JFK MEETS WITH NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy met with the National Security Council this morning at the White House.
The topic of the meeting was the recent decision by the Soviet Union to resume nuclear testing.
Government officials expressed the view that the action by the USSR represents "atomic blackmail" with the intention of "substituting terrorism for reason."*
*JFK activated 75,000 NATO reserves with ships & aircraft to safeguard nuclear weapons in NATO member nations.
JFK & National Security Council
August 31, 1961
JFK ATTENDS CEREMONY HONORING 1ST WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION LAW
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Kennedy attended a ceremony today to introduce a new United States Post Office Commemorative stamp on the 50th anniversary (tomorrow) of the 1st Workmen's Compensation Law.
JFK & Senator Alexander Wiley
Photo by Robert Knudsen
JFK Library Photo
JFK also took the opportunity to talk about the need for the US government to address the problem of medical care for the elderly.
August 31, 1962
JFK SIGNS COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE ACT
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Kennedy signed today the Communications Satellite Act which calls for cooperation between government & industry to create a satellite system to transmit television signals around the globe.
JFK said:
"The result will be to encourage world trade, education, entertainment & many kinds of professional, political & personal discourse."
Satellite in Orbit
Animation by Brandir (2006)
Later, the President traveled to Newport, Rhode Island to welcome Mrs. Kennedy & Caroline back from their 3 week vacation in Italy. The First Family will spend the Labor Day weekend at the Hammersmith Farm.
August 31, 1951
JUSTICE DOUGLAS CALLS FOR RECOGNITION OF COMMUNIST CHINA
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas issued a statement today calling for the United States government to officially recognize the People's Republic of China.
Justice Douglas, who has spent most of the summer hiking & mountain climbing in the Soviet Union & China, expressed the belief that such recognition would benefit the United States.*
*The US had not recognized the communist government of mainland China under Mao Zedong & Republicans in Congress were still blaming President Truman for having "lost" China to the communists in 1949.
Justice William O. Douglas
August 31, 1935
FDR SIGNS NEUTRALITY ACT OF 1935
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Neutrality Act of 1935 today at the White House.
The act calls for an "expression of the desire to avoid any action which might involve the United States in war."
The Neutrality Act will require American ships to be licensed to carry arms, restrict American citizens from sailing on ships of nations at war & impose an embargo on the sale of arms to such nations.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
