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Working Exits. At Kent State University, Humphrey received standing ovations from the 8,500 students and faculty members who packed the gymnasium. When about 60 Negro students and 100 antiwar youths walked out on him, the crowd booed them and cheered Humphrey's crack: "We were just testing the exits on both ends of the gym, and they work." But Humphrey turned serious when one Negro student, Robert Pickett, 20, rose to question him. Pickett said that he could not buy Humphrey's talk about the "American dream" because "for the black man it is the American nightmare." Humphrey replied that he understood Pickett's being discouraged, that not enough had been done to achieve racial equality. and the reason he was running for President was to restore the faith of all the Robert Picketts. "I am a soul brother, too," Humphrey said. "I have a soul, I believe in human brotherhood." Pickett then stood and began clapping. In a moment the entire audience was applauding wildly. Pickett grasped Humphrey's hand, later volunteered to work for his campaign.
