fire Department to ask all of you

not to smoke cigarettes or cigars

for the next 20 minutes.

The senator is ready to arrive

in, I'd say, a minute and a half or so,

and there has been some complaint by the women

that one of their dresses has been burned

by a man smoking a cigar in back of her.

So if you will just please...

(chattering, chuckling)

So if you'll please refrain from smoking, we'd appreciate it.

NARRATOR: This is the heart of Senator Kennedy's strength...

the heavily populated city areas,

particularly the Polish Catholic Fourth District in Milwaukee.

(cheering)

WOMAN: I can't wash my hand for a year!

WOMAN: Right up through here. Right down here.

(cheering grows louder)

CROWD: [music] Everybody's voting for Jack [music]

[music] 'Cause he's got what all the rest lack [music]

[music] Everyone wants to back Jack [music]

[music] Jack is on the right track [music]

[music] 'Cause he's got high hopes [music]

[music] He's got high hopes [music]

[music] 1960's the year [music]

[music] For his high hopes [music]

[music] Come on and vote for Kennedy [music]

[music] Vote for Kennedy [music]

[music] And we'll come out on top [music]

[music] Oops, there goes the opposition, ker... [music]

[music] Oops, there goes the opposition, ker... [music]

[music] Oops, there goes the opposition, kerplop [music]

(cheering, whistling, applauding)

I just wanted to tell you that my sister's married to a Pole,

Stanislaw Radziwill.

(crowd applauding)

His name is Stanislaw Radziwill.

(crowd laughing)

And he taught me one sentence.

(speaking Polish)

(cheering, applauding)

MAN: I give to you Senator Jack Kennedy.

(loud cheering, applauding)

- (no audible dialogue) - (applauding continues)

Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,

I first of all want to express my appreciation to all of you.

I know you've been standing for quite a few minutes.

(laughter, chattering)

I've been standing for three months, so I... I know how tough it is.

I also want to express my appreciation

to my old and valued friend, Clem Zablocki.

He took on the honorary chairmanship...

the honorary chairmanship of this campaign

all over the state of Wisconsin six months ago.

(cheering, whistling)

This campaign really comes to an end tonight.

I don't think there's anybody in the state of Wisconsin

who hasn't decided how they're going to vote,

and I must say, it is going to be a decisive campaign.

I've said on many occasions that I didn't think it was possible

to be nominated if I were unsuccessful here in Wisconsin,

and I must say I mean it.

Clem Zablocki and I sponsored a bill together...

the Zablocki-Kennedy Bill, as he calls it,

the Kennedy-Zablocki Bill, as I sometimes refer to it.

(laughing)

But that bill, which you may not have ever heard about,

provides that the Battle Act shall be amended.

And it shall be possible

for surplus foods and surplus things that we have in this country

to be made available to the people behind the Iron Curtain.

- The people of Poland. - (applauding)

We would have passed that bill two years ago...

We would have passed that bill two years ago,

but it failed by one vote in the Senate

when the president withdrew his support

on the day the bill was coming up to vote.

That's how important the office of the presidency is.

He shall determine what shall be our policy on Berlin.

He shall determine whether we shall be at war or peace.

This is the key office,

and I run for the presidency because, like you,

I have strong ideas about what this country must do.

I have strong ideas about the United States

playing a great role in a historic moment

when the cause of freedom is endangered all over the world,

when the United States stands as the only sentry at the gate,

when we can see the campfires of the enemy

burning on distant hills.

That's what's at issue today.

That's what we are attempting to determine.

In the coming months and years, all of us, as Americans,

are going to be called out of the ranks.

Our courage is going to be tested,

and I am confident that we are going to give the same affirmative answer.

That's what I think this election is about.

That's what we're going to begin to do on next Tuesday.

- Thank you. - (cheering, applauding)

(chanting) We want Kennedy! We want Kennedy!

We want Kennedy!

We want Kennedy!

MAN: Now I understand also

we will be pleased to have the privilege

of seeing Bob Kennedy,

Senator Kennedy's son.

- KENNEDY: Son? - Brother!

(crowd laughing)

(whistling)

Brother.

(applauding)

Uh, thank you very much.

I'm sorry that my mother couldn't be here tonight.

(crowd laughing)

And I'm sorry that my sister Pat couldn't come,

and my sister Eunice, and my sister Jean,

my brother-in-law Peter Lawford, or my brother Teddy,

or my cousin Joe Gargan.

(laughing)

So you're going to have to settle with me. Thank you very much.

MAN: Thank you, Bob.

WOMAN: He looked much better last night than he did tonight.

He has lost weight.

And he was on that panel this afternoon.

He was good on that panel.

And the best to you too.

Good to see you.

MAN: Even for you, I must say no visiting, please.

- WOMAN: Work on his own record. - MAN: That's right.

If you can't run on your own record, you haven't got any business running.

- That's right. - KENNEDY: Thank you very much.

Oh, thanks a lot. My best to you.

- MAN: My pleasure. - Thank you very much indeed.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Very glad to see you. Thank you.

- Thanks for coming through that long line. - WOMAN: I just know you'll win.

WOMAN 2: I can still feel it!

Thanks for coming. Thanks to you.

KENNEDY: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

MAN: It's all right.

MAN 2: We've got a candidate that isn't afraid to take criticism.

- Listen, not only that... - MAN: Stop this now.

You'll have the senator all worn out.

Please don't crowd the senator, please.

- No visiting. Let's keep moving there. - KENNEDY: Thank you. Hi.

Very kind. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you. And to you.

- Thank you. - Good luck, Jack.

NARRATOR: Election day.

The voices of the campaign begin to turn into votes.

MAN: Senator Humphrey, and that's who I voted for today.

I believe in the man, I believe he's sincere

on the civil rights program and his progressive... instinct

that I think that he has.

And, uh, I think it would be a great thing for the country if he were president.

(car horn honks)

NARRATOR: The factory gate.

A few last handshakes.

KENNEDY: The primary got very risky.

But my judgment is, I never could have been nominated

if I hadn't run in the primary, so I'm taking the risk.

But I would say you have to keep coming up sevens.

WOMAN: I feel very... quite strongly on the religious angle of it,

so I... I, uh, probably would not vote for Kennedy

because of the fact that he would have an allegiance

outside of the United States.

There is no difference, either one.

Humphrey or Kennedy. There is no difference.

We're hoping for Mr. Kennedy to win today.

We're looking forward to a win in Wisconsin,

and that'll carry him right on through into November.

This will be the start.

I feel I'm in favor of Kennedy very much.

I think he's a tremendous man.

My husband and I met him the other night down on Wisconsin Avenue,

and, uh, I think he can give us what we need.

And being that...

I suppose I shouldn't say this, but being that he is Catholic and we are Catholic also,

I think that has a lot to do with it.

I'm a pretty good judge of people, because I'm a cab driver.

Well, Kennedy, he's more for the upper class.

You could say he's for the East... Eastern class.

Like, I had Mrs. Humphrey in the cab.

The way she put herself to me was real nice.

MAN: I was surprised that the Catholic issue didn't come up earlier than it did.

Uh, Kennedy has stated,

uh, very emphatically

that he will not be dictated by Rome.

MAN 2: They shouldn't bring religion into politics.

- MAN 3: Very correct. Mm-hmm. - REPORTER: Do you think they have?

MAN 4: I look at it this way, that if he's a God-fearing man,

if you're a Catholic or Protestant or Jew, I'd respect him for it.

And I certainly would rather have a man who is a God-fearing man than one who isn't.

WOMAN: I believe most people that are Republican

will... will be voting for Humphrey.

WOMAN 2: I think Humphrey sounded pretty... pretty good.

I really do.

He's been doing his share

and fighting for the working people all this time

and I think he's going to continue.

WOMAN 3: What's glamorous about him? He's younger...

I don't think he's good-looking just because his sister is married to a movie star.

- WOMAN 4: I don't think he's good-looking. - Doesn't make him a glamor puss.

WOMAN 4: I don't see what's good-looking about him.

WOMAN 3: No. He looks like a farmer boy. He's got a good head of hair on him.

REPORTER (on radio): The Humphrey and Kennedy camps at this hour

are almost identical.

Each side says it will win in six of the 10 districts.

Each side says it will win the popular vote.

And each side says it will stage a victory celebration sometime tonight.

REPORTER (on TV): The first precinct reporting in today's presidential primary

gave Senator Humphrey 103 votes

to only 16 for his opponent, Senator Kennedy.

And on the Republican side, Vice President Richard Nixon drew 35.

Fourteen thousand, nine...

nine hundred and eighty-seven.

At 9200 PM.

That's a total of 44% of the precincts reporting.

Forty-four?

44% reporting at 9:00 PM.

Charlie, ask 'em one... one question.

Uh, what did Nixon do in the fourth and fifth?

CHARLIE: In the fourth and fifth, give me Nixon.

I know, but he didn't take him down.

(phone ringing)

- Hello? - We're up 3,914.

- Just a minute, Bob. - Uh-huh. Yeah.

CHARLIE: 5,078 in the fifth.

And keep us apprised.

- What? - Pierre said it's not a correct quote.

No, that isn't a direct quote.

I just said I would find it difficult to be nominated.

If I lost here, I'd find it extremely difficult to be nominated.

I don't care whether they print it or not.

Yeah, it's Jack.

Forty-four for Humphrey, 63...

REPORTER (on TV): First returns in that Wisconsin primary.

Senator Humphrey is leading Senator Kennedy

by a margin of two to one

and he's outdrawing Vice President Nixon three to two.

These, however, are very early returns.

They include one precinct where Humphrey was conceded to be strong.

REPORTER (on TV): Waukesha is in the second district.

Kennedy, of course, is a Roman Catholic,

Humphrey a Congregational/st and Nixon a Quaker.

Some observers think that the election has resolved into a religious struggle.

KENNEDY: That religious thing.

The primary is what breaks it wide apart.

It makes religion to be of disproportionate importance.

Imagine it being a front-page story

when under ordinary conditions it wouldn't even be printed in the paper.

It's endemic.

I see it every... I see it every week.

After all, listen, when Jack came out here, this place was locked up for Humphrey.

(people laugh)

- HUMPHREY: Good. When is Red Skelton on? - WOMAN: He's on right now!

Well, let's get him. We like him. That's our favorite.

Oh, here we are!

Billy, what do you know?

[music] (TV: orchestra)

Ah!

- (TM woman speaking, faint) - (all laughing)

This would be eight of the 10 districts . .. uh, fourth and fifth are out yet.

Nothing from Milwaukee yet.

And it would show Humphrey leading in the third, the ninth and 10th.

(phone rings)

- WOMAN: Thanks a million for calling. - What about the second?

Yeah?

I suppose what's happened, of course,

is that these Republicans are leaving Nixon and voting for Humphrey.

Is that a...

JACKIE (whispers): Shit.

(whispering) Hi, Jerry. How good to see you.

(Jackie laughs)

It would be all right if this was November you're going through this.

You don't like to go through this six times, do you? Five times?

And then November.

The, uh, ninth is gone.

The, uh, third we have a chance in.

The, uh... Well, just a chance. It really depends on La Crosse.

The 10th we have a chance in.

MAN: Yes, sir.

KENNEDY: Just a chance. The seventh is quite close.

HUMPHREY: Listen, don't let these guys get you congratulating too early.

Then afterwards they say, "He thought he was in, but he wasn't."

(Humphrey laughs)

I've been through this before.

- They seem so friendly. - They are.

But their copy desk boys are not always.

(people chattering)

They're all right.

When I first ran for mayor, I was ahead till 6:00 in the morning

- and I... I ended up losing. - Oh, my God.

REPORTER (on TV): Polls are now saying that Humphrey, possibly, may carry five districts.

But it's now clear that the chances of a Kennedy sweep have almost slipped away,

that it could be a long night for newspaper and radio men covering the election,

and that one of the most elaborate and intense campaigns in the state's history

could wind up meaning almost nothing.

- (people chattering) - Now, get the, uh...

Hi. Hi.

- How are you? Nice to see you. - (woman, indistinct)

Well, we'll see what happens.

MAN: Hey, Jack. How you doing?

- (phone rings) - MAN: Appleton, the 11th ward.

327 for Jack.

Ninety-two for Humphrey.

Thirty-five for Nixon?

- That's the greatest... (laughs) - (chattering continues)

- Well, I don't know... - (chattering)

How you can eat is more than I know.

Kennedy at 21,190.

- 190. - Well, fuck.

Hubert... 18,571.

The worst we'll get... The worst we can get tonight

is six to four with the popular vote,

and that would end up with 20 and a half to 10 and a half,

according to the national committee man for Humphrey

and the national committee woman for Jack.

So, actually the 20 and a half to 10 and a half

would be a two-to-one victory for Jack on delegates.

It'd be a great victory, actually.

The only ones disturbed are the people

who've been talking about Jack taking all camps.

- Which, uh... - (chattering continues)

is impossible for a Massachusetts boy coming in to Wisconsin.

I say we go ahead.

- (chattering continues) - (phone ringing)

Hello?

Jack's right by my side.

Wait a minute.

Telephone.

- Did you try coming on the other... - Yeah.

We'll never make CBS unless he really rings it.

NARRATOR: The trend is becoming clear.

Senator Humphrey's early lead from the rural areas

is being wiped out as the big city vote comes in.

(chattering, laughing)

ANCHOR: Boy, what a thrill it is...

what excitement watching these important races tonight.

In a moment of slight commercialism,

I will mention that some other very exciting things are happening

right here in our city these days.

MAN: Kennedy first. The senator will come over here.

Not yet, Senator, not yet.

- Watch from right here? - Yeah.

FLOOR DIRECTOR: Stand by.

ANNOUNCER: ...on the Wisconsin primary.

- Senator, good evening. - Good evening, Sandy.

How does the evening look to you?

Well, as all these election nights are, it's a very interesting evening.

How has the vote, as it's been thus far,

shaped up according to your expectations?

Well, I was hopeful we could take six districts.

I think we have a good chance to do that, which would give us...

And I hope then the majority of the popular vote,

which will give us, I think, a very good result.

Senator, how do you feel about this exhaustive campaign?

KENNEDY: It's been a long campaign. Many months.

But if we're successful at running against a very hardworking, formidable opponent...

my colleague and friend, Senator Humphrey...

If I can be successful against him, I'd be delighted, particularly in Wisconsin,

which is, of course, in the heart of the Midwest and next to Minnesota.

So we've got a very long, grueling campaign.

REPORTER: What are your plans after tonight?

KENNEDY: Well, we, uh, continue on.

The next primary, of course, is Indiana in the first pan of May.

And then I hit West Virginia, Maryland, Oregon and Nebraska

all in the short space of two and a half weeks.

Those things... it makes it good.

MAN: Don't smile yet.

You wait a little while. I may smile even more.

(all laughing)

- We're going right into the interview. - Oh, sure. You bet.

MAN: I wish you'd give me...

Well, my goodness!

The Voice of America. I'm always glad to say something for them.

This has been a great election.

And the people of Wisconsin are to be congratulated

on their genuine interest in this election.

HUMPHREY: This is the best voice that America can have,

when the people participate in their government and their politics.

MAN: How are you gonna come out?

HUMPHREY: I say, I've been in politics too long to make any predictions

with one-third of the precincts in.

Only reckless people do that, and radicals,

and I'm a conservative, prudent man.

You look awfully satisfied right now, Senator.

I'm pleased. I'm pleased.

You see, if you're... if somebody relegates you

to what you call a hard bread and cold water diet

and you come up with bouillon and biscuits, it seems pretty good.

KENNEDY: I always said I wanted to win

the majority of the popular vote and the majority of the delegates.

[music] (people singing "High Hopes")

NARRATOR: Senator Kennedy is headed for a two-to-one victory.

But this is short of the margin he needs to get his bandwagon rolling.

Neither man has been knocked out,

and in national standing they remain about where they stood before the primary.

(people) [music] He's got high hopes [music]

(cheering)

[music] (people singing)

[music] Kennedy for the president Kennedy for the president [music]

[music] Kennedy for the president of USA [music]

HUMPHREY: I feel that we've done well.

I truly feel that we've done as well or maybe better then we had a right to expect.

(crowd cheering, applauding)

You know, just imagine if we'd have won how much noise there'd have been here.

- MAN: We won, we won. We won. - (crowd laughing)

HUMPHREY: You know, West Virginia is a very interesting and beautiful state.

Just hills and valleys. You just work the valleys.

- You sort of walk like this. - MURIEL: We're used to it.

- [music] (guitar strumming) - MAN: [music] We're gonna stick with him [music]

[music] All the way to the end [music]

[music] He used to come over just to help us out' [music]

[music] It's our turn to help him [music]

[music] Without any doubt' [music]

- [music] So vote for Hubert [music] - [music] Hubert [music]

[music] Hubert Humphrey [music]

[music] The president for you and me [music]

[music] (brass band continues)

[music] (ends)