UF00083771_00019.pdf

UF00083771_00019.txt

UF00083771_00019_pdf.txt

There is a story behind this political campaign that is 3!
almost incredible. I started three months ago with nine other
men to run for the Governorship of the great State of Florida on
the basis of my qualifications, my record and my program for the
progress of Florida. During the entire first primary you will
bear witness that I never mentioned another opponent, never
criticized, never challenged. I believe in the great American
concept that a man should be able to win on the basis of his own
ability and merit, or not win at all.

Then the second primary began. You had given me the largest
vote in the first primary and I was determined that my conduct
which had met your approval should not be changed. But, on the first
television debate in Miami, Florida my opponent begain a campaign
of villification and distortion that shocked me and I know disgusted
those who witnessed it. The Miami press, dominated by Just two men
and committed to my opponent, reported that we engaged in name
calling, but the record proves that they reported falsely. He called
me a race baiter, a demagogue, a master of the half-truth, a lawless
man, and I confess I was taken completely by surprise.

Then the pattern begain to unfold -- a pattern of hypocrisy
I have never seen equaled. He charged that I was a lawless man and
a demagogue and a race baiter because I had introduced a resolution
protesting the conduct of the United States Supreme Court. Then
he charged that I was an advocate of interposition and his

accusation was base hypocrisy.

Ninety-seven days ago today, I qualified as a candidate
for the Governor of Florida. Nine other men qualified and on
May the 3rd of this month you made your choice.

During the entire first primary I never once criticized

an opponent. I ran on my record of performance and on a platfonn
of progress.
Hy Opponent in this second primary and I met in a

television debate in Miami for the first time on May .......

This is the last time I shall have a chance of speaking
to you before you go to the polls and there is so much to be said.
I have only half an hour and I wish so much that all of it could
be spent talking about the opportunities in Florida's future, the
problems we share, our common goals. I conducted an entire first
primary without ever criticizing an Opponent, running on my own
record and on my platform for progress for this state, and you
showed your approval by giving me the greatest vote in a field of
ten candidates.

It was my desire to run this second primary in that same
You are entitled to that kind of race.

denied a calm consideration of the great and basic issues facing

fashion. You have been

the people of Florida because this has not been that kind of race.

~Ue '.




PAGE 1

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PAGE 2

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