President of the United States:
I have a nice home, the office is close by, and the pay is pretty good.

On Nixon being in a hospital:
I have said I would not mention him unless I could praise him until he got out of the hospital - and I have not mentioned him.

On how he became  a war hero:
It was involuntary.  They sank my boat.

Being caught by the Secretary of Agriculture at a movie:
This is a heck of a way to write a farm program.

The President and Senator George A. Smathers of Florida were friends of long standing.  When the Florida Democrats honored Smathers at a fund-raising dinner, Kennedy was there with bells on.  Called upon for a few remarks, he broke up the gathering with this little passage:

Actually, Senator Smathers is one of my most valuable counselors at critical moments.  In 1952 when I was thinking about running for the United States Senate, I went to Senator Smathers and said, "George,  what do think?"
He said, "Don't do it.  Can't win.  Bad Year."
In 1956, I didn't know whether I would run for Vice President or not, so I said, "George, what do you think?"
And Senator Smathers replied, "It's your chance!" so I ran and lost.
In 1960, I was wondering whether I ought to run in the West Virginia primary, but the Senator said:  "Don't do it.  That state you can't possibly carry."
And actually, the only time I really got nervous about the whole matter at Los Angeles was just before the balloting, and George came up and he said, "I think it looks pretty good for you."

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