"THAT MEETING SHOULD BE PREPARED AT A LOWER LEVEL"

JFK ASKED IF WILL HAVE 'HEART TO HEART' TALK WITH STROM THURMOND

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 14, 1961, President John F. Kennedy answered a reporter's humorous question with an equally humorous response at his news conference held at the State Department auditorium.

Mr. President:*

"This being Valentine's Day, sir, do you think it might be a good idea if you would call Senator (Strom) Thurmond* of South Carolina down to the White House for a heart to heart talk about (laughter) the whole disagreement over the censorship of military speeches and what he calls your defeatist foreign policy?"

The President:

"Well, I think that that meeting should be probably prepared at a lower level, then we could have a... (more laughter)"

JFK+50 NOTE

Senator Thurmond did not support JFK as the Democratic nominee for POTUS in 1960 & in 1962 he called for U.S. invasion of Cuba.  Today's posting originally appeared on this blog on Feb 14, 2011 & as you can see below, it remains the most popular post among our visitors.

*James Strom Thurmond, Sr. (1902-2003) was born in Edgefield, SC & graduated Clemson University (BS).  JST served in the US Army in WWI (Battle of Normandy) & as governor of SC 1947-1951.  He was US Senator (D-SC) 1954-2003.  JST was a 3rd party candidate for the States Rights Party in 1948 carrying 4 states (39 electoral votes).

SOURCE

"JFK Answers Valentine's Day Question," JFK+50, February 14, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

Senator J. Strom Thurmond

(D-South Carolina)

August 8, 1961

Photo by Warren K. Leffler

US News & World Report

Library of Congress

"THAT SHOULD BE PREPARED AT A LOWER LEVEL"

JFK BALKS AT SUGGESTION OF 'HEART TO HEART' TALK WITH STROM THURMOND

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 14, 1962, President John F. Kennedy held a news conference at the State Department Auditorium here in the Nation's Capital.

The President was asked...

"This being Valentine's Day, sir, do you think it might be a good idea if you would call Senator Strom Thurmond* of South Carolina down to the White House for a heart-to-heart talk about the whole disagreement over the censorship of the military speeches and what he calls  your defeatist foreign policy?"

President Kennedy answered...

"Well, I think that meeting should be probably prepared at a lower level..."

JFK's response was followed by laughter from the press corps.

 

JFK+50 NOTE

According to World Biography U.S. Presidents, JFK "demonstrated a...cosmopolitan and sophisticated view of the world...&...had a feel for diplomacy."

Our Valentine's Day post, originally published Feb 14 2011, is the #1 most popular on this JFK+50 blog. 

*James Strom Thurmond, Sr. (1902-2003) was born in Edgefield, SC.  He graduated from Clemson University in 1923 & was admitted to the bar in 1930.  ST served in the US Army during WWII & was governor of SC from 1947-1951.  JST ran for POTUS in 1948 as a "Dixiecrat" on a states' right platform supporting racial segregation.

JST was a US Senator from 1956 to 2003.  He represented SC as a Democrat until 1964 when he became a Republican & worked for Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign.

 

SOURCES

"John F. Kennedy-Foreign Affairs," World Biography U.S. Presidents, www.presidentialprofiles.com/

"The President's News Conference of February 14, 1962," Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, January 1 to December 31, 1962, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1963. 

   

 

Senator Strom Thurmond

Photo by Warren K. Leffler (1961)

Library of Congress Image