ACCEPTING VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION 955

The American people are a great people, proud of their indi-
viduality and diversity. But still our strength is in unity. And now,
as ever, a unity of leadership is imperative to restore the unity of
America.

And unity in our relationship depends on unity of leadership.
Richard Nixon offers that kind of leadership, and I am honored to
share in it.

Now I want to assure you of one thing: As a political animal, and
a relatively sensitive individual who hopes he will never lose his
sensitivity, I am not unaware of what took place in this great Con-
vention Hall tonight.

I am aware that the reasons that motivated it were not directed at
me in any personal sense and were merely responsive of the opinions
of those that took part in the nomination of that great Governor of
Michigan whom I consider my personal friend — Governor Romney.

Those motives were simply to provide the strongest ticket for the
Republican Party in November. I recognize also that a Vice-Presi-
dential nominee does not come to the successful fruition of his nomi-
nation by virtue of his personality, or his attractiveness, or his ability
to generate a wave of enthusiasm on his own.

He comes here because he is the selection of the man who does
all those things on his own — the Presidential nominee. And I am
privileged that that great future President of the United States,
Richard M. Nixon, has seen fit to invest in me his confidence to do
the job.

But I will not be satisfied, ladies and gentlemen, I will not be satis-
fied under any circumstances until I prove to you that I am capable
of doing a job for the Republican Party and the American people in
November.

I fully recognize that I am an unknown quantity to many of you.
I can only tell you of my dedication to work for Republican tickets
and Republican principles from now until the election.

And it is my fervent hope, my good friends, that when I visit your
states, you will allow me to contribute in the way you consider most
beneficial to that purpose that we all endorse, that we all aspire to,
total change through a completely Republican-dominated political
family, county, state, city and Federal, in November.