"KOELLE ALAAF"

JFK VISITS BONN & COLOGNE
 

Cologne (JFK+50) On June 23, 1963, President John F. Kennedy arrived in West Germany to begin the first day of his ten day European tour.  The President arrived at 9:50 a.m. local time and was greeted by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer*.

In a short speech at Wahn Airport, JFK said...

"Together we look forward to a new future.  Former foes have become faithful friends.  Your safety is our safety, your liberty is our liberty."

Later at Market Square in Bonn, the President declared..."The city of Bonn is the capital of the free world."  

The President then made an appearance at Cologne's Rathaus.  In a speech there, JFK said...

"I come to Cologne to see the best of the past and the most promising of the future."

JFK concluded his remarks with the old Rhemish saying "Koelle Alaaf"**.

*Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer (1876-1967) was born in Cologne & studied law & politics at the universities of Freiburg, Munich & Bonn.  KHJA served as the 1st Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1963.

*Translated into English, "Cologne Above All Else."  A phrase used since the 16th Century.

JFK and Konrad Adenauer

Rathaus

Cologne, Germany

Foto Marburg

Art Resource, New York

YOUR SAFETY IS OUR SAFETY, YOUR LIBERTY IS OUR LIBERTY!

PRESIDENT KENNEDY KICKS OFF EUROPEAN TRIP IN WEST GERMANY

Bonn (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy arrived here in Bonn on June 23, 1963 kicking off the first day of a ten day European tour.  The President arrived at 9:50 a.m. local time and was greeted by West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer*.

In a short speech at Wahn Airport, JFK said...

"Together we look forward to a new future.  Former foes have become faithful friends.  Your safety is our safety, your liberty is our liberty."

Later at Market Square in Bonn, the President declared..."The city of Bonn is the capital of the free world," and at Cologne's Rathaus, JFK said...

"I come to Cologne to see the best of the past and the most promising of the future."

JFK concluded his remarks with the old Rhemish saying "Koelle Alaaf".

*Konrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer (1876-1967) was born in Cologne & studied law & politics at the universities of Freiburg, Munich & Bonn.  KHJA served as the 1st Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1963.

JFK and Konrad Adenauer

Rathaus

Cologne, Germany

Foto Marburg

Art Resource, New York

WE GERMANS ARE READY. COME ON MR WILSON!

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2241

IN CASE OF WAR WITH AMERICA GERMAN DEPUTY SAYS 'WE ARE READY' 

Copenhagen, Denmark (JFK+50) 100 years ago today, March 7, 1917, Deputy Minister Fuhrmann, representing the Rhine provinces, said that "giving in to America at the present moment would be interpreted as a sign of weakness."

Mr. Fuhrmann, who was attending a peace conference in Cologne*, went on to say...

"In case war comes, we Germans would say:  'We are ready, come on Mr Wilson.'"

*Cologne, the 4th largest city of Germany, is located on both sides of the Rhine River less than 80 km from Belgium.  By 1914, the city's population was 700,000.  During WWI it was turned into a fortress with two fortified belts surrounding the city.

Although the targets of air raids, Cologne suffered only minor damage in WWI, but she was hit 262 times during WWII with 20,000 civilian casualties. The central part of the city was wiped out.

SOURCE

"'We're Ready for U.S.,' German Says," Chicago Daily Tribune, March 8, 1917, www.archives.chicagotribune.com/

Cologne (1912)

Heiss and Company

JFK ENDORSED FOR SENATE

JFK WON SUPPORT OF BOSTON'S MAYOR FOR US SENATE 62 YEARS AGO TODAY

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Boston's mayor, John B. Hynes*, gave his endorsement to 11th District Congressman John F. Kennedy for the United States Senate 62 years ago today, June 23, 1952.

Hynes, who served as the mayor of Boston from 1950 to 1960, called JFK...

 "one of the finest young men to come into public life in the last two decades."

The Mayor's endorsement was presented before 500 supporters at the Parker House Hotel here in Boston.

*John B. Hynes (1897-1970) served as Boston's mayor from 1950 to 1960.  His father was born in County Galway, Ireland.  JBH graduated from Suffolk Law School in 1927 and served as city clerk under Boston mayor J.M. Curley.

Joe Hynes

Mayor of Boston

www.mass/gov

JOE JR. GRADUATES FROM HARVARD

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., graduated from Harvard 76 years ago today, June 23, 1938.

Joe Jr., who received his Bachelors of Science degree, majored in government with an intended vocation in business.

Joe participated in basketball, football, swimming and rugby.  He was also a member of the Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770.

Joe Jr., Joe Sr.,and JFK

 Southampton, England

 July 2, 1938

 JFK Library Photo

CALVIN COOLIDGE ADOPTED INTO SIOUX TRIBE

Fort Yates, North Dakota (JFK+50) President Calvin Coolidge was adopted into the Sioux Tribe here at Fort Yates* 87 years ago, June 23, 1927.

The President was given a grand ceremonial feathered head dress by Sioux chief Henry Standing Bear.

 The idea to make Coolidge an honorary Sioux came from Chauncey Yellow Robe, a descendant of Sitting Bull.

Coolidge Adopted into Sioux Tribe

June 23, 1927

Library of Congress Photo

Fort Yates, located in Sioux County ND, was the tribal HQ of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.  It was established in 1863 to supervise the Hunkpapa and Blackfeet bands.  The fort was later named in honor of Captain George Yates who was killed at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876.

Fort Yates was once the resting place of Sitting Bull.

Sitting Bull Monument

Fort Yates, N.D.

June 23, 1963

JFK ARRIVED IN BONN 51 YEARS AGO TODAY

Bonn, West Germany (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy arrived here in Bonn 51 years ago today, June 23, 1963, for the first day of a ten day European journey.

This was the eighth trip abroad for President Kennedy.

He arrived at 9:50 a.m. local time and was greeted by West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.

In a short speech at Wahn Airport, JFK said...

"Together we look forward to a new future.  Former foes have become faithful friends.  Your safety is our safety, your liberty is our liberty."

JFK and Konrad Adenauer

Later at Market Square in Bonn, the President declared...

"The city of Bonn is the capital of the free world."

And at Cologne's Rathaus, JFK said...

"I come to Cologne to see the best of the past and the most promising of the future."

JFK concluded his remarks with the old Rhemish saying "Koelle Alaaf".

                    

Rathaus

Cologne, Germany

Foto Marburg

Art Resource, New York