[Lyndon B Johnson 1964 presidential victory]

I know that this is more than a victory of party or person it is a tribute to the program that was begun by our beloved President John F [Applause] Kennedy it is a mandate for Unity for a government that serves no special interest no business government no labor government no Farm government no one faction no one group but a government that is the servant of all the [Music] people the voice of the people was heard in the land 68 million citizens of the United States go to the polls to exercise their cherished franchise and an overwhelming mandate is handed to Lyndon Baines Johnson who becomes 36th president of the United States the man who was thrust into office through the hand of tragedy captures an overwhelming percentage of the popular vote more than 61% a plurality over Barry Morris Goldwater of nearly 16 million ballots it is an historical sweeping Victory approached only by that of Franklin Roosevelt in 1936 it is an election that crosses party lines sees five states in the solid South def to the GOP and has political scientists wondering it's the president's Hometown and they're proud of it many towns folk are on hand when the polls open waiting for Mr Johnson and he arrives 8 minutes later to cast his vote accompanied by the first lady the president seems confident of becoming the first Southerner ever to be elected to this highest office the way he voted would hardly be a top level secret but it probably helped swing his home state of Texas into the victory column now it's back to the ranch to await the returns meanwhile the other candidate casts his ballot in his hometown Phoenix Arizona senator Goldwater was up at 5: in the morning chatting with other amers on his ham radio and then he has a wait of more than an hour in line before he votes Mr Goldwater said later he split his ticket incidentally a Democrat was elected governor of Arizona did the senator help later with the results in Mr Goldwater pledged himself to assist the newly elected president in every way he could Across the Nation in New York there was a Senatorial race of national interest Robert F Kennedy was on the ballot in opposition to Republican incumbent Kenneth keting over overcoming claims of carpet bagging Mr Kennedy defeated his Republican opponent Senator keing ran a million and a half votes ahead of the national ticket but he couldn't overcome the Johnson Landslide and the magic of the Kennedy [Applause] name Senator elect Kennedy resigned as attorney general and moved to New York to make his successful bid for office it was a wildly enthusiastic group of followers who cheered him as Senator keing conceded defeat [Music] [Applause] [Music] it was another sweep for the kennedies in Massachusetts although confined to the hospital since a plane crash earlier in the year Senator Edward M Kennedy ran up a victory of landslide proportions to join his brother Robert on the floor of the Senate thus Ted Kennedy as he is nicknamed retained the seat that was once held by his brother President John F Kennedy in California it was a different story a former actor and song and dance man George Murphy sends a former Kennedy Aid to defeat Pierre Salinger resigned as White House Press Secretary to run for Senator but Murphy the Conservative Republican candidate won the bitterly contested [Applause] election for the first time since 1800 the capital looks down on voters going to the booths in Washington they turn out in droves to cast their first presidential ballots in 164 years President Johnson takes the three District of Columbia electoral votes to add to his victories in 44 of the 50 states those three votes bring his total in the Electoral College to 486 to Senator Goldwater is 52 only 270 are needed to elect as the voters made history in Washington it was but one chapter of many in this historical election that has made its impact felt around the world it was the ultimate picture of a great democracy at work a people choosing the man who would guide their Destinies in a troubled world for the next four critical years Mr Johnson in winning the metal of the presidency in his own right has asked the help of all the help of those who voted for him the help of the 26 million people who cast their lot with Senator Goldwater in Victory he seemed subdued by the terrible burdens he must assume during the coming years the United States is a nation that can be divided in the heat of an election and United again quickly when differences are resolved a mandate has been given now may the people of the United States move forward behind their president Lyndon Baines Johnson [Music]