TRANSCRIPT: CONNALLY: "MOST OF ALL, AMERICANS REMEMBER THAT DARK DAY LAST NOVEMBER. IN THOSE SORROWFUL HOURS WHEN AMERICA MOURNED AND THE WORLD WONDERED - UNCERTAINLY GNAWED AT ALL OF US. BUT UNDER THE CALM, FIRM LEADERSHIP OF LYNDON JOHNSON WE LEARNED GRATEFULLY THAT WE COULD SURVIVE NOT ONLY PERSONAL LOSS BUT GREAT NATIONAL TRAGEDY. THAT THE STRENGTH OF OUR NATION EMBODIES THE STRENGTH OF FREE PEOPLE RULED BY LAWS UNDER THE DIVINE GUIDANCE OF AN ALMIGHTY GOD. FROM CRISIS EMERGED HEROISM - ADVERSITY UNLEASHES UNKNOWN STRENGTH - AND THE BITTER DEPRESSION BROUGHT FORTH THE GREATNESS OF FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT - WORLD WAR PRODUCED THE STATESMANSHIP OF WINSTON CHURCHILL AND THE SHOCKING TRAGEDY AWAKENED THE NATION TO THE CALM, UNWAVERING STRENGTH OF LYNDON JOHNSON." (CHEERS)



TRANSCRIPT: QUESTION: " MR. JOHNSON HOW MUCH CAMPAIGNING ARE YOUR GOING TO ASSIGN TO SENATOR HUMPHREY?"



TRANSCRIPT: PRESIDENT: "ALL HE CAN TAKE" (LAUGHTER)



QUESTION: " HOW MUCH DO YOU SAY SENATOR?"



TRANSCRIPT: HUMPHREY: "ALL HE ASKS ME TO DO"



QUESTION: "AND YOU MR. PRESIDENT? ARE YOU GOING TO START YOUR CAMPAIGN VERY SOON TO GET ON THE ROAD?"



PRESIDENT: "I'M GOING TO ASK SENATOR HUMPHREY AND MRS HUMPHREY TO GO TO THE RANCH WITH US OVER THE WEEKEND AND THERE UNDER THE SHADE OF THE WIDE OAKS AND ON THE BANKS OF THE WE WILL TALK ABOUT OUR DUTIES FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. SENATOR HUMPHREY IS WIDELY TRAVELLED, IS VERY LEARNED, HAS SPENT MANY YEARS ON THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE AND IS RESPECTED BY OUR ALLIES AND OUR ADVERSARIES ALIKE. I WANTED A PERSON WHO COULD DO INTO ANY SECTION OF THIS COUNTRY AND TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF THE PEOPLE AND TO GIVE THEM LEADERSHIP AND COMPASSION. I WANTED A PERSON WHO WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEMS OF THE CONGRESS AND HAD AN UNDERSTANDING FOR THE DIFFICULTIES THAT THEY LABOURED UNDER AND COULD PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP FOR THEM. I WANTED YOUTH AND VIGOUR AND VITALITY COUPLED WITH COMPASSION AND JUDGEMENT AND WISDOM. AND I CONSIDERED MANY GOOD AND LIVE MEN AND I THINK I PICKED THE BEST ONE." (APPLAUSE)



TRANSCRIPT: BAYARD JUSTIN: "I SAY THREE CHEERS FOR JOHNSON AND HUMPHREY. THREE CHEERS FOR JOHNSON AND HUMPHREY - THEY ARE THE BEST WE CAN GET." (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)




Initials E/PC/N/CT/PC/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SCENES OF WILD EXCITEMENT LAST NIGHT (WEDNESDAY) AT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONVENTION PRECEDED THE NOMINATION OF PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON AS THE PARTY'S CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS LATER THIS YEAR. THE CHAIRMAN HAD CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULT IN MAKING HIMSELF HEARD AS THE HUGE CROWD WAVED BANNERS, WHILE HUNDREDS OF BALLOONS SOARED TO THE ROOF OF THE HALL.

THE FIRST NOMINATING SPEECH WAS MADE BY GOVERNOR JOHN CONNALLY OF TEXAS - THE MAN WHO WAS RIDING WITH THE LATE PRESIDENT KENNEDY WHEN HE WAS FATALLY SHOT IN DALLAS LAST YEAR.

THE SPEECH CONTINUED AS PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S PLANE WAS TOUCHING DOWN AT ROMONA AIRPORT, ATLANTIC CITY, WITH SENATOR HUMPHREY. THE PRESIDENT WAS ASKED ABOUT HIS CAMPAIGN PLANS:
AND OUTSIDE THE CONVENTION HALL, NEGRO CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER BAYARD JUSTIN CALLED FOR THREE CHEERS FOR THE PRESIDENT AND THE NEW VICE PRESIDENT: