Is HHH the speaker or isn’t he?

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From the Sept. 14, 1959, Daily Globe:

Sen. Humphrey to be Turkey Day Speaker

Minnesota’s Sen. Hubert Humphrey will be parade marshal and featured speaker at Worthington’s 1959 Turkey Day. This was the announcement confirmed this morning by Humphrey’s secretary in Washington.

Humphrey,who has attended nearly every Turkey Day celebration for the past 10 years, has not appeared as a speaker since 1948 when he waged a successful campaign for election against Sen. Joe Ball.

The only avowed contender for the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination, Humphrey is frequently sought by cities throughout the nation for public speaking appearances.

“In recognition of the Senator’s prominence today, we believe his appearance here Wednesday will be on of the important features of the 1959 Turkey Day program and will have special interest for residents throughout the area,” Wendell Maltby, Chamber of Commerce manager, commented this morning.

Humphrey will arrive at Worthington Municipal Airport shortly after noon Wednesday and will appear at the head of the Turkey Day parade. He is scheduled to speak on the steps of the Nobles County Courthouse immediately after the parade. He will depart a short time later to return to Washington for the closing hours of the current session of Congress.

DFL Says Humphrey Won’t Appear

Sen. Hubert Humphrey will appear in Worthington on Turkey Day. That was the report at noon from the Chamber of Commerce office, based on a telephone conversation with Humphrey’s office in Washington this morning and two conversations on Friday.

Sen. Hubert Humphrey will not appear in Worthington on Turkey Day. That was the report this morning from Francis Judge, Nobles County DFL chairman.

The Turkey Day committee commented, “We’re confused,” as it received these contradictory reports, but plans to entertain the Senator were continued without change.

Judge telephoned Wendell Maltby, Chamber of Commerce manager, Sunday night to report he had just received a telephone call from Minnesota’s Lt. Gov. Karl Rolvaag in St. Paul, who said he had talked with Humphrey at a Democratic meeting in Kansas City during the weekend. “Humphrey said he was not able to make arrangements to attend the Turkey Day celebration,” Rolvaag reported, according to Judge.

Maltby said he called Humphrey in Washington this morning “and his office insists he is coming.”

Maltby said Humphrey was on the Senate floor, “but his secretary told me, ‘the Senator has definitely planned to be in Worthington — we have made all the arrangements — and there was never any thought to the contrary.’”

Maltby was told Humphrey is scheduled to speak in Baltimore Tuesday night. He will fly to Worthington Wednesday morning and return to Washington once again on Wednesday night.

From the Sept. 15, 1959, Daily Globe:

Sen. Humphrey to Speak Before Turkey Day Parade

Minnesota’s Sen. Hubert Humphrey confirmed today he will be in Worthington Wednesday (Turkey Day) for a special appearance and a major address concerning Soviet Premier Nikita Krushchev’s visit to the United States.

Humphrey, a candidate for the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination, Monday revised his schedule especially for the Turkey Day appearance. He will arrive in Minneapolis from Washington at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and will board a private plane for Worthington Municipal Airport where he will arrive between 11:45 and noon.

The Senator will be escorted from the airport along Oxford Street, McMillan Street and 10th Street to a speakers’ platform erected on the sidewalk in front of the Hotel Thompson. His speech is scheduled for 12:15 p.m.

The local Turkey Day committee and the Nobles County DFL committee joined in a statement this morning which emphasized that “Sen. Humphrey has made a special effort to return to Minnesota Wednesday to discuss the Krushchev visit as featured speaker for the Turkey Day celebration. The speech is expected to have significance for every visitor. The parade will begin immediately following the speech.”

Humphrey will appear in the Turkey Day parade and will return to the airport not later than 2:45 p.m. He will fly directly to Minneapolis and then to Washington where another engagement has been scheduled Wednesday night.

It was announced that a ceremony has been planned at the local airport for Humphrey’s arrival which will include a color guard and a military guard of honor and which “will provide a colorful and unexpected addition to the Turkey Day program.” Visitors who wish to see the ceremony were advised to be at the airport “not later than 11:30.”

Humphrey’s appearance as featured speaker will be one of his first appearances in Minnesota since he became an avowed presidential candidate. A frequent Turkey Day visitor, Humphrey previously spoke as a part of the Turkey Day program in 1948 when he first sought his Senate seat.

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