61 years ago, on April 27, 1960, John Fitzgerald Kennedy made a visit to Hinton to campaign for the primary presidential election. Kennedy was up against U.S. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey from Minnesota and U.S. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson from Texas, trying to be elected the Democratic nominee.
Kennedy gave his speech on Second Avenue, diagonally across from the McCreery Hotel. The JFK Presidential Library website says Kennedy spoke on Summers County and all of West Virginia needing the development of new industry. Kennedy said in his speech on Second “The single, critical, overriding need of the people of Summers County – and the people of all of West Virginia – is the development of new industry – industry which will bring you new jobs and increased income. And one of the brightest hopes of meeting this need is the use of your priceless heritage of natural beauty to attract tourists from all over the nation.
You have the resources – the streams and woods and lakes – necessary to develop a tourist industry. Your people have the courage and determination and vigor that is needed. Your state authorities have acted with vision to the limit of their resources. All that you lack is a little understanding and a little help from Washington.”
Kennedy continued, telling Summers Countians that they “must act immediately to stop the destructive filthying of our lakes and rivers – a growing contamination, which is destroying vitally, needed recreational areas.” And that they “must engage in a vastly expanded federal program to help the states in the development of vital forest and park areas.” Adding “Certainly you are ready and willing to do much of this job yourself – and your state authorities are able and active. But you do need help and assistance from the federal government – help and assistance which only a national effort can offer.”
Kennedy walked along the River bank at Kirk’s Restaurant. A lot of people remember Kennedy campaigning in Hinton but were too young to remember many of the details. Kennedy campaigned in other areas across West Virginia on the same trip. Those that witnessed these WV campaign events at the time did not realize that they were a part of what would be such a big piece of history making an impact on the 1960 Primary Election.
