TELSTAR BEAMS JFK NEWS CONFERENCE TO EUROPE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) History was made 52 years ago today, July 23, 1962 when President John F. Kennedy's news conference was transmitted live to Europe via Telstar.
During the conference, JFK was asked the following question:
"Mr. President, now that the US image is being transmitted instantaneously overseas by Telstar, do you think the (TV) networks should do something about the vast wasteland?"
Vast wasteland was a term coined by Federal Communications Commission chairman Newton Minow* who gave a speech to the National Association of Broadcasters on May 9, 1961 in which he said...
"When television is good... nothing is better (but) when television is bad, nothing is worse.
I invite each of you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there for a day without a book, without a
magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you.
Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland."
President Kennedy, obviously not wanting to be critical of the networks, laughed and said:
"I'm going to leave Mr. Minow to argue the wasteland issue, I think."
*Newton Minow was born in Milwaukee, WI in 1926. He is a graduate of Northwestern University and the Northwestern University School of Law.
Mr. Minow continues in the practice of law today and is also Honorary Consul General of Singapore in Chicago.
JFK HONORS PRESIDENT MONROY OF ECUADOR
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy honored President Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy of Ecuador 52 years ago today, July 23, 1962, at a White House luncheon.
The President's mother, Rose, served as hostess for the luncheon as Jacqueline Kennedy was away from the White House.
President Monroy would be ousted from power in a military coup in 1963 after 2 failed attempts to impeach him. One source says that he was disliked for his "leftist leanings" but more so because of his "immoderate drinking".
JOE KENNEDY MAKES COVER OF TIME
New York City (JFK+50) President Franklin D. Roosevelt's chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., made the cover of Time magazine 79 years ago today, July 23, 1935.
Mr. Kennedy's picture includes the caption:
"He makes it easy for the honest".
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) History was made 52 years ago today, July 23, 1962 when President John F. Kennedy's news conference was transmitted live to Europe via Telstar.
During the conference, JFK was asked the following question:
"Mr. President, now that the US image is being transmitted instantaneously overseas by Telstar, do you think the (TV) networks should do something about the vast wasteland?"
Vast wasteland was a term coined by Federal Communications Commission chairman Newton Minow* who gave a speech to the National Association of Broadcasters on May 9, 1961 in which he said...
"When television is good... nothing is better (but) when television is bad, nothing is worse.
I invite each of you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there for a day without a book, without a
magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you.
Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland."
President Kennedy, obviously not wanting to be critical of the networks, laughed and said:
"I'm going to leave Mr. Minow to argue the wasteland issue, I think."
*Newton Minow was born in Milwaukee, WI in 1926. He is a graduate of Northwestern University and the Northwestern University School of Law.
Mr. Minow continues in the practice of law today and is also Honorary Consul General of Singapore in Chicago.
Newton Minow
FCC Chairman
JFK HONORS PRESIDENT MONROY OF ECUADOR
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy honored President Carlos Julio Arosemena Monroy of Ecuador 52 years ago today, July 23, 1962, at a White House luncheon.
The President's mother, Rose, served as hostess for the luncheon as Jacqueline Kennedy was away from the White House.
President Monroy would be ousted from power in a military coup in 1963 after 2 failed attempts to impeach him. One source says that he was disliked for his "leftist leanings" but more so because of his "immoderate drinking".
Carlos Julio Arosenmena Monroy
President of Ecuador
Photo of Monument by
Markus Lampe, Resthausen (2005)
JOE KENNEDY MAKES COVER OF TIME
New York City (JFK+50) President Franklin D. Roosevelt's chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., made the cover of Time magazine 79 years ago today, July 23, 1935.
Mr. Kennedy's picture includes the caption:
"He makes it easy for the honest".
