PRESIDENT & MRS. KENNEDY VISIT VENEZUELA
Caracas, Venezuela (JFK+50) On December 16 1961, President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy received a royal welcome from more than 300,000 people lining the streets along their motorcade route here in Caracas.
Speaking at Maiquetia Airport upon arrival, the President said...
"I am proud to be the first President of the United States to visit this country. But...I follow in the footsteps of (FDR) who devoted so much of his efforts...to binding together the countries of this hemisphere."
JFK's Alliance for Progress or Alianza para el Progreso program was popular in Venezuela. Through the program, the United States supplied loans and credits for road construction and agricultural and medical initiatives.
Mrs. Kennedy, who spoke in Spanish to the Venezuelan people, was particularly appreciated for both her fashion and command of the language.*
*In a classified document released in 1997, the Presidential visit to Venezuela was described as an "outstanding success (which) bolstered (the) prestige of (the) United States in Venezuela and in (the) Americas, especially (the) Caribbean."
SOURCE
"Remarks Upon Arrival at Maiquetia Airport, Caracas, Venezuela," December 16, 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.
The Kennedys in Venezuela
Photo by Cecil Stoughton
JFK Library
Caracas, Venezuela (JFK+50) On December 16 1961, President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy received a royal welcome from more than 300,000 people lining the streets along their motorcade route here in Caracas.
Speaking at Maiquetia Airport upon arrival, the President said...
"I am proud to be the first President of the United States to visit this country. But...I follow in the footsteps of (FDR) who devoted so much of his efforts...to binding together the countries of this hemisphere."
JFK's Alliance for Progress or Alianza para el Progreso program was popular in Venezuela. Through the program, the United States supplied loans and credits for road construction and agricultural and medical initiatives.
Mrs. Kennedy, who spoke in Spanish to the Venezuelan people, was particularly appreciated for both her fashion and command of the language.*
*In a classified document released in 1997, the Presidential visit to Venezuela was described as an "outstanding success (which) bolstered (the) prestige of (the) United States in Venezuela and in (the) Americas, especially (the) Caribbean."
SOURCE
"Remarks Upon Arrival at Maiquetia Airport, Caracas, Venezuela," December 16, 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.
The Kennedys in Venezuela
Photo by Cecil Stoughton
JFK Library
