领先者

well clearly under present circumstances, this campaign cannot go on. I refuse to submit my family and my friends to further rumors and gossip. I don’t want to be the issue and I cannot be the issue. If you’re gonna have to spend all your time talking about yourself and you are not particularly good at that anyway, Then you can’t maintain the link with the voters. In public life, some things may be interesting, But that doesn’t necessarily mean they are important. And the farmers in Amarillo, the oil workers in Louisiana, the steelworkers in Pennsylvania, They want jobs. Their kids want an education, and like all the rest of us, They don’t want to be killed by some nuclear weapon. Now we’re all gonna have to seriously question the system we have for electing our national leaders. That have reporters in bushes Photographers peeking in our windows, That reduces the press of this nation into the hunters and the presidential candidates into the hunted, After which ponderous pundits wonder in mock seriousness as why some of the best people in this country choose not to run for high office. Now, politics in this country, take it from me, is on the verge of becoming another form of eclectic competition, or sport. We’d all better do something to make this system work, Or we’re all soon gonna be rephrasing Jefferson to say, “ I tremble for my country when I fear we may, in fact, get the kind of leaders we deserve.” I’ve said I bend, but I do not break. And believe me, I’m not broken. I say to my children, and the young people of this country, I’m angry too. I’ve made some mistakes. I said so. I said I would because I’m human. But I’m an idealist, and I want to serve my country. Events of the past week should not deter any of you who are idealist young people from moving on and moving up. The torch of idealism in your hearts burn bright. It should lead you to want to make this country better. Wherever you go, whatever you do. At least in spirit I will be with you. Thank you.