JFK+50 GOES TO WASHINGTON TO SEE CAROLINE KENNEDY
We are leaving in the morning for Washington, D.C. We will be there for Caroline Kennedy's Book Tour at Georgetown University on Monday.
The book "Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy" has just come out & includes 8 CDs of oral history recorded by Mrs. Kennedy in January 1964.
JFK+50 will be back with a new post on Wednesday, September 28. Please check back then.
Today's JFK+50 will include events from September 23-26.
September 23, 1949
TRUMAN SAYS SOVIETS HAVE ATOMIC BOMB
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Harry S Truman today announced the Soviet Union has recently exploded a nuclear bomb.
The news came as a shock to US government officials who believed the Russians had not developed nuclear weaponry.
President Truman said:
"We have evidence within recent weeks an atomic explosion occurred in the USSR. The eventual development of this new force by other nations was to be expected."
The President has requested that the National Security Council re-evaluate US cold war policies in light of this development.*
*The NSC report of 1950 will call for a huge increase in military spending as well as hydrogen bomb development.
President Harry S Truman
September 23, 1969
TRIAL OF THE "CHICAGO 8" BEGINS
Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) The trial of 8 anti-Vietnam War activists charged with organizing violent demonstrations at the 1968 Democratic National Convention began here in Chicago today.
The 8 were charged with conspiracy to cross state lines with the intent to incite a riot.*
*The trial ended in February 1970 with the defendants sentenced from 2 to 4 years for contempt of court. They were found not guilty on the conspiracy charge.
No prison time was actually served because the case was overturned & the contempt charges dropped.
Violence In Chicago in 1968
Democratic National Convention
September 23, 1944
FDR COMES TO THE DEFENSE OF "FALA"
FALA
FDR Memorial
Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White
July 14, 2003
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Franklin D. Roosevelt today addressed the International Brotherhood of Teamsters here in the nation's capital.
Coming under increasing criticism from his Republican opponents, FDR had this reaction to their attacks:
"These Republican leaders have not been content with attacks on me, or my wife, or my sons. No, not content with that, they now include my little dog Fala. Well, of course, I don't resent attacks, & my family don't resent attacks, but Fala does resent them."
"I am accustomed to hearing malicious falsehoods about myself, but I think I have a right to object to libelous statements about my dog."*
FDR went on to say that his Republican opponents were just trying to distract voters from the real issues facing the country in 1944.
*Republicans in 1944 circulated a story that FDR had unintentionally left Fala in the Aleutian Islands while on a visit there & sent a Navy destroyer, at taxpayer's expense, to retrieve him.
Harry Truman once said "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog."
Well, FDR had a dog, a little black Scottish terrier named "Fala". When you visit the FDR Memorial in Washington today you will see Fala by his side.
FDR Memorial
Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White
September 24, 1963
US SENATE RATIFIES JFK'S TEST BAN TREATY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The Senate of the United States today ratified the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty thereby giving John F. Kennedy one of his greatest victories as President.
The treaty bans all nuclear weapons testing except those underground.*
*The Test Ban Treaty was signed in Moscow on August 5.
JFK Signs Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
September 25, 1961
JFK CALLS FOR WORLD DISARMAMENT
New York City (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy, speaking to the United Nations General Assembly today, outlined a plan that would lead to complete disarmament across the globe.
JFK called for all nations which have nuclear weapons to destroy their existing weapons & convert their materials to peaceful uses.
"Today, every inhabitant of this planet must contemplate the day when this planet may no longer be habitable. Every man, woman & child lives under a nuclear sword of Damocles, hanging by the slenderest of threads, capable of being cut at any moment by accident or miscalculation or by madness. The weapons of war must be abolished before they abolish us."
National Museum of
American History
Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White (2003)
September 26, 1961
JFK SIGNS DISARMAMENT BILL
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy today signed a bill passed by Congress 3 days ago which will create the Arms Control & Disarmament Agency.
JFK said:
"Our ultimate goal...is a world free from war & free from the dangers & burdens of armaments. The new age brings renewed hope for....progress in the critical battle for the survival of mankind."
The ACDA is to be headed by William C. Foster, former Secretary of Defense under President Truman.
William C. Foster
Truman Library Photo
