NBC's MEET THE PRESS to Offer Rare Glimse at JFK Preesidential RiseCAMPAIGN

"Meet the Press with David Gregory" is offering viewers a rare opportunity to see inside the story of JFK's rise to the presidency in a new half-hour special entitled, "MTP Remembers: JFK - The Presidential Campaign." Released in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of JFK's death, the special will air throughout the month of November on all ten of NBC's Owned Television Stations, as well as a majority of NBC's affiliate stations nationwide.

Pulling from the broadcast's rich 66-year old archives, this "MTP Remembers" special will feature three "Meet the Press" interviews with JFK during his 1960 presidential campaign: in January after he declared his candidacy, in July from the Democratic National Convention, and in October - less than a month before the general election against Richard Nixon.

The special features the most compelling parts of these interviews, including topics ranging from Richard Nixon, LynDon Johnson and the Cold War, Cuba and the threat from the Soviet Union, to JFK's stance on civil rights and his attempt to become the first Roman Catholic President of the United States.

Excerpts from the interviews are below courtesy of "Meet the Press."

January 3, 1960

John SteelE: You have defined the job of the Vice President as that of breaking ties and watching the Presidents health. Does that mean if you are the Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party you will select a Throttle-bottom as your Vice President running mate?

SENATOR KENNEDY: No, I will select the best man I could get. If my life expectancy was not what I hope it will be-but that really is not, I wouldn't think, an enviable prospect for the second man, whose only opportunity to exert influence in the course of events would be, if I should die.

July 10, 1960

LAWRENCE E. SPIVAK: The American people are going to be asked to make a choice not only between two men for President but between two parties. What do you see as the fundamental differences today between the Republican and Democratic Parties?

SENATOR KENNEDY: I think the Republican Party really is the party of memory. I think it's a party, which really looks to the past, which looks to the present. I think Mr. Nixon in some of his recent speeches has demonstrated that. I think the Democratic Party which is extremely old, the oldest party, I do think has a great deal more intellectual curiosity, vigor, and willingness to face entirely new problems in a new way.

"MTP Remembers: JFK - The Presidential Campaign" is part of an ongoing series of archival specials from "Meet the Press" including "Remembering the Dream," which featured an Aug.25, 1963 interview with Martin Luther King Jr. in honor of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.
David Gregory is the moderator of "Meet the Press." Rob Yarin is the executive producer, Adam Verdugo is the senior producer, Chris Donovan and Ilana Marcus Drimmer are producers.

Please check local listings or the "Meet the Press" website (www.MeetThePressNBC.com) for television and radio broadcast times in your area. Follow us on Twitter @MeetThePress and @NBCNewsPR.

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