As the elections approach, we hear candidates and the people running for office announce their past services to the public. The "Ins" or incumbents , tell the voters how much good and what benefits they have given to the electorate. The "Outs" take the same facts and try to make them inconsequential and meaningless.

Political speeches of all sorts and varieties contain slogans and rallying cries to action. Occasionally one of these sayings becomes part of our history and is used over and over again.

President John F. Kennedy, with his Boston accented speech, delivered many statements which we still rally to 40 years after his untimely death.

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," was a rallying cry for the Peace Corps, which sent thousands of eager young Americans all over the globe seeking to do good works;

"Ich bin ein Berliner" was uttered at the height of the Cold War to Germans living in the city that was once the capital. It announced a solidarity with them against the Communist threat that surrounded them.

President Kennedy delivered these and many other lines and statements with great skill and dramatic impact. He was an orator of unparalleled ability. The speeches carried his ideas, but most were written by presidential speech writer Theodore Sorenson. The words will go down in history as Kennedy's, but the true author was Sorenson.

While strolling with a friend through the Kennedy Park in Cambridge, Boston, near the Charles River, we viewed many signposts. Each of these held a portion of a Kennedy speech. Each was very dramatic and stirring.

My friend commented, "I could never feel good about someone taking credit for what I had done. I would have to receive the credit for my accomplishments."

Was Sorenson jealous about not getting credit for those beautiful thoughts and words in Kennedy's mouth? Does the lower echelon worker freeze with anger when his boss gets credit for his honest work?

Is there enough credit to go around for everyone attached to every deed or idea?

Is recognition and/or credit a must in every instance?

Is just doing the given job its own reward?

Is financial remuneration not sufficient?

These are questions that every employee and team worker must answer - for him or herself.

Each of us maintains a balance of personal gratification and the need for recognition to continue to be productive.