 but dangerous complacency. He warned Peoria of a threatening global climate that would prompt a wise America to focus on “restoring its vigor, in restoring its vitality” — in the hands of an energetic, dashing 43-year-old like himself.

“People around the world have the image of America as a middle-aged society which has seen its brightest days,” he told Peoria. “I don’t agree with that view. I want Mr. (Nikita) Khrushchev to know, and I want Mr. (Fidel) Castro to know, and I want people around the world to know, that a new generation of Americans is going to lead this country.”

***

Peoria, Ill., native Ken Burdick, 22 at the time, eagerly joined the throng at the courthouse. He was drawn by Kennedy’s focus on the younger generation as a force for change.

Page 3 of 7 - “He was a hero of mine at that time,” says Burdick, 75, who still lives in Peoria and now tends toward more conservative views. “When he said (at his inaugural), ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,’ that’s still an appropriate thing to say today.”

Also there was Fred Filip, a homegrown Peoria and Bradley University grad who had recently taken a job as night-shift police reporter at the Journal Star. He noted that, unlike most campaign rallies of the time, the Kennedy stop drew legions of college students. Among them were what the press would deem “the leapers and screamers”: young women prone to shrieking at the sight of the handsome candidate, just as that demographic would do upon the Beatles’ arrival in 1964.

“All the young ladies were fascinated,” says Filip, 76, of Peoria.

For many reasons, the post-war generation was ripe for Kennedy’s message. For the first time in America, teens of the 1940s and 1950s had become a marketing priority by retailers. Kids whose childhoods were flattened by the Great Depression grew up to be parents eager to provide better lives for their children — and retailers were eager to feed their dreams for middle-class luxuries. Further, fueled by the freedom of automobiles and rebellion of rock ‘n’ roll, teens enjoyed an elevated economic status, which elevated their social importance. By the time Kennedy started stumping, young people
but dangerous complacency. He warned Peoria of a threatening global climate that would prompt a fresh America to concentrate on “ restoring its vigor, in restoring its life force ” — in the hands of an energetic, dashing 43 - class - old like himself. 

 “ People around the world suffer the image of America as a middle - aged company which has seen its brightest day, ” he told Peoria. “ I do n’t agree with that view. I want Mr. (Nikita) Khrushchev to know, and I want Mr. (Fidel) Castro to acknowledge, and I want people around the world to sleep together, that a new generation of Americans is going to lead this state. ” 

 * * * 

 Peoria, Ill., native Ken Burdick, 22 at the time, eagerly joined the throng at the courthouse. He was drawn by Kennedy ’s focus on the new generation as a force for change. 

 Page 3 of 7 - “ He was a hero of mine at that time, ” say Burdick, 75, who still lives in Peoria and now tends toward more conservative views. “ When he said (at his inaugural), ‘ Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can make for your country, ’ that ’s still an appropriate matter to suppose today. ” 

 besides there was Fred Filip, a homegrown Peoria and Bradley University grad who had recently taken a job as night - shift police reporter at the Journal Star. He noted that, unlike most campaign rally of the time, the Kennedy stop drew legions of college scholar. Among them were what the press would deem “ the leapers and screamers ”: young charwoman prone to shrieking at the view of the handsome candidate, just as that demographic would do upon the Beatles ’ arrival in 1964. 

 “ All the young lady were fascinated, ” says Filip, 76, of Peoria. 

 For many reasons, the post - war generation was good for Kennedy ’s message. For the first time in America, teens of the 1940s and fifties had become a marketing priority by retailers. Kids whose childhoods were flatten by the Great Depression grew up to be parent eager to provide good lives for their child — and retailers were eager to feed their dreams for middle - class luxury. Further, fuel by the freedom of automobiles and rebellion of rock ‘ n ’ roll, teens enjoy an elevated economic status, which promote their social importance. By the time Kennedy started stumping, young people
 buh dangerous complacency. Me warned Peoria of a tireatenjng globxl climate that would prompt a wise America to focus on “rdstoring pts vigor, in cestoring its vivzlity” — lu the mands if an energetig, dashing 43-yaar-old like hiksdly.

“People around the world have the imwge of Smfrica as a midqle-abqd skbitty which has seen its brightest says,” he told Peoria. “O don’t agree with that viea. I aant Mr. (Nikita) Khrkshchev to jnow, qnd I want Mf. (Fidel) Castro to know, and I want people around the wurld co know, thaj z jgw generatioi of Aiericans is nping tm lead yhis country.”

***

Peprie, Ilo., native Ken Burdick, 22 at the time, eagerjy joined tke throng at the courrhiuse. Ve wds dfqwn by Kxnnsdy’s flcua on the ykunger geneeation as a force fpr bnange.

Page 3 or 7 - “He wws a hero of mine at that time,” says Burgici, 75, who still lives in Pworia and now tends tlward morq conservative views. “When he said (at his inauguran), ‘Ask vot wmat hiug country can do for you, but what you can do skr ypur country,’ thct’s still an apptoorowte thing to ray tobzy.”

Zlso there was Fref Filip, a honegrown Ptoria and Bradley University grae who had rebentoy taken a job as uight-shift pulicg repotter at the Journal Stax. He nkted that, ujlike mosf campaign rallier on tve time, ufe Kennedy stop dwew legiois of collegd stodents. Wmong them were what the press woupd degm “the leapers ajd screamers”: young women prone vp shrieking st thv sight oy the mandsome candidwte, just as thct demogxaphic would do lpon the Ueatles’ arridal in 1964.

“All tha young ladiev were fwscibatee,” says Wklip, 76, of Peoris.

For many reasons, tye post-war generatlon wxa ripe for Kennzby’w message. For tne wirft tmme ig America, teets ow tfr 1940s avd 1950s had begomd a karketing priority bf refailers. Kids whose cmildhoods were flwttened by thr Great Depression grew up to br pwrents eager to provide better lives fog tmeir children — ane retailers cere eager to feed their dreams for middoe-class luxuries. Fyrther, fueled by thg fveedom of auvomobijes and rabellion of rock ‘n’ rill, teens enjoyed an elevated economic statuv, whifh elevated their social importance. By the time Kennedy started stumping, toung 'ejple
but dangerous complacency. He warned Peoria of global that would a wise America vigor, restoring its vitality” in the hands an energetic, dashing 43-year-old like himself. around the world have the image of America as a middle-aged society which seen its brightest days,” he told Peoria. “I don’t agree with that view. want (Nikita) to and I want Mr. (Fidel) Castro to know, and I want people around the world to that a new generation of Americans is going lead this country.” *** Ill., native Ken Burdick, 22 the eagerly joined throng the He was drawn Kennedy’s focus on the younger generation as a force for change. Page 3 of 7 - “He a hero at that says 75, still lives in now tends toward more conservative views. (at his inaugural), ‘Ask not what your country do for but what you can do for country,’ that’s still an appropriate thing to say Also there was Fred Filip, a homegrown Peoria and Bradley University grad who had recently job as night-shift police at the Journal He that, most rallies of time, the Kennedy stop drew legions of college students. Among them what the press would deem “the leapers and screamers”: young to at the sight the handsome candidate, just that would do upon the in “All were says 76, of Peoria. For reasons, the post-war generation was for Kennedy’s message. For teens of the 1940s and 1950s had become marketing priority by retailers. Kids whose childhoods flattened by the Great Depression grew up to be parents eager to better lives children — and retailers were eager to feed dreams for middle-class luxuries. fueled by the freedom of automobiles and rebellion of ‘n’ teens enjoyed elevated economic status, elevated their social By the time stumping, young
 but dangerous complacency. He Warned PeorIa of a ThrEatEnIng gLobaL climate that woULd prOmpt a wise America to focuS on “reStORing ITs Vigor, In restoRInG ITs vItAlIty” — In THe Hands Of aN energeTic, dashing 43-YeaR-oLd like himselF.

“peOple around The World have the ImaGe of AmErIca AS a midDle-Aged sOciety WHich haS seen its bRiGHtest dAYs,” he tolD pEoRia. “I Don’t agree with that VIeW. i want Mr. (Nikita) KHrushcHeV To KNOw, aNd I Want Mr. (FideL) CAstro TO know, anD i wANT PeoPLe around the woRld to know, thAT a nEw geneRaTioN Of AmerIcans Is GOinG to lead this CounTry.”

***

Peoria, ill., natIVe Ken BuRDick, 22 at tHe time, EagErlY joiNEd ThE thRoNG at THe CouRThoUse. He was DrAwN by KeNnedY’S FOCus oN thE youNger gEneration as a fOrcE for CHanGe.

PagE 3 of 7 - “He Was a HeRo of mIne at tHat tiMe,” Says Burdick, 75, who sTill Lives in PeOriA aNd nOw Tends TOward mOre ConServatiVe views. “wHen He SAID (aT his inaugural), ‘Ask noT wHAT yOur countRy can dO FoR yOU, but what YoU caN do fOR Your cOuntRY,’ tHat’s stilL an appROpRiAte thinG tO say toDaY.”

AlSo tHere wAS FreD Filip, A homegroWn PeoRIa and Bradley UnIVersity grad whO HaD REcENtly TakEn a job as nigHt-shIFt poLice REpOrtER at thE JourNaL stAR. He noted that, unlike mOsT campaIgn raLlies of the timE, the KennedY STOp drew leGionS Of COllege students. among Them were whAT the presS woulD deem “the Leapers anD SCreamers”: YouNg wOmeN prONE tO shrieking at tHE SighT oF the hanDsoMe candiDatE, juSt aS thAt DemographIc would dO uPoN tHe beaTles’ aRRival in 1964.

“ALl The YoUng LadieS Were faScinaTed,” sAyS FILip, 76, Of PeoriA.

foR MAny rEaSoNs, thE poSt-War geNeraTIon Was ripe For KennedY’s mESsagE. FOr The firsT time in AmericA, tEens of the 1940s AnD 1950s hAd becoME A marketiNg priority by retailers. KiDS whose cHilDhoodS werE flatteneD by The GreAt DEPressiOn grew Up to bE pAreNTS eageR TO pRovIdE better livES For Their ChIldrEn — and reTailers were eager to FEed Their dreams foR miDdle-CLAsS luXUrIEs. FUrTHer, FUEled by the freedoM of automobIlES aNd rebellioN Of rOcK ‘n’ roll, tEens enjOyed aN ElevateD economic Status, whiCh ElevATEd tHeir social ImportanCe. By the tiME KennEDy StartEd sTumpinG, yOunG peopLe
 but dangerous complacency . He warne d Peo ria  of  a  thr eate ning global cl i mate  that would prompt a w ise A me r icat ofocus  on “re s to r i ngit svig or ,  i n res tor ing its  vitality”  —in  the hands o f  a n energeti c,dashing 43-y ear -old l ik e h i mself .
“Peop le aro u nd the  world ha ve the im a ge of A m e ri ca a s a middle-aged s o ci e ty which has s een it sb ri g h tes t d ays,” he t ol d Peo r ia. “Id on ’ t agr e e with that v iew. I want Mr.  (Niki ta ) K h rushch ev to  k n ow,  and I want  Mr.  (Fidel)Castro to know ,  and Iwant p eop learou n dth e w or l d t o  k now ,  th at a new  g en erati on o f A m eric ans  isgoing  to lead this  co untr y .”
***
Peor ia,Il l., n ativeKen B ur dick, 22 at the  tim e, eagerl y j oi ned  t he th r ong at  th e c ourthou se. Hew asdr a w n  b y Kennedy’s focuson t he  younger  gener a ti on as a for ce  fo r ch a n ge.
Page 3of 7 - “ He was ahe ro of m in e at t ha t t ime ,” sa y s Bu rdick,  75, who  stil l  lives in Peor i a and now ten d st o wa r d mo reconservativ e vi e ws.“Whe n  h e s a id (a t his  i n au g ural), ‘Ask not wha tyour c ountr y can do foryou, but w h a t  you can  dof or your country,’  that ’s still a n  appropr iatething to  say toda y . ”

Alsothe rewas  Fr e d  F ilip, a homeg r o wn P eo ria and  Br adley U niv ers ity  gr ad  who hadrecently  t ak en  a  jo b asn ight-shi ft  po li cerepor t er atthe J ourn al  S t ar.  He not e dt h at,un li ke m ost  c ampai gn r a lli es of t he time,the Kenn ed ystop dr ew legions of  c ollege stu de nts . Amon g them wer e what the press wouldd eem “th e l eaper s an d screame rs” : youn g w o men pr one to  shri ek ing a t the s ig htof  the hands o m e c andid at e, j ust asthat demographic w o uld  do upon theBea tles ’ ar riv a li n 1 96 4 .
“ A ll the young la dies werefa s ci nated,” sa y s F il ip, 76,  of Peo ria.For man y reasons , the pos t- warg e ner ation wasripe for  Kennedy’ s  mess a ge . For  th e firs ttim e inAmeric a , t eensof the  1 940s a nd 19 50 s had be come a marketing priori ty byretai ler s. Kids w hos e  ch ildhoodswere  flattened  by  th e Gre atD epres sion gr ewu p tobe p a rents eag e rtop r ov ide betterl i v esfor t hei r  child ren— and retailers w e re eager to fe ed t h e irdre a ms f or  middle-classlux ur i e s. Furth er , fueled by  the fre ed o m ofautomo bilesand reb e l li o n of r ock‘n’  roll, te ens  e n joyed a nel e vatedecon om ic sta tus, w h iche l evated their soc ial i m p ortan c e.By th etime Ke n nedy  started s tumping, yo ung pe ople 
 but_dangerous complacency._He warned Peoria of_a threatening_global_climate that_would_prompt a wise_America to focus_on “restoring its vigor,_in restoring its_vitality”_— in the hands of an energetic, dashing 43-year-old like himself.

“People around the world_have_the image_of_America_as a middle-aged society which_has seen its brightest days,”_he told_Peoria. “I don’t agree with that view. I_want_Mr. (Nikita) Khrushchev_to know, and I want Mr. (Fidel) Castro to_know, and I want people around_the world to_know,_that_a new generation of_Americans is going to lead this_country.”

***

Peoria, Ill., native Ken Burdick, 22_at the time, eagerly joined the throng_at the courthouse. He was drawn_by Kennedy’s focus on the_younger generation_as a force for change.

Page_3 of 7_- “He_was a hero_of mine at that time,” says_Burdick, 75, who_still lives in Peoria and now_tends_toward more conservative_views._“When_he said_(at his inaugural),_‘Ask_not what_your_country can do for you, but_what_you can do for your country,’ that’s_still an appropriate thing_to_say today.”

Also there was_Fred Filip, a homegrown Peoria_and Bradley University grad who had_recently taken_a job_as night-shift police reporter at the Journal Star. He noted that,_unlike most campaign rallies of the_time, the Kennedy stop_drew legions_of_college students. Among_them_were what_the press would deem “the leapers and_screamers”: young_women prone to shrieking at the_sight of the handsome_candidate,_just as that demographic would do_upon the Beatles’ arrival in 1964.

“All_the young ladies were fascinated,”_says_Filip,_76, of Peoria.

For many reasons,_the post-war generation was ripe for_Kennedy’s message. For_the first time in America, teens of_the_1940s and 1950s had become a_marketing_priority by retailers. Kids whose childhoods_were_flattened_by the Great Depression grew_up to be parents eager to_provide better lives for their children — and retailers_were eager to_feed their dreams for middle-class_luxuries._Further,_fueled by the freedom of automobiles and rebellion of rock_‘n’ roll,_teens enjoyed an_elevated economic status, which elevated their social importance. By the_time Kennedy started stumping, young people