JFK UNDETERRED BY NUCLEAR TEST BAN STALEMATE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 21, 1963, President John F. Kennedy held his 52nd news conference at the State Department here in the Nation's capital. The conference began at 6 on a Thursday evening.
The President was asked...
"...after all of the years of failure of attempting to reach a nuclear test ban agreement...and in view of the current stalemate at the Geneva conference, do you still really have any hope of arriving at a nuclear test ban agreement?"
President Kennedy responded...
"Well, my hopes are somewhat dimmed, but nevertheless, I still hope."
The President continued...
"...the reason why we keep...working on this question...is because...I am haunted by the feeling that by 1970, unless we are successful, there may be 10 nuclear powers instead of 4, and by 1975, 15 or 20."*
JFK, who regarded this prospect "as the greatest possible danger and hazard," added "so we are going to keep at it."**
*In 2020, nine countries had nuclear weapons. They include U.S., U.K., Russia, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel & North Korea.Since 1970, 191 countries have signed on to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) which aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons & promote disarmament.
**JFK kept his word. The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty banned all nuclear testing in the atmosphere, outer space or underwater. It was signed by the United States, Soviet Union & Great Britain. JFK signed the treaty on Oct 7 1963.
SOURCES
"Nuclear Weapons: Which countries have them and how many are there?," BBC NEWS, January 14, 2020, www.bbc.com/
"The President's News Conference of March 21, 1963," 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.
