“The Speech”, or, “Thank God for CSPAN.”

CSPAN’s web site has a link to John F. Kennedy’s September 1960 speech to ministers in Houston about his Catholicism.  It’s fascinating, especially the Q & A section.  I had not appreciated how hostile some of those in the audience were, and had instead always assumed that his “Church does not speak for me” line had carried the day easily.

Relatedly, here’s a news story regarding Mitt Romney’s decision (for now, anyway) not to give an LDS version of “the Speech.”