let me just say that I would not.
I have sworn to uphold the Constitution.
In the 14 years I've been in Congress, in the years I was in the service,
the Constitution provides the first amendment that Congress
shall make no laws abridging the freedom of religion.
I must say I believe in it,
I think it's the only way that this country can go ahead.
Many countries do not believe in it.
Many countries have unity between church and state.
I would be completely opposed to it.
And I say that whether I'm elected President or whether
I continue as a Senator or whether I'm a citizen.
That is my view based on a long experience.
So in answer to your question, I would fulfill my oath
of office as I have done for 14 years in the Congress.
There is no article of
my faith that would in any way inhibit.
I think it encourages the meaning of my oath of office, and whether
you vote for me or not, because of my competence to be President,
I am sure that no one believes that I'd be a candidate for
the Presidency if I didn't think I could meet my oath of office.
Secondly, article six of the Constitution says
there shall be no religious test for office.
That's what was written in the constitution.
Jefferson, Washington, and all the rest,
they said every American will have an opportunity.
Now you cannot tell me that the day I was
born, it was said I could never run for President.
Because I wouldn't meet my oath of office.
I would not have come here if I didn't feel that I was going
to get complete opportunity to run for office as a fellow American in this state.
I would not run for it if in any way, I didn't feel that I could do the job.
I come here today saying that I think that this is an issue that
[NOISE].
>> Oddly, JFK's West Virginia campaign manager
Bill Battle, found that introducing Kennedy as Irish Catholic, rather
than Roman Catholic, appeared to make a difference
with many voters, perhaps because of the ethnic connection.
And Franklin D Roosevelt Junior, the son of god,
as he was called, at least in poor states,
stomped all over the mountain state for JFK.
The result, was almost 61% for Kennedy in West Virginia.
This ended Hubert Humphrey's campaign.
The Minnesotan could be forgiving for looking
at JFK's money, his charisma, his family machine,
and say, as he did, he quote, felt
like an independent merchant competing against a chain
store, unquote.