Kennedy Proposes Federal Loans, Scholarship Aid for Needy Students

WITH KENNEDY IN CONN., Nov. 6--Pledging strong leadership for the next four years, Senator John Kennedy began his final push of the campaign today with a triumphal tour of Connecticut.

(The Associated Press reported that the Senator proposed increased Federal aid to higher education this afternoon in a speech on Long Island. Kennedy urged Federal scholarships for a limited number of needy and qualified students--perhaps 15,000 to 25,000.

Kennedy also proposed increased Federal loans to needy students under the National Defense Education Act as well as through a new student loan insurance program, the Associated Press reported. At the same time he suggested "an adequate college housing program" and construction of technical and medical schools.)

Throughout his Connecticut tour the Massachusetts Senator met large and enthusiastic crowds, both at scheduled stops and lining his motorcade route. Kennedy repeatedly asked them for their support to "get the country moving again."

For the most part the crowds, although containing many teenagers, were made up of middle-aged and young couples. Considering the circumstances, the turnouts for the Senator were often phenomenal. Beginning his New England campaign in Bridgeport Sunday morning at 12:30 a.m., he was met at the airport by several thousand people who had waited in the rain more than two hours for his arrival. As he motorcaded through the small towns of Shelton, Derby, and Ansonia he stopped to give speeches.

But the climax came when Kennedy arrived in Waterbury at 2:30 a.m.--two hours late--to be greeted by a crowd more than 26,000 strong which had waited since 11:30 p.m. and which turned the town's square into a close resemblance of Times Square at New Year's eve.

Although Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., '38, professor of History, told the audience at the New York Collseum rally last night that "Kennedy and Johnson gambled this campaign on the intelligence and maturity of the American people," the Senator limited his speeches early this morning emphasizing the psychological importance of the early Connecticut returns, jibes at Nixon's campaigning, and his appeal for more active leadership.

Talking to 45,000 to 50,000 people at Bridgeport this afternoon, the center of an area hard hit with unemployment and traditionally Democratic, Kennedy attacked the "clever fiscal policy of this administration" and claimed that vice-President, Richard Nixon "leads a party which has opposed progress for 25 years," including the minimum wage, social security, and medical care to the aged.

Kennedy sounded one new note before a crowd of 50,000 on New Haven's Green where, in a sharp ridiculing attack on Nixon's defense of the state of the Americon economy, foreign prestige and military preparedness, he suggested that the vice-President would be a prisoner of his own statements if he did try to provide any leadership in these fields as President.

New Haven was the only place where Kennedy ran into anything but cheers. Yale students greeted his motorcade by hanging out of balconies and standing on fire-escapes chanting "We want Nixon" and waving "We like Elvis better" banners.

Throughout his visit he reminded that Connecticut was the first state to support him for the presidency.

Kennedy's sense of timing and sharpness of delivery impressed his audience with his personality. The impression was that it was the image rather than the words that his hearers were responding to, and responding enthusiastically.

Kennedy's own confidence was reflected by many in the crowds who brought their small children along "to see the next President of the United States.