The Pledge began as a marketing gimmick:
As branding expert John Gorman outlines, the pledge began with an initiative from The Youth’s Companion, a Boston-based magazine looking to expand beyond its religious roots. To reach a broader audience, the editors launched a nationwide effort to place American flags in public schools, offering them as incentives for new subscriptions.
Not such a great example of "American values", or perhaps since it started as a corporate marketing gimmick it's a perfect example.
He was stopped by his staff before answering whether he'd eaten food found in trash cans. Kennedy has snorted cocaine from toilet seats so trash cans are a more sanitary option.