JFK AT SAN LUIS DAM DEDICATION

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2043

JFK LAUDS COOPERATION BETWEEN NATIONAL, STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Los Banos, California* (JFK+50) On August 18, 1962, fifty-four years ago today, President John F. Kennedy attended the groundbreaking ceremonies for the San Luis Dam**, the cornerstone of the federal government's $500 million project to increase the flow of water for irrigation in the region.

President Kennedy spoke at the dedication ceremony attended by Governor Pat Brown and California Senators Kuchel and Eagle, along with Secretary of the Interior Stuart Udall.

The President said...

"This project...symbolizes...the State working with the federal Government, the local communities working with the State.  There is no other project in the history of the United States where a State has put such a large contribution to the development of its own resources and where the National Government has joined with the State."

JFK continued...

"What this country needs is a broad, new conservation effort worthy of the two Roosevelts, Theodore and Franklin, in an effort to build up our resource heritage so that it will be available to those who come after us."

*Los Banos is located in central California's San Joaquin Valley.  Its name means "the Baths" in English.  LB was first settled in the 1840s & has a long history of immigration by Portuguese & Spanish people.

**San Luis Dam is a pumped-storage dam powered by 8 turbines.  Located in Merced County, CA, SLD creates the San Luis Reservoir & is owned by the US Bureau of Reclamation, but run by the California Department of Water Resources.  SLD opened in 1967.

JFK Speaks at San Luis Dam Dedication

Merced County, CA

August 18, 1962
https://www.facebook.com/JFKFP/

TENNESSEE'S VOTE ENACTS 19TH AMENDMENT

TENNESSEE'S VOTE MAKES WOMAN SUFFRAGE LAW OF THE LAND

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Ninety-four years ago today, August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the thirty-sixth and deciding state to ratify the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

The United States Constitution requires two-thirds of the states to ratify a proposed amendment before it can become law.

The 19th Amendment was formally adopted by the proclamation of Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby on August 26, 1920.

The Woman Suffrage Memorial

Market Square

Knoxville, Tennessee

Photo by John White (2008)

The Woman Suffrage Memorial*

Market Square

Knoxville, Tennessee

Photo by John White (2008)

*The Woman Suffrage Memorial was dedicated August 26, 2006 by the Suffrage Coalition.  It was created by Alan LeQuire who is best known for his Athena Parthenos in the Parthenon located in Nashville.

The Memorial features three leaders of the woman suffrage movement in Tennessee representing the three major divisions of the state:

Lizzie Crozier French of Knoxville (East Tennessee)

Anne Dallas Dudley of Nashville (Middle Tennessee)

Elizabeth Avery Meriwether of Memphis (West Tennessee)

SOURCE

tnwomasmemorial.org

JFK AT GROUNDBREAKING FOR SAN LUIS DAM 

Los Banos, California (JFK+50) Fifty-two years ago today, August 18, 1962, President John F. Kennedy attended the groundbreaking ceremonies for the San Luis Dam.

The San Luis Dam was the cornerstone of the federal government's $500 million plan to increase the flow of water for irrigation in the region.

San Luis Dam

Los Banos, California

Photo by Kjkolb (2006)

President Kennedy said...

"The way to move ahead is to realize that we are citizens of one country....and if one state stands still, so do all the rest."

The President added...

"Our task in the simplest terms is to strengthen the United States...."

Earlier, JFK had paid a visit to Yosemite National Park becoming the first President to do so since Theodore Roosevelt.

TR and John Muir

Glacier Point

Yosemite National Park

JAMES MEREDITH GRADUATED FROM OLE MISS 51 YEARS AGO

Oxford, Mississippi (JFK+50) James Meredith, the first African-American to attend the University of Mississippi, graduated fifty-one years ago today, August 18, 1963, with a degree in political science.

Just three years later, James Meredith was shot by a sniper while making a solo civil rights march to encourage voter registration.

Sculpture of James Meredith

University of Mississippi

Photo by Allspamme (2011)

WASHINGTON SIGNED JAY'S TREATY 219 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President George Washington signed a treaty with Great Britain 219 years ago today, August 18, 1795, negotiated by Chief Justice John Jay of New York.

The treaty pledged to establish peaceful trade relationship between Great Britain and the United States as well as settling some leftover issues from the War for Independence.

The treaty was officially called the "Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation between His British Majesty and the United States of America".

Jay's Treaty was opposed by Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and their supporters.  They saw closer ties between Britain and the United States as detrimental to republicanism.

Jay's Treaty