JFK SENDS CONGRESS A MESSAGE ON U.S. AID TO FREE WORLD NATIONS
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 2, 1963, President John F. Kennedy sent a message to Congress on the topic of American aid to nations of the Free World.
The President's message began with these words...
"No peacetime victory...has been as far reaching in its impact, nor served the cause of freedom so well, as the victories scored in the last 17 years by this Nation's mutual defense & assistance programs."
JFK went on to remind Congress that the nation was spending 10% of its GNP on national security while spending less than 0.7% on the mutual assistance program.
After reviewing the contributions of U.S. aid to Greece & Turkey, the Marshall Plan for post war European recovery, & American aid to Southeast Asia & Free China, the President said...
"Today our technical assistance & development loans are giving hope where hope was lacking."
JFK+50 NOTE:
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 was signed by JFK on Nov 3, 1961. It reorganized the structure of foreign assistance programs & created the US Agency for International Development.
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1963 was signed by LBJ on Dec 16, 1963. Despite LBJ's signature, he expressed displeasure with "the growing tendency to hamstring Executive flexibility with rigid legislative provisions." He also warned that the act reflected "a dangerous reduction in funds" which he felt compromised U.S. security.
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 2, 1963, President John F. Kennedy sent a message to Congress on the topic of American aid to nations of the Free World.
The President's message began with these words...
"No peacetime victory...has been as far reaching in its impact, nor served the cause of freedom so well, as the victories scored in the last 17 years by this Nation's mutual defense & assistance programs."
JFK went on to remind Congress that the nation was spending 10% of its GNP on national security while spending less than 0.7% on the mutual assistance program.
After reviewing the contributions of U.S. aid to Greece & Turkey, the Marshall Plan for post war European recovery, & American aid to Southeast Asia & Free China, the President said...
"Today our technical assistance & development loans are giving hope where hope was lacking."
JFK+50 NOTE:
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 was signed by JFK on Nov 3, 1961. It reorganized the structure of foreign assistance programs & created the US Agency for International Development.
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1963 was signed by LBJ on Dec 16, 1963. Despite LBJ's signature, he expressed displeasure with "the growing tendency to hamstring Executive flexibility with rigid legislative provisions." He also warned that the act reflected "a dangerous reduction in funds" which he felt compromised U.S. security.
