Lectures in history is taking a break this week, and in its place, we are dropping the latest from our presidential recordings podcast. If you enjoy these episodes, you can find the entire series wherever you listen to podcasts.

Friday, November 22nd, 1963 was John F. Kennedy's 136th day in office. It turned out to be his last.

He was killed that day by Lee Harvey Oswald. The president began the day in Fort Worth, Texas,

seeking support for his new frontier policies and building momentum for the 1964 presidential election.

Vice President Lyndon Johnson, a Texas native, was with him.

At 8 a.m., the president began a full day of appearances,

starting with a speech at the Hotel Texas to the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce.

So this country, which desires only to be free, which desires to be secure,

which desires to live at peace for 18 years under three different administrations, has borne more than its share of the burden, has stood

watch for more than its number of years. I don't think that we are fatigued or tired.

We would like to live as we once lived, but history will not permit it.

The communist balance of power is still strong.

The balance of power is still on the side of freedom.

We are still the keystone in the arts of freedom, and I think we will continue to do as we have done in our past, our duty, and the people of Texas will be in the lead.

So I'm glad to come.

I'm glad to come to this state which has played such a significant role in so many efforts

in this century and to say that here in Fort Worth, you people will be playing a major role

in the maintenance of the security of the United States for the next 10 years.

I'm confident as I look to the future that our chances for security, our chances for peace,

are better than they've been in the past. And the reason is because we're stronger.

And with that strength is a determination

to not only maintain the peace,

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