On a rainy November morning, John F. Kennedy started his last day with a rally at the parking lot of the Hotel Texas in downtown Fort Worth.
At 8:45 a.m., Kennedy spoke to a packed crowd in the Hotel Texas parking lot and outlined his administration's top three priorities: Build a military structure to defend U.S. interests around the world; provide leadership in 'the new environment,' outer space; and continue to improve the country's economy.
"That is the kind of strength the United States needs, economically, in space, militarily," he said. "And in the final analysis, that strength depends upon the willingness of the citizens of the United States to assume the burdens of leadership."
Jackie Kennedy wasn't at the rally -- she was still in the hotel, getting ready.
"It takes longer, but, of course, she looks better than we do when she does it," John Kennedy said.
He then went across the street for a breakfast at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where at 9 a.m. he spoke about the TFX planes being built in Fort Worth.
"The TFX Tactical Fighter Experimental -- nobody knows what those words mean, but that is what they mean, Tactical Fighter Experimental -- will serve the forces of freedom and will be the number one airplane in the world today," he said.
After the speech, his motorcade left for Carswell Air Force Base.
