It's been nearly 40 years, but Belleville residents still talk about Oct. 3, 1960, the day John F. Kennedy came to town.
More than 5,000 people packed into the Public Square to hear the U.S. senator from Massachusetts, then a Democratic presidential candidate, speak.
Rain drizzled, but the crowd roared with applause during Kennedy's seven-minute speech, given from the steps of the old St. Clair County Courthouse.
The senator asked citizens to join him on a journey across a new frontier and stressed that the world was watching the United States.
"Current events place the burden on us," Kennedy said. "We can't possibly afford to permit the Soviet Union to be first in space or to increase economic production at a rate 3 to 1 greater than ours, as has happened.
"I don't say we are in danger of military attack, but we are in danger of having the people of the world believe that we are standing still."
Heavy rain that morning had delayed Kennedy, who was on a one-day tour of Central and Southern Illinois. His sister, Eunice Shriver, stood in for his wife, Jacqueline, who was eight months pregnant and unable to travel.
Kennedy was greeted by massive crowds in Alton, Granite City, Venice, National City and East St. Louis before arriving in Belleville about an hour late.
First, he addressed Democratic leaders at Augustine's Restaurant in Belleville. About 1 p.m., his caravan pulled into the square, where people had set up camp stools and folding chairs as early as 9:30 a.m.
The crowd included a few sign-carrying supporters of Kennedy's opponent, Republican Vice President Richard M. Nixon.
After the speech, Kennedy walked across the street to Hotel Belleville for a quick lunch, returned to Augustine's to address about 600 supporters, then went to Scott Air Force Base and boarded a plane for Carbondale.
"Kennedy's campaign bandwagon was stalled abruptly at two places during its tour in Belleville," the News-Democrat reported. "Students at Notre Dame Academy and Belleville Township High School formed human barricades that forced the motorcade to a complete halt.
"Nudging by, advance cars made it possible for the motorcade to move on, but not until the students had a good look at the presidential candidate, who waved gaily from the seat of his convertible."
