Nation: State of the Union

John Kennedy's second State of the Union message was the longest speech that he has made as President. In 53 minutes and 7,250 words he urged programs that covered the legislative spectrum. Among his major subjects: ∙THE ECONOMY. "At year's end," Kennedy said, "the economy which Mr. Khrushchev once called a 'stumbling horse' was racing to new records in consumer spending, labor income and industrial production." For continued economic expansion, the President asked Congress to approve acts to retrain workers for new jobs, help train and place youths entering the labor market, and grant an 8% tax credit for businesses investing in new machinery and equipment. Noting that "the time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining," he also asked Congress for standby authority to lower income tax rates in times of recession, speed up federal public works programs and strengthen the unemployment insurance system.

∙EDUCATION. Seeing "no reason to weaken or withdraw" his aid-to-public-schools bill, pigeonholed by Catholic opposition last year, Kennedy urged its passage. But he virtually ensured its demise by noting that last year's bill provided "the maximum scope permitted by our Constitution" —thus sticking by his guns that aid to parochial schools is unconstitutional. He also proposed aid to colleges, and a "massive attack to end adult illiteracy. 'Civilization,' said H. G. Wells, 'is a race between education and catastrophe.' It is up to you in this Congress to determine the winner of that race."

∙CITIES. Kennedy proposed a new Department of Urban Affairs and Housing because "both equity and common sense require that our nation's urban areas, containing three-fourths of our population, sit as equals at the Cabinet table."

∙CIVIL RIGHTS. Kennedy asked Congress to act on pending bills to do away with such bars to voting as literacy tests and poll taxes—but Congress has been sitting on the bills for so long that it is not likely to disinter them. Kennedy boasted that "this Administration has shown as never before how much could be done through the full use of executive powers. But there is much more to be done."

∙HEALTH. In a strong plea for medical care for the aged tied to social security, the President said that "no piece of unfinished business is more important or more urgent," asked that a bill on the matter be passed "without further delay." Kennedy also recommended "a new public welfare program, stressing services instead of support, rehabilitation instead of relief, and training for useful work instead of long dependency."

∙AGRICULTURE. Kennedy promised to submit to Congress "a new, comprehensive farm program ... to prevent chaos in the Sixties with a program of common sense," but offered no details of the program. "The revolution on our own countryside," said the President, "stands in the sharpest contrast to the repeated farm failures of the Communist nations and is a source of pride to us all." But, warned Kennedy, "without new, realistic measures," increasing farm production "will some day swamp our farmers and our taxpayers in a national scandal or a farm depression."