FLY ME TO THE MOON

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1933

JFK GOT LBJ'S EVALUATION OF U.S. SPACE PROGRAM 55 YEARS AGO 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago, April 28, 1961, Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson sent John F. Kennedy a memorandum, in response to the President's request of April 20th, asking for an up-to-date evaluation of the United States' space program.

Following are a few of the points the Vice-President made in the memo...

*The Soviets were ahead of the USA in the space race because of "their concentrated effort and earlier emphasis on the development of large rocket engines."

*US had failed to make "hard decisions" to achieve leadership in space

*Space achievement was a major indication of a nation's world leadership.  Other nations would follow the lead of the nation that was the leader in the space race. 

*US leadership in space was achievable.

*Manned exploration of the moon was an "essential" objective.

The sources the Vice-President used for this memo included the Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, and Dr. Wernher von Braun of NASA.

Also, in response to JFK's questions, LBJ answers...

*We can beat the Soviets to the moon by 1966 or 1967.  Manned exploration of the moon would be of "great propaganda value" to the United states.

*It will cost $1,000,000,000 a year for 10 years.

SOURCE

"Memorandum from Vice-President Johnson to President Kennedy on the Space Program," www.jfklibrary.org/

Wernher von Braun

Director of Marshall Space Flight Center

May 1, 1964

NASA Photo

VICE PRESIDENT SENDS JFK MEMO ON US SPACE PROGRAM

April 28, 1961


VICE-PRESIDENT SENDS JFK MEMO ON US SPACE PROGRAM


Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson sent President Kennedy a memo today in response to his request for an evaluation of the US space program.


Following are a few of the points LBJ made in the memo (complete memo available at the JFK Library website):


*The Soviets are ahead in the space race


*US has failed to make "hard decisions" to achieve leadership in space


*Space achievement is a major indication of a nation's world leadership


*US leadership in space is achievable


*Manned exploration of the moon is an "essential" objective


Also, in response to JFK's questions, LBJ says:


*We can beat the Soviets to the moon by 1966 or 1967.


*It will cost $1,000,000,000 a year for 10 years

                1960 Campaign Poster


April 28, 1963


JOINT US-USSR STATEMENT ON LAOS ISSUED


The US & USSR issued a joint statement today in support of an independent Laos.


The statement was issued despite an earlier refusal on the part of Soviet ministers to meet with US envoy, W. Averell Harriman.

           Molotov, Harriman & Churchill



April 28, 1965


US TROOPS LAND IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC


President Lyndon B. Johnson has ordered 22,000 American troops to the Dominican Republic to restore order.


US forces will be supported by troops from member nations of the Organization of American States.


The President says that he is hopeful of stopping a takeover by a communist dictator.


Troubles began in the island nation when dictator Rafael Trujillo was assassinated in 1961.*


*Over the next few months the fighting ends with the US helping to install a conservative, non-military government in the Dominican Republic

April 28, 1967


ALI REFUSES ARMY INDUCTION


Heavyweight Champion of the World, Muhammad Ali, was stripped of his title today for refusal to be inducted into the United States Army.


Ali, a Muslim, cited "religious reasons" for his refusal.


Ali said: 


"I ain't got no quarrel with those Viet Cong".*


*Ali will be found guilty of draft evasion in June & banned from boxing for 3 years.

                      Muhammad Ali 
                World Journal Tribune
       Photograph by Ira Rosenberg (1967)


April 28, 1969


CHARLES DE GAULLE RESIGNS 


French President Charles de Gaulle resigned today after his proposals for constitutional reform were rejected.


De Gaulle's prestige & power were weakened by last year's student demonstrations & workers' strikes.


Mr. De Gaulle is 79 years old.*


*De Gaulle passed away the following year.

                   Charles de Gaulle


April 28, 1986


USS ENTERPRISE SAILS TO THE MEDITERRANEAN 


The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise has become the 1st nuclear powered aircraft carrier to transit the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.


The aircraft carrier is to relieve the USS Coral Sea.

                     USS Enterprise
      Commissioned November 21, 1961


April 28, 1945


MUSSOLINI & MISTRESS SHOT DEAD


Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini & his mistress, Clara Petacci, were shot dead today by partisans after they attempted escape to Switzerland.


The border guards, who were partisans, discovered Mussolini's identity despite his attempt to disguise himself as a German airman.


After they were shot dead, the couple's bodies were transported to a gas station in Milan where they were hung upside down for public viewing & ridicule.

             Benito Mussolini in 1944
             Deutsches Bunde sarchiv