JFK SIGNS LIMITED TEST BAN TREATY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 7, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963 in the Treaty Room at the White House. The treaty, which took effect three days later, banned all nuclear tests except those conducted underground.
JFK considered this treaty to be his greatest achievement as President of the United States. The President said...
"In its first two decades the age of nuclear energy has been full of fear, yet never empty of hope. Today the fear is a little less and the hope a little greater. For the first time we have been able to reach an agreement which can limit the dangers of this age.
The agreement itself is limited, but its message of hope has been heard and understood...by the peoples and governments of the hundred other countries that have signed."
Article 1 of the "Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in Atmosphere, In Outer Space and Underwater" states...
"Each of the parties of this Treaty undertakes to prohibit, to prevent, and not to carry out any nuclear weapon test explosion, or any other nuclear explosion at any place under its jurisdiction or control;
a. in the atmosphere, beyond its limits, including outer space, or underwater, including territorial waters or high seas; or
b. in any other environment if such explosion causes radioactive debris to be present outside the territorial limits of the state under whose...control such explosion is conducted."
SOURCE
"Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy, 1963," United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1964.
JFK Signs the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
The White House Treaty Room
October 7, 1963
Photo by Robert Knudsen
JFK Library Image
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 7, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963 in the Treaty Room at the White House. The treaty, which took effect three days later, banned all nuclear tests except those conducted underground.
JFK considered this treaty to be his greatest achievement as President of the United States. The President said...
"In its first two decades the age of nuclear energy has been full of fear, yet never empty of hope. Today the fear is a little less and the hope a little greater. For the first time we have been able to reach an agreement which can limit the dangers of this age.
The agreement itself is limited, but its message of hope has been heard and understood...by the peoples and governments of the hundred other countries that have signed."
Article 1 of the "Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in Atmosphere, In Outer Space and Underwater" states...
"Each of the parties of this Treaty undertakes to prohibit, to prevent, and not to carry out any nuclear weapon test explosion, or any other nuclear explosion at any place under its jurisdiction or control;
a. in the atmosphere, beyond its limits, including outer space, or underwater, including territorial waters or high seas; or
b. in any other environment if such explosion causes radioactive debris to be present outside the territorial limits of the state under whose...control such explosion is conducted."
SOURCE
"Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy, 1963," United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1964.
JFK Signs the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
The White House Treaty Room
October 7, 1963
Photo by Robert Knudsen
JFK Library Image
