Read the excerpts from "opening statements from John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon First Televised Debate."

Kennedy: I think we can do better. I don't want the talents of any American to go to waste. I know that there are those who want to turn everything over to the government. I don't at all. I want the individuals to meet their responsibilities. And I want the states to meet their responsibilities. But I think there is also a national responsibility. The argument has been used against every piece of social legislation in the last twenty-five years.

Nixon: I will concede that in all the areas to which I have referred Senator Kennedy would have the federal government spend more than I would have it spend. I costed out the cost of the Democratic platform. It runs a minimum of thirteen and two-tenths billions dollars a year more than we are presently spending to a maximum of eighteen billion dollars a year more than we're presently spending.

On what point do Kennedy and Nixon disagree?


Kennedy believes only money will fix the nation's problems; Nixon thinks only hard work will do so.


Kennedy thinks state and local governments should solve the nation's problems, while Nixon thinks only the federal government can do so.


Kennedy does not want to turn all of the nation's problems over to the government, while Nixon does.


Kennedy wants the federal government to spend more and take a more active role in solving problems than Nixon does.