Question

Read the passage from the first Kennedy-Nixon presidential debate.

KENNEDY: In the election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln said the question was whether this nation could exist half-slave or half-free. In the election of 1960, and with the world around us, the question is whether the world will exist half-slave or half-free, whether it will move in the direction of freedom, in the direction of the road that we are taking, or whether it will move in the direction of slavery. I think it will depend in great measure upon what we do here in the United States, on the kind of society that we build, on

Answer 1

the kind of strength that we maintain. We discuss tonight domestic issues, but I would not want that to be any implication to be given that this does not involve directly our struggle with Mr. Khrushchev for survival. Mr. Khrushchev is in New York, and he maintains the Communist offensive throughout the world because of the productive power of the Soviet Union itself. The Chinese Communists have always had a large population. But they are important and dangerous now because they are mounting a major effort within their own country. The kind of country we have here, the kind of society we have, the kind of strength we build in the United States will be the defense of freedom.

What main point is Kennedy making in this passage?



Racial issues are just as important in 1960 as they were in 1860 when Lincoln was elected.


The Eisenhower administration does not seem to realize that the communist nations are a threat.


Khrushchev’s presence in New York indicates that the Soviet Union is more powerful than the U.S.


The U.S must be strong and maintain progress in order to preserve freedom around the world.