JFK ADDRESSES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS IN HAWAII
Honolulu, Hawaii (JFK+50) On June 9, 1963, President John F. Kennedy addressed the United States Conference of Mayors meeting here in Honolulu. The site was the Lawn House at the HILTON HAWAIIAN VILLAGE HOTEL*. The main topic was race relations.
President Kennedy said...
"In the last analysis, what happens in Birmingham, or Chicago... depends...upon the leadership of those communities.
We will back you up...but the mayor of every metropolitan city...must be aware of the difficult challenges he...will face in the coming months."
The President continued...
"The events in Birmingham have stepped up the tempo of the nationwide drive for full equality--and rising summer temperatures are often accompanied by rising human emotions."
JFK reminded the mayors that the role of the Federal government is not to control civil rights demonstrations but to provide peaceful solutions through legislation and Executive action. The President said it was not only the right thing to do but financially beneficial to America's cities.
He said cities which have racial disturbances....
"attract less capital and less business," as in Birmingham, Alabama where investment in new plant and expansion "had declined some 80% in a few years."
The President continued...
"The time for token moves and talk is past....and...it is our responsibility...to see that (civil rights) are won in a peaceful and constructive way, and not won in the streets."
JFK concluded his remarks to the mayors with these words...
"I do not say that all men are equal in their ability, their character, or their motivation, but I say they should be equal in their chance to develop their character, their motivation, and their ability. They should be given a fair chance to develop all the talents that they have, which is the basic assumption and presumption of this democracy of ours."
*The Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel, located at 2005 Kalia Road in Honolulu, was built on the former village of KALIA, the childhood home of DUKE KAHANAMOKU. It was developed in the early 1900s by Henry J. Kaiser.
SOURCE
"Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, January 1 to November 22, 1963," United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1964.
Dukes Lagoon
Hilton Hawaiian Village
Honolulu, Hawaii
Photo by Travis.Thurston (2009)
Honolulu, Hawaii (JFK+50) On June 9, 1963, President John F. Kennedy addressed the United States Conference of Mayors meeting here in Honolulu. The site was the Lawn House at the HILTON HAWAIIAN VILLAGE HOTEL*. The main topic was race relations.
President Kennedy said...
"In the last analysis, what happens in Birmingham, or Chicago... depends...upon the leadership of those communities.
We will back you up...but the mayor of every metropolitan city...must be aware of the difficult challenges he...will face in the coming months."
The President continued...
"The events in Birmingham have stepped up the tempo of the nationwide drive for full equality--and rising summer temperatures are often accompanied by rising human emotions."
JFK reminded the mayors that the role of the Federal government is not to control civil rights demonstrations but to provide peaceful solutions through legislation and Executive action. The President said it was not only the right thing to do but financially beneficial to America's cities.
He said cities which have racial disturbances....
"attract less capital and less business," as in Birmingham, Alabama where investment in new plant and expansion "had declined some 80% in a few years."
The President continued...
"The time for token moves and talk is past....and...it is our responsibility...to see that (civil rights) are won in a peaceful and constructive way, and not won in the streets."
JFK concluded his remarks to the mayors with these words...
"I do not say that all men are equal in their ability, their character, or their motivation, but I say they should be equal in their chance to develop their character, their motivation, and their ability. They should be given a fair chance to develop all the talents that they have, which is the basic assumption and presumption of this democracy of ours."
*The Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel, located at 2005 Kalia Road in Honolulu, was built on the former village of KALIA, the childhood home of DUKE KAHANAMOKU. It was developed in the early 1900s by Henry J. Kaiser.
SOURCE
"Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, January 1 to November 22, 1963," United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1964.
Dukes Lagoon
Hilton Hawaiian Village
Honolulu, Hawaii
Photo by Travis.Thurston (2009)
