July 24, 2013
BILL CLINTON MET JFK 50 YEARS AGO TODAY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The future 42nd President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton*, shook hands with the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, in the Rose Garden at the White House 50 years ago today, July 24, 1963.
Bill Clinton was one of 2 delegates from the state of Arkansas attending the Boys Nation conference in the Nation's Capital.
Bill Clinton with JFK
White House Rose Garden
July 24, 1963
*Bill Clinton attended Hot Springs High School where he was a student leader and successful musician performing in both band and chorus. He was chosen 1st chair Tenor Saxophone in the State Band.
BC graduated from George Washington University in 1968 and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. He earned a law degree at Yale in 1973.
When asked how he happened to be one of the delegates who got the opportunity to shake JFK's hand, Bill Clinton said the group was arranged alphabetically by state so being from Arkansas was an advantage. He also said he just happened to be "one of the biggest kids there."
The experience was a pivotal moment in young Bill Clinton's life as it heightened his interest in politics and government.
Boys Nation, a program sponsored by the American Legion, selects 2 rising high school seniors from every state except Hawaii to attend the conference.
Boys Nation teaches delegates about the operations of the Federal Government.
Mock elections and a mock Senate provides a hands-on approach to learning how the system works. The delegates also attend lectures and visit historic sights.
Other notable delegates to Boys Nations include Tom Brokaw and Michael Jordan.
The American Legion also hosts Girls Nation.
FIDEL CASTRO SEIZED AMERICAN EMBASSY 50 YEARS AGO TODAY
Havana, Cuba (JFK+50) Cuban dictator Fidel Castro ordered the seizure of the American Embassy building here in Havana 50 years ago today, July 24, 1963, in response to the freezing of Cuban assets in the United States.
The American Embassy, located on Malecon Drive in Havana, had been occupied by the Swiss since the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961.
Castro wanted the Swiss to evacuate the property.
Embassy of Switzerland
US Interests Section
Havana, Cuba (2007)
APOLLO 11 RETURNS SAFELY TO THE EARTH
Honolulu, Hawaii (JFK+50) When President John F. Kennedy announced in 1961 the United States would land a man on the moon "in this decade", he added "and return him safely to the earth."
44 years ago today, July 24, 1969, the second part part of the goal was accomplished as the crew of Apollo 11 splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
The Columbia spacecraft was retrieved and the crew brought safely aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet.
The crew was immediately placed in a "Mobile Quarantine Facility" where they remained for 5 days.
Apollo 11's Columbia Spacecraft
After Splashdown
NIXON DEBATED KHRUSHCHEV IN THE KITCHEN 54 YEARS AGO TODAY
Moscow, USSR (JFK+50) The Vice President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, debated Premier Nikita Khrushchev of the Soviet Union 54 years ago today, July 24, 1959, at the American National Exhibition here in Moscow.
The Vice-President told Premier Khrushchev that he "should not be afraid of ideas" while Khrushchev responded to Nixon, "you don't know anything about communism except fear of it."*
The discussion on the merits of communism versus capitalism was held in the kitchen of a model home built for the expedition thus the name "Kitchen Debate".
Khrushchev and Nixon
Kitchen Debate
July 24, 1959
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER LEIGH WHITE
JFK+50 wishes our daughter, Jennifer Leigh White, a happy 26th birthday today. She was born on July 24, 1987 at Fort Sanders Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Jennifer attended the University of Tennessee, graduated from East Tennessee State University and will be beginning her 2nd year at Charleston School of Law in Charleston, South Carolina in August.
She did an internship this summer in Washington, D.C. with Dr. Phil Roe, Tennessee's 1st District Congressman.
BILL CLINTON MET JFK 50 YEARS AGO TODAY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The future 42nd President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton*, shook hands with the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, in the Rose Garden at the White House 50 years ago today, July 24, 1963.
Bill Clinton was one of 2 delegates from the state of Arkansas attending the Boys Nation conference in the Nation's Capital.
Bill Clinton with JFK
White House Rose Garden
July 24, 1963
*Bill Clinton attended Hot Springs High School where he was a student leader and successful musician performing in both band and chorus. He was chosen 1st chair Tenor Saxophone in the State Band.
BC graduated from George Washington University in 1968 and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. He earned a law degree at Yale in 1973.
When asked how he happened to be one of the delegates who got the opportunity to shake JFK's hand, Bill Clinton said the group was arranged alphabetically by state so being from Arkansas was an advantage. He also said he just happened to be "one of the biggest kids there."
The experience was a pivotal moment in young Bill Clinton's life as it heightened his interest in politics and government.
Boys Nation, a program sponsored by the American Legion, selects 2 rising high school seniors from every state except Hawaii to attend the conference.
Boys Nation teaches delegates about the operations of the Federal Government.
Mock elections and a mock Senate provides a hands-on approach to learning how the system works. The delegates also attend lectures and visit historic sights.
Other notable delegates to Boys Nations include Tom Brokaw and Michael Jordan.
The American Legion also hosts Girls Nation.
FIDEL CASTRO SEIZED AMERICAN EMBASSY 50 YEARS AGO TODAY
Havana, Cuba (JFK+50) Cuban dictator Fidel Castro ordered the seizure of the American Embassy building here in Havana 50 years ago today, July 24, 1963, in response to the freezing of Cuban assets in the United States.
The American Embassy, located on Malecon Drive in Havana, had been occupied by the Swiss since the United States broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961.
Castro wanted the Swiss to evacuate the property.
Embassy of Switzerland
US Interests Section
Havana, Cuba (2007)
APOLLO 11 RETURNS SAFELY TO THE EARTH
Honolulu, Hawaii (JFK+50) When President John F. Kennedy announced in 1961 the United States would land a man on the moon "in this decade", he added "and return him safely to the earth."
44 years ago today, July 24, 1969, the second part part of the goal was accomplished as the crew of Apollo 11 splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
The Columbia spacecraft was retrieved and the crew brought safely aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet.
The crew was immediately placed in a "Mobile Quarantine Facility" where they remained for 5 days.
Apollo 11's Columbia Spacecraft
After Splashdown
NIXON DEBATED KHRUSHCHEV IN THE KITCHEN 54 YEARS AGO TODAY
Moscow, USSR (JFK+50) The Vice President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, debated Premier Nikita Khrushchev of the Soviet Union 54 years ago today, July 24, 1959, at the American National Exhibition here in Moscow.
The Vice-President told Premier Khrushchev that he "should not be afraid of ideas" while Khrushchev responded to Nixon, "you don't know anything about communism except fear of it."*
The discussion on the merits of communism versus capitalism was held in the kitchen of a model home built for the expedition thus the name "Kitchen Debate".
Khrushchev and Nixon
Kitchen Debate
July 24, 1959
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER LEIGH WHITE
JFK+50 wishes our daughter, Jennifer Leigh White, a happy 26th birthday today. She was born on July 24, 1987 at Fort Sanders Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Jennifer attended the University of Tennessee, graduated from East Tennessee State University and will be beginning her 2nd year at Charleston School of Law in Charleston, South Carolina in August.
She did an internship this summer in Washington, D.C. with Dr. Phil Roe, Tennessee's 1st District Congressman.
