"THEY CALL FOR A BETTER STANDARD OF LIVING"

JFK TALKS UP ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS IN COSTA RICA

San Jose, Costa Rica (JFK+50) On March 19, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was on the second day of his trip to Costa Rica talking up the Alliance For Progress* program.

The President commented at the El Busque Housing Project about "new goals for democracy to suit the demands of a new age."

President Kennedy added...

"They call for a better standard of living for all of our citizens in order that they may produce and live up to their capabilities."

JFK+50 NOTE

President Kennedy's visit to Costa Rica was March 18-20, 1963.

*Alliance For Progress (Allanza para el Progreso) a program of mutual economic cooperation between the United States & Latin America.

The U.S. was to provide $20 billion in economic aid over 10 years with Latin America pledging $80 billion.  

AFP goals included establishment of democratic governments in Latin America nations.

SOURCE

"Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy, January 1 - November 22, 1963," United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1964.

JFK in Costa Rica

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library

Boston, Massachusetts

"OUR STRONG IDENTIFICATION WITH LATIN AMERICA"

JFK SPEAKS OF ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS IN COSTA RICA

San Jose, Costa Rica (JFK+50) On March 18, 1963, President John F. Kennedy addressed the members of the American Colony from the steps of the Ambassador's residence here in San Jose.

President Kennedy said...

"Our great effort...must be to help construct democratic, responsible and stable governments which provide an ever-increasing standard of living for the people of their countries.  That is our objective.  That is the meaning of the Alliance for Progress."

The President continued...

"I hope that all of us...can demonstrate our strong identification with the people of Costa Rica, with the people of...Latin America."

Also in attendance were Secretary of State Dean Rusk along with some members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.  U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica, Raymond Telles*, was also present.

*Raymond L. Telles, Jr. (1915-2013) was born in El Paso, TX & served in the US Army Air-Force in WWII & USAF during the Korean War.  RLT was the 1st Mexican-American mayor of a major U.S. city (El Paso) & 1st Hispanic appointed to a U.S. ambassadorship.

SOURCE

"Remarks to Members of the American Colony in San Jose.  March 18, 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. 

   

 

Raymond L. Telles

U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica

April 1961

Photo by Abbie Rowe

JFK Library Image

"TO COUNTER APPEAL OF REVOLUTIONARY POLITICS"

JFK WANTS $500 MILLION FOR LATIN AMERICAN PROGRAM

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 13, 1961, President John F. Kennedy sent a request to the United States Congress for $500 million to promote economic development, social progress and political freedom in Latin America.  The proposed ten year plan would be known as the Alliance for Progress*.

The President stated...

"We propose to complete the revolution of the Americas, to build a hemisphere where all...can hope for a suitable standard of living and can live...in dignity and freedom."

The program called upon countries of Latin America to invest $80 billion over ten years with the United States guaranteeing $20 billion.

Although considered successful in the short-term, the Alliance for Progress did not achieve long-term success after President Kennedy's death. 

*Alliance for Progress (1961-1973) was established by the United States and 22 Latin American nations.  According to the National Postal Museum, the AFP intended to "counter the appeal of revolutionary politics."

SOURCE

"Alliance for Progress," Celebrating Hispanic Heritage, Smithsonian National Postal Museum, www.postalmuseum.si.edu/ 

 

 

Alliance For Progress Stamp

United States Postal Service  

"AN EXAMPLE TO ALL THE WORLD THAT LIBERTY & PROGRESS WALK HAND IN HAND"

JFK WELCOMES DIPLOMATIC CORPS OF LATIN AMERICA

Washington, D.C.  (JFK+50) On March 13, 1961, President John F. Kennedy addressed Members of Congress along with the Ambassadorial Corps of the Western Hemisphere at the White House.

The President had asked the ambassadors to come to the Executive Mansion to discuss the challenges and dangers faced by the nations of the Western Hemisphere.

Speaking in the East Room, President Kennedy said...

 "Throughout Latin America...millions...suffer the daily degradations of poverty and hunger.  They lack decent shelter or protection from disease.  Their children are deprived of the education or the jobs which are the gateway to a better life."
 
JFK continued...

"If we are to meet a problem so staggering...our approach must...be...bold.  Therefore, I have called on all people of the hemisphere to join in a new Alliance for Progress--a vast cooperative effort...to satisfy the basic needs of the American people for homes, work and land, health and schools."

The President concluded....

"Let us once again transform the American continent into a vast crucible of revolutionary ideas and efforts...an example to all the world that liberty and progress walk hand in hand.  Let us once again awaken our American revolution until it guides the struggle of people everywhere--not with an imperialism of force and fear---but the rule of courage and freedom and hope for the future of man."*

*Following JFK's address, his remarks were translated & broadcast in Spanish, Portuguese and French to Latin America via the Voice of America.

SOURCE

"Address at a White House Reception for Members of Congress and for the Diplomatic Corps of the Latin American Republics, March 13 1961," Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, January 20 to December 31, 1961, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1962.

 President John F. Kennedy

March 13, 1962

State Dining Room

1st Anniversary of the

Alliance for Progress

"TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL PROGRESS & POLITICAL FREEDOM"

JFK ASKS CONGRESS FOR $500 MIL TO FUND 'ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS'

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 11, 1961, President John F. Kennedy asked Congress to appropriate $500 million to promote economic development, social progress and political freedom in Latin America.  

The ten year program, Alliance for Progress*, was designed to assist the people of Latin America to..."build a hemisphere where all men can hope for a suitable standard of living and all can live out their lives in dignity and freedom."

President Kennedy's proposal was intended to fulfill the pledge made in his Inaugural Address..."to convert our good words into good deeds...to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty."  

The Kennedy administration hoped to reverse the steadily deteriorating relations of the 1950s between the United States and Latin America, and also to prevent the region from falling under communist control.

Fidel Castro, whose dictatorship in Cuba was not included in the Alliance, was unimpressed by the proposal.  He said..."We'll see whether the conscience of Latin America can be bought for $500 million....or whether, as we contend, it cannot be bought at any price."

The Alliance was the largest U.S. foreign aid program ever proposed for the developing world.  Although the Alliance would not achieve many of its goals, it was successful in supporting construction of housing, schools, airports, hospitals, clinics and water-purification projects in Latin America.

*The official documents creating the Alliance for Progress were signed in Uruguay on August 17, 1961. 

SOURCES

"Alliance for Progress (Alianza para el Progreso)," www.jfklibrary.org/

"Looking Back:  The Alliance for Progress and Its Legacy," by Lauren Monsen, www.iipdigital.usembassy.gov/

"The Alliance for Progress:  Aims, Distortions, Obstacles," by Alberto Lleras Camargo, October 1963, Foreign Affairs, www.foreignaffairs.com/

C. Douglas Dillon, JFK & the

Delegation of the Inter-American

Economic & Social Conference

August 19, 1961

Photo by Robert L. Knudsen

JFK Library Image

"NEW GOALS FOR DEMOCRACY TO SUIT DEMANDS OF A NEW AGE"

"VIVA COSTA RICA, ARRIBA COSTA RICA"

San Jose, Costa Rica (JFK+50) On March 19, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was spending his second day in Central America and speaking about the accomplishments of the Alliance for Progress.

After JFK had given a luncheon toast to the people of Costa Rica and the presidents of Central America and Panama, President Luis Somoza* of Nicaragua said...

"Yesterday you saw thousands of people cheering for you, for your country and what your country represents to us...and....(to) the free world."

Later in the day, President Kennedy gave an address at the El Bosque Housing Project where he spoke of "new goals for democracy to suit the demands of a new age."

JFK said...

"They call for a better standard of living for all of our citizens in order that they may produce and live up to their capabilities.  Education, homes, jobs, health, security---those are the things for which this country stands.  Those are the things in which the people of the United States strongly believe."

JFK closed with...

"Viva Costa Rica, Arriba Costa Rica."

*Luis Anastasio Somoza (1922-1967) was born in Leon, Nicaragua & attended LaSalle Military Academy on Long Island & LSU.  He succeeded his father, who was assassinated, as president of his country in 1956. He died of a heart attack at the age of 45.

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.

JFK Motorcade in Costa Rica

"TO BUILD A HEMISPHERE WHERE ALL MEN CAN LIVE IN DIGNITY & FREEDOM"

JFK PROPOSES AN ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 11, 1961, President John F. Kennedy asked Congress to appropriate $500 million to promote economic development, social progress and political freedom in Latin America.  

The ten year program, called the Alliance for Progress, was designed to assist the people of Latin America to..."build a hemisphere where all men can hope for a suitable standard of living and all can live out their lives in dignity and freedom."

President Kennedy's proposal made good on the pledge made in his Inaugural Address..."to convert our good words into good deeds...to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty."

The Kennedy administration hoped to reverse the steadily deteriorating relations in the 1950s between the United States and Latin America. Cuban president Fidel Castro,  whose communist dictatorship was not included in the Alliance, was, not surprisingly, unimpressed by the proposal. 

Castro said...

"We'll see whether the conscience of Latin America can be bought for $500 million....or whether, as we contend, it cannot be bought at any price."

According to the JFK Library, the Alliance for Progress was "the largest United States aid program created for the developing world."  The Library acknowledges that the program failed to achieve many of its goals, but it "supported the construction of housing, schools, airports, hospitals, clinics and water-purification projects as well as the distribution of free textbooks to students."

SOURCES

"Alliance for Progress (Alianza para el Progreso)," www.jfklibrary.org/

"Looking Back:  The Alliance for Progress and Its Legacy," by Lauren Monsen, www.iipdigital.usembassy.gov/

C. Douglas Dillon, JFK & the

Delegation of the Inter-American

Economic & Social Conference

August 19, 1961

Photo by Robert L. Knudsen

JFK Library Image

LARGEST US AID PROGRAM FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD

JFK PROPOSES ALIANZA PARA EL PROGRESO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 11, 1961, President John F. Kennedy asked Congress to appropriate $500 million to promote economic development, social progress and political freedom in Latin America.  

The ten year program, called the Alliance for Progress, was designed to assist the people of Latin America to..."build a hemisphere where all men can hope for a suitable standard of living and all can live out their lives in dignity and freedom."

President Kennedy's proposal made good on the pledge made in his Inaugural Address..."to convert our good words into good deeds...to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty."

The Kennedy administration hoped to reverse the steadily deteriorating relations in the 1950s between the United States and Latin America. Cuban president Fidel Castro,  whose communist dictatorship was not included in the Alliance, was, not surprisingly, unimpressed by the proposal. 

Castro said...

"We'll see whether the conscience of Latin America can be bought for $500 million....or whether, as we contend, it cannot be bought at any price."

According to the JFK Library, the Alliance for Progress was "the largest United States aid program created for the developing world."  The Library acknowledges that the program failed to achieve many of its goals, but it "supported the construction of housing, schools, airports, hospitals, clinics and water-purification projects as well as the distribution of free textbooks to students."

SOURCES

"Alliance for Progress (Alianza para el Progreso)," www.jfklibrary.org/

"Looking Back:  The Alliance for Progress and Its Legacy," by Lauren Monsen, www.iipdigital.usembassy.gov/

C. Douglas Dillon, JFK & the

Delegation of the Inter-American

Economic & Social Conference

August 19, 1961

Photo by Robert L. Knudsen

JFK Library Image

JORGE ALESSANDRI RODRIGUEZ

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2157

JFK CONCLUDES MEETINGS WITH CHILEAN PRESIDENT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-four years ago today, December 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy concluded two days of discussions with President Jorge Alessandri Rodriguez* of Chile.

The discussions included the Alliance for Progress program as well as the economic development of Chile.

After attending a Christmas party in the East Room at the White House, President and Mrs. Kennedy concluded the day with an evening performance of the American Ballet Theatre**.

*Jorge Alessandri Rodriguez (1896-1986) was born in Santiago and graduated from the University of Chile in 1919.  JAR was elected to Parliament in 1926 & later served as Minister of Finance.  He was elected to the Senate in 1957 and then served as President of Chile from 1958 to 1964.

**The American Ballet Theatre is based in New York City & performs at the Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center) in the spring & at the David H. Koch Theatre in the fall.  

ABT was founded in 1939 by Lucia Chase & Richard Pleasant.  It is the parent company of the ABT, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School & was recognized as America's National Ballet Company in 2006 by the U.S. Congress

SOURCE

"Jorge Alessandri Rodriguez," Universidad de Chile, www.uchile.cl/

JFK & President Jorge Rodriguez

Library of the Chilean National Congress (1962)

A NEW ERA OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN U.S. & MEXICO

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1885

JFK PROPOSED ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS 55 YEARS AGO 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago today, March 11, 1961, President John F. Kennedy asked Congress to appropriate $500 million to promote economic development, social progress and political freedom in Latin America.  

The ten year program, called the Alliance for Progress, was designed to assist the people of Latin America to..."build a hemisphere where all men can hope for a suitable standard of living and all can live out their lives in dignity and freedom."

Contrast JFK's proposal with that today of Republican presidential candidates, notably Donald J. Trump, who call for a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the United States.

Eight years ago, Rodolfo F. Saenz wrote..."The people of Latin America remember with nostalgia the days of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and its 'Good Neighbor Policy,' and the days of President John F. Kennedy and its 'Alliance for Progress.'"

Mr. Saenz, writing in 2008, said the United States was in the process of expanding the 88 mile fence on the southwestern border with a 700 mile fence but that there were many who wanted more walls.  He concluded...

"Many Latin Americans now see the United States of America as the Country that is building a wall because it does not like us."

Back in 1961, however, the Kennedy administration hoped to reverse the steadily deteriorating relations between the United States and Latin America. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library calls the Alliance... "the largest United States aid program created for the developing world."

President and Mrs. Kennedy made a goodwill visit to Mexico City in late June 1962.  Mexico's president, Adolfo Lopez Mateos "hailed (JFK's) visit...as the opening of a new era of understanding between the two nations." 

Unfortunately, that new era has passed into history.

SOURCES

"Alliance for Progress (Alianza para el Progreso)," www.jfklibrary.org/

"America's Crisis:  At the Beginning of the Third Millennium," by Rodolfo F. Saenz, AuthorHouse, 2008.

"Looking Back:  The Alliance for Progress and Its Legacy," by Lauren Monsen, www.iipdigital.usembassy.gov/

"Mexican Chief Hails JFK's Visit," September 3, 1962, Eugene Register Guard.

Mrs. John F. Kennedy & the President

Mexico City

June 30, 1962

Photo by Robert Knudsen

JFK Library Image

JFK PROPOSES LATIN AMERICAN ALLIANCE

ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-four years ago today, March 11, 1961, President John F. Kennedy asked Congress to appropriate $500 million to promote economic development, social progress and political freedom in Latin America.  

The ten year program, called the Alliance for Progress, was designed to assist the people of Latin America to...

"build a hemisphere where all men can hope for a suitable standard of living and all can live out their lives in dignity and freedom."

President Kennedy's proposal made good on the pledge made in his Inaugural Address...

"to convert our good words into good deeds...to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty."

The Kennedy administration hoped to reverse the steadily deteriorating relations in the 1950s between the United States and Latin America. 

Cuban president Fidel Castro,  whose communist dictatorship was not included in the Alliance, was, not surprisingly, unimpressed by the proposal. 

Castro said:

"We'll see whether the conscience of Latin America can be bought for $500 million....or whether, as we contend, it cannot be bought at any price."

According to the JFK Library, the Alliance for Progress was "the largest United States aid program created for the developing world."

The Library acknowledges that the program failed to achieve many of its goals, but it "supported the construction of housing, schools, airports, hospitals, clinics and water-purification projects as well as the distribution of free textbooks to students."

SOURCES

"Alliance for Progress (Alianza para el Progreso)," www.jfklibrary.org/

"Looking Back:  The Alliance for Progress and Its Legacy," by Lauren Monsen, www.iipdigital.usembassy.gov/

C. Douglas Dillon, JFK & the

Delegation of the Inter-American

Economic & Social Conference

August 19, 1961

Photo by Robert L. Knudsen

JFK Library Image

BIENVENIDOS PRESIDENT AND MRS. KENNEDY

JFK'S FIRST VISIT TO LATIN AMERICA

Caracas, Venezuela (JFK+50) Fifty-three years ago today, December 16 1961, President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy received a royal welcome from more than 300,000 people lining the streets along their motorcade route here in Caracas.

The Kennedys' reception stood in stark contrast to Vice President Richard M. Nixon's visit in 1958 when angry protesters pounded his car with clubs and pipes.

JFK said during his first visit as President of the United States to Latin America...

"One of the first goals of the new inter-Americanism must be the elimination of...tyranny...until this is a hemisphere of democratic and independent nations from Cape Horn to the Arctic Circle."

                 The Kennedys in Venezuela
                    Photo by Cecil Stoughton
                                 JFK Library 

President Kennedy'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.  At the time of the President's visit, 38,000 families had settled on lands in Venezuela made available through the program.

The United States under JFK's leadership had pledged $20 billion to the people of Latin America.

JFK said...

"No real progress is possible unless the benefits of increasing prosperity are shared by the people themselves."

Mrs. Kennedy, who spoke in Spanish to the Venezuelan people, was particularly appreciated for both her fashion and command of the language.*

           Mrs. Kennedy Speaks in Spanish
                     La Morita, Venezuela
                        JFK Library Photo

*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."

According to the Office of the Historian, U.S. State Department, the Alliance was "in essence a Marshall Plan for Latin America."  It says that it represented the largest American aid program to the developing nations at that time, but admits that "not all (of) its' lofty goals" were achieved and there was "a general deterioration of US-Latin American relations by the end of the 1960s."


VENEZUELA

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is located on the northern coast of South America.  The federal presidential republic, comprised of 12 states. today has a population of more than 29 million.  

Venezuela, described as one of the most urbanized countries in Latin America today, was one of the first countries of the region to declare independence from Spain.  The nation gained full independence in 1830.

Venezuela was a founding member of the United Nations. The capital, Caracas, is also the country's largest city.

The flag of Venezuela is yellow, blue and red.  The yellow stands for land wealth, the blue stands for the sea that separates Venezuela from Spain and the red represents the blood shed in achieving independence.

                      The Flag of Venezuela
                               www.cia.gov

SOURCE

"Forging the Alliance--President Kennedy's visits to Venezuela and Colombia, December 1961," Movietonews, United States Information Agency Film, John F. Kennedy Library, Boston.

To see the film click on the link below...

Alliance For Progress

JFK PROPOSED ALLIANCE 53 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy asked Congress 53 years ago today, March 11, 1961, to appropriate $500 million to promote economic development, social progress and political freedom in Latin America.

JFK hoped through the Alliance to...

"lift the people from poverty and ignorance and despair."

The program required the nations of Latin America to demonstrate that they were making social progress before the aid would be granted.

Fidel Castro was not impressed by the proposal.  

He said:

"We'll see whether the conscience of Latin America can be bought for $500 million....or whether, as we contend, it cannot be bought at any price."

JFK in La Morita, Venezuela

December 1961

FDR SIGNED LEND-LEASE 73 YEARS AGO TODAY 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed "Lend-Lease" into law 73 years ago today, March 11, 1941.

The program was developed by FDR to give aid to Great Britain in her fight for survival against Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany.

By the terms of the act, the President of the United States was given the power to...

 "sell....lease...(or)...lend military resources....deemed...in the interest of the defense of the United States."

FDR used the analogy that when your neighbor's house is on fire you lend him your fire hose to help put the fire out.

By the end of the war, the United States will have provided $50 billion in military assistance to 44 countries.

 FDR Signs Lend-Lease Act

"VIVA COSTA RICA"

JFK SETS "NEW GOALS FOR DEMOCRACY" IN CENTRAL AMERICA

San Jose, Costa Rica (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy was spending his 2nd day in Central America 50 years ago today, March 19, 1963, continuing to speak about the accomplishments of the Alliance for Progress.

After JFK had given a luncheon toast to the people of Costa Rica & the Presidents of Central America & Panama, President Luis Somoza* of Nicaragua said...

"Yesterday you saw thousands of people cheering for you, for your country & what your country represents to us...&....(to) the free world."

Later in the day, President Kennedy gave an address at the El Bosque Housing Project where he spoke of "new goals for democracy to suit the demands of a new age" which he said were being addressed by the Alliance.

JFK said...

"They call for a better standard of living for all of our citizens in order that they may produce & live up to their capabilities."

The President of the United States added...

"Education, homes, jobs, health, security---those are the things for which this country stands.  Those are the things in which the people of the United States strongly believe."

JFK closed with...

"Viva Costa Rica, Arriba Costa Rica."

*Luis Anastasio Somoza (1922-1967) was born in Leon, Nicaragua & attended LaSalle Military Academy on Long Island & LSU.  He succeeded his father, who was assassinated, as president of his country in 1956. He died of a heart attack at the age of 45.

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.