"RETURN TO SENDER, IMPOSSIBLE TO FORWARD!"

LETTER WRITER ASKS BEETHOVEN TO GIVE DAUGHTER PIANO LESSONS

Vienna, Austria (JFK+50) On June 30, 1925, Associated Press reports "a letter addressed to...'Herr Ludwig Van Beethoven'*" recently arrived here in Vienna "a bit late."

Since the world renowned composer had died almost a century ago, postal authorities saw fit to open the letter.

They found that it was sent by a Galician** asking Professor Beethoven to give his daughter piano lessons for 200 crowns per lesson.

The letter was returned to the sender with the remark,,,

 "Address o.k. but addressee migrated heavenward in 1827.  Impossible to forward!"

JFK+50

Throughout his career, Beethoven was "comfortably middle class" but not "exceptionally wealthy."  If he had received the letter, he might well have agreed to give piano lessons at 200 crowns a pop.

*Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was born in Bonn, Germany & became one of the most revered figures in the history of western music.  His 1st major orchestral work, First Symphony, was completed in 1800.

**Galician is an ethnic group primarily of Galicia located in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula.

SOURCE

"Letter Seeking Beethoven Service 98 Years Too Late," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., June 30, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Bust Statue of Beethoven 

by Hugo Hagen (1892)

photo by W. J. Baker

Library of Congress

"I SPENT A MONTH IN KLAGENFURT ON THE WORTHERSEE IN YOUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY"

JFK ARRIVES IN VIENNA FOR SUMMIT

Vienna, Austria (JFK+50) On June 3, 1961, President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy arrived here in the Austrian capital following a visit to France.  The Kennedys were greeted at Schwechat Airport by Adolf Sharf*, President of Austria. 

Upon arrival, President Kennedy said...

"I spent a month in Klagenfurt** on the Worthersee in your beautiful country and...I am delighted to have an opportunity to visit here again.  We are grateful to the city of Vienna and to the Government of Austria for the hospitality which they have afforded us." 

The President met Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev for the first time at the American Embassy.  Mr. Kennedy was accompanied by Secretary of State Dean Rusk and National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy.  Mr. Khrushchev was assisted by Andrei Gromyko and Anatoliy Dobrynin.

According to Chris Matthews, Khrushchev had "demanded a showdown" on the issue of BERLIN and once at the summit made a point to lecture JFK on "socialist inevitability."

MacroHistory says that President Kennedy "labored under the conception that the Soviet Union was bent on fomenting revolution around the world," while Premier Khrushchev "argued about balance of power,...Laos and nuclear testing."

The talks continued the following day.

*Adolf Sharf (1890-1965) served as Vice-Chancellor of Austria from 1945 to 1957  & President of Austria from 1957 to 1965.  He was born in Nikolsburg, Moravia and earned his doctorate at the University of Vienna in 1914.  AS served in World War I and in June 1961 hosted a state banquet for President Kennedy  & Premier Khrushchev at Schonbrunn Palace.

**Klagenfurt, located in southern Austria, is the 6th largest city in the country with a population of 100,000+ in 2018.  It is the capital of the federal state of Carinthia.  It is home to the University of Klagenfurt.

SOURCES

"Remarks Upon Arrival at the Schwechat Airport in Vienna, June 3, 1961," Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, January 20 to December 31, 1961, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1962.

"Vienna Summit Conference, June 1961," MacroHistory and World Timeline, www.fsmitha.com/ 

Khrushchev & Kennedy

Vienna, Austria

June 1961

JFK Library Photo

THE SHOWDOWN WITH KHRUSHCHEV V

JULY 10, 2012

THE SHOWDOWN WITH KHRUSHCHEV V

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we continue our report of Chapter 11 of the book by Kenneth P. O'Donnell & David F. Powers with Joe McCarthy.  It is published by Little, Brown & Company.

The title of Chapter 11 is The Showdown with Khrushchev.

In commentaries on the Vienna Summit, it was most often mentioned that JFK made a comment to Khrushchev about the medal he wore on his lapel at the close of their discussions.

Kenneth O'Donnell correctly states, however, that this comment came during lunch.

President Kennedy asked about the medal & Khrushchev replied that it was the LENIN PEACE MEDAL.  JFK answered, "I hope you get to keep it."

It was after the lunch that Kennedy & Khrushchev squared off out in the garden, alone except for their interpreters.

In their last private discussion, Khrushchev threatened WAR if the U.S. insisted on defending WEST BERLIN.

He let it be known that the USSR would sign a treaty with EAST GERMANY allowing it to seize West Berlin in December, 1961.

JFK's final words to NK were: "It's going to be a cold winter."