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Campaign Headquarters
BROOKLYN ANNOUNCEMENT
Shirley Chisholm at podium waving and smiling, clapping crowd.
I stand before you today as a candidate for the Democratic nomination
for the Presidency of the United States of America. (Clapping.)
I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud.”
Clapping.
I am not the candidate of the women’s movement of this country,
although I am a woman, and I am equally proud of that.” Clapping.
I am not the candidate of any political bosses or fat cats or special
interests.” (Clapping. cheers).
I stand here now without endorsements from many big name politicians
or celebrities or any other kind of prop. I do not intend to offer to
you the tired and glib clichés, which for too long have been
an accepted part of our political life. I am the candidate of the people
of America. And my presence before you now symbolizes a new era in American
political history.
I have always earnestly believed in the great potential of America.
Our constitutional democracy will soon celebrate its 200th anniversary,
effective testimony, to the longevity to our cherished constitution
and its unique bill of rights, which continues to give to the world
an inspirational message of freedom and liberty.
We Americans are a dynamic people…”(This portion is missing
from footage).
Fellow Americans, we have looked in vain to the Nixon administration
for the courage, the spirit, the character and the words to lift us.
To bring out the best in us, to rekindle in each of us our faith in
the American dream. Yet all we have received in return is just another
smooth exercise in political manipulation, deceit and deception, callousness
and indifference to our individual problems and a disgusting playing
of devices politics. Pinning the young against the old, labor against
management, north against south, black against white. (Clapping.) The
abiding concern of this administration has been one of political expediency,
rather than the needs of man’s nature.
The president has broken his promises to us, and has therefore lost
his claim to our trust and confidence in him. I cannot believe that
this administration would ever have been elected four years ago, if
we had known then what we know today. But we are entering a new era,
in which we must, as Americans, must demand stature and size in our
leadership — leadership, which is fresh, leadership, which is
open, and leadership, which is receptive to the problems of all Americans.
I have faith in the American people. I believe that we are smart enough
to correct our mistakes. I believe that we are intelligent enough to
recognize the talent, energy, and dedication, which all American including
women and minorities have to offer. I know from my travels to the cities
and small towns of America that we have a vast potential, which can
and must be put to constructive use in getting this great nation together.
I know that millions of Americans, from all walks of life agree with
me that leadership does not mean putting the ear to the ground, to follow
public opinion, but to have the vision of what is necessary and the
courage to make it possible, building a strong and just society, which
in its diversity and is noble in its quality of life.
I stand before you today, to repudiate the ridiculous notion that the
American people will not vote for qualified candidates, simply because
he is not right or because she is not a male. I do not believe that
in 1972, the great majority of Americans will continue to harbor such
narrow and petty prejudice.
I am convinced that the American people are in a mood to disc the politics
and political personalities of the past.
I believe that they will show in 1972, and thereafter, that they intend
to make individual judgments on the merits of a particular candidate,
based on that candidates intelligence, character, physical ability,
competence, integrity, and honesty.” Clapping. “It is, I
feel the duty of responsible leaders in this country to encourage and
maximize, not to dismiss and minimize such judgment.”
Americans all over are demanding a new sensibility, a new philosophy
of government from Washington. Instead of sending spies to snoop on
participants on Earth Day, I would welcome the efforts of concerned
citizens of all ages to stop the abuse of our environment. Instead of
watching a football game on television, while young people beg for the
attention of their President, concerning our actions abroad, I would
encourage them to speak out, organize for peaceful change, and vote
in November. Instead of blocking efforts to control huge amounts of
money given political candidates by the rich and the powerful, I would
provide certain limits on such amounts and encourage all people of this
nation to contribute small sums to the candidates of their choice. Instead
of calculating political cost of this or that policy, and of weighing
in favors of this or that group, depending on whether that group voted
for me in 1968, I would remind all Americans at this hour of the words
of Abraham Lincoln, ‘A house divided, cannot stand.
“We Americans are all fellow countrymen. One day confronting the
judgment of history in our country. We are all God’s children
and a bit of each of us is as precious as the will of the most powerful
general or corporate millionaire. Our will can create a new America
in 1972, one where there is freedom from violence and war, at home and
abroad, where there is freedom from poverty and discrimination, where
there exists at least a feeling, that we are making progress and assuring
for everyone medical care, employment, and decent housing. Where we
more decisively clean up our streets, our water, and our air. Where
we work together, black and white, to rebuild our neighborhoods and
to make our cities quiet, attractive, and efficient and fundamentally
where we live in the confidence that every man and every woman in America
has at long last the opportunity to become all that he was created of
being, such as his ability.
In conclusion, all of you who share this vision, from NY to CA, from
WI to FL, are brothers and sisters on the road to national unity and
a new America.” Clapping. “Those of you who were locked
outside of the convention hall in 1968, those of you who can now vote
for the first time, those of you who agree with me that the institutions
of this country belong to all of the people who inhabit it. Those of
you who have been neglected, left out, ignored, forgotten, or shunned
aside for whatever reason, give me your help at this hour. Join me in
an effort to reshape our society and regain control of our destiny as
we go down the Chisholm Trail for 1972. (Clapping. Cheering).
Pull out to WS, people giving her a standing ovation and cheering.
Reporters ask questions of the candidate. Here are a few….
Reporter #1: You have recommended for women and specifically black women
that involves politics and for elected office.
SC: Yes, I specifically recommend, do I recommend a trend for more women,
and specifically black women to enter into politics…
Reporter #1: elected office?
SC: Elected office? Yes, I definitely am feeling and recognizing that
as a result over 20 yrs in political life, only emerging 8 yrs ago publicly,
that there is a great need for more women in the political arena. I
happen to believe that there are certain aspects of legislation that
probably would be given much more attention if we had more women’s
voices in the halls of the legislatures on the city, state and national
level. And I will…. Legislation that pertains to daycare centers,
education, social services, mental services, the kind of legislation
that has to do with the conservation and preservation of the most important
resources that any nation has and that is its human resources.”
Reporter #2: Congresswoman Chisholm, do you think that your candidacy
will hurt the presidential candidacy of (NYC) Mayor Lindsay?”
SC: Well, Mayor Lindsay will be getting votes from the same area that
I anticipate getting votes. And I dare say that my candidacy may not
just hurt Mayor Lindsay, it might hurt a few others…I just want
to say this, and it is very import for all Americans to recognize. The
U.S. Constitution stipulates that anyone that is 35 yrs of age or over
and is a natural born citizen can run for the Presidency. All of us
meet that criteria. The people will make a decision.” (Clapping).
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