JFK ATTENDS CEREMONY MARKING 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FULBRIGHT ACT
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy attended the ceremony today marking the 50th anniversary of passage of the Fulbright Act.
The act provides for the exchange of representatives, scholars, educators, students & artists between the United States and countries around the world.
In his speech at today's ceremony, JFK said:
"50,000 people have come to a greater understanding of our culture & civilization (as a result of the Fulbright Act)."
Then JFK congratulated the act's sponsor & namesake: Senator J. W. Fulbright (D-Arkansas).*
*Senator Fulbright was an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War & served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during that time. He died in 1995 at the age of 89 in Washington, D.C.
Senator J. William Fulbright
Democrat, Arkansas
August 1, 1962
JFK SIGNS FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Kennedy signed into law the Foreign Assistance Act of 1962 at the White House today.
The bill provides military assistance to countries which are "on the rim of the communist world & under direct attack."
It also provides economic assistance to those governments suffering "from widespread misery & social discontent which are exploited by our adversaries."
July 1, 1963
PRESIDENT KENNEDY SPEAKS AT ANNAPOLIS
Annapolis, Maryland (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy, a navy man himself during World War II, addressed, as commander-in-chief, a new class of midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy today.
JFK said:
"I can think of no more rewarding a career. You will have a chance to serve the cause of freedom & your country all over the world."*
*I have a great poster (see photo below) that a Navy recruiter at my school gave me. The poster includes the following JFK quote:
"Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile can respond with a good deal of pride & satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy'".
US Navy Recruiting Poster
August 1, 1943
PT BOATS PATROL BLACKETT STRAIT
Solomon Islands, South Pacific (JFK+50) Japanese bombers raided the Rendova Harbor PT base on Lombardi Island here today to clear the way for 5 Japanese warships, called "The Tokyo Express" by US sailors, running from the northern Solomon Islands to Vila to the south.
At 6:30 this evening local time, 15 patrol-torpedo (PT) boats were sent out on patrol by the US Navy.
One of these boats is the PT-109 commanded by Lt. (j.g.) John F. Kennedy.
All 15 PTs reached their designated stations by 8:30 p.m.*
*Check back tomorrow for "the rest of the story".
Crew on board the PT109
JFK standing on far right
August 1, 1940
"WHY ENGLAND SLEPT" IS PUBLISHED
New York City (JFK+50) "Why England Slept", a book by 23 year old John F. Kennedy, was published here today by Funk, Inc.
The book, adapted from JFK's senior thesis at Harvard, is an analysis of Great Britain's delay in building up its military while Hitler's Germany was in the process of rearming.
The title of JFK's 1st book is based on the 1938 work "While England Slept" by Winston Churchill.
The book's introduction is written by Henry R. Luce of Time Magazine.
Mr. Luce writes:
"In recent months there has been a certain amount of alarm concerning the "attitude" of the younger generation. If John Kennedy is characteristic of the younger generation--& I believe he is--many of us would be happy to have the destiny of the Republic handed over to his generation at once."*
1st Edition Sold in 1940 for $2.00
*"Why England Slept" sold 80,000 copies in the UK & US & the proceeds from the English sales were donated to the town of Plymouth, England which had recently been bombed by the German air force.
A 2005 book review of "Why England Slept" available at www.TaoYue.com says:
"'Why England Slept' is not overwhelmingly brilliant....but it does provide an intriguing glance at the attitude of 1940 & at the formative years of a legendary American political figure of the 20th century. Kennedy's articulate style forms a lucid account of all the facts & occasionally flashes into a foreshadowing of future brilliance."
$86.95 (2011 price)
August 1, 1955
JFK APPEALS TO AEC FOR NEW ENGLAND
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy wrote to Lewis L. Strauss, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, today to appeal for special consideration for New England as the site for non-military atomic power projects.
JFK requested in his letter that a proposed atomic energy library & AEC office be built in New England.
Ike with Lewis L. Strauss
NARA Photo (1954)
