President John F. Kennedy humor at fund-raiser for the National Democratic party.

Miami, Florida, March 10, 1962 Address at Miami Beach at a fundraising Dinner in Honor of Senator George Smathers. ''I actually came down here tonight to pay a debt of obligation to an old friend and faithful adviser. He and I came to the 80th Congress together, and have been associated for many years, and I regard him as one of my most valuable counselors in moments of great personal and public difficulty. In 1952, when I was thinking about running for the United States Senate, I went to the then Senator Smathers, and said, "George, what do you think?" He said, "Don't do it. Can't win. Bad year." In 1956 I was at the Democratic Convention, and I said--I didn't know whether I would run for Vice President or not, so I said, "George, what do you think? This is it. They need a young man." "It's your chance." So I ran--and lost. And in 1960 I was wondering whether I ought to run in the West Virginia primary. "Don't do it. That State you can't possibly carry." And actually, the only time I really got nervous about the whole matter at Los Angeles,was just before the balloting, and George came up and he said, "I think it looks pretty good for you."