JFK VISITS GALWAY
President John F. Kennedy visited Galway in Ireland today where he was greeted by 320 children from the Convent of Mercy School.
The children, dressed in green, white & gold sang "Galway Bay" for JFK:
"If you ever go across the sea to Ireland
There maybe at the closing of your day
You will sit & watch the moon rise over Claddagh
& see the sun go down on Galway Bay."
Ballyknow Quay
River Corrib
Galway, Ireland
Photo by Greg O'Beirn (1999)
Later, speaking at Eyre Square, now John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, JFK said:
"If the day was clear enough & if you went down to the bay & looked west & your sight was good enough, you would see Boston, Massachusetts."
John F. Kennedy Memorial Park Marker
Galway, Ireland
The President was presented with "The Key to the City".
JFK bade farewell at Shannon Airport where he spoke from his heart:
"Last night somebody sang a song...'Come back to Erin....come back aroun' to the land of thy birth. Come back with the shamrock in the springtime....'"
"This is not the land of my birth, but it is the land for which I hold the greatest affection, & I certainly will come back in the springtime."
As the President boarded Air Force One, a choir sang "Come Back to Erin".
At 2:30 p.m., JFK left Ireland & Larry O'Brien said:
"If there was a dry eye at the airport, I missed it."*
*Source: "One of Ourselves, JFK in Ireland" by James Robert Carroll (2003)
Limerick, Ireland on the River Shannon
Photo by Santiperez (2007)
June 29, 1962
JFK & JACKIE WELCOMED IN MEXICO CITY
President & Mrs. Kennedy began a 4 day visit to Mexico today.
They were welcomed by a million & a half people who lined the streets for their 7 mile motorcade through Mexico City.
JFK was greeted by President Adolfo Lopez Mateos. The two national leaders conferred at Los Pinos, the residence of the Mexican president.
JFK said:
"Our two country's revolutions have now been joined as one, one great effort, one great continent, in one great Alianza para el Progreso. Viva Mexico!"
Jackie Speaks in Spanish in Mexico
JFK Library Photo
June 29, 1961
JFK PROPOSES DISARMAMENT AGENCY
President John F. Kennedy proposed today the creation of a United States Disarmament Agency for World Peace that would formulate disarmament & report to him & the Secretary of State.*
*On September 26, 1961 the Arms Control & Disarmament Agency is created as a result of a bill drafted by JFKs adviser, John J. McCloy.
John J. McCloy
Photo by Yoichi R. Okamoto (1966)
LBJ Library Photo
