"WE ARE GOING TO KEEP AT IT"

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. 

   

 

JFK Signs Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

White House Treaty Room

Oct 7 1963

Photo by Robert L. Knudsen

JFK Library Image

NO SINGLE DECISION OF THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN MORE THOUGHTFULLY WEIGHED

JFK RESUMES NUCLEAR TESTING IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 12, 1962, Newsweek magazine reported on President John F. Kennedy's recent "grinding decision" to order resumption of United States nuclear testing in the atmosphere.

In his announcement the previous Friday, the President said...

"No single decision of this Administration has been more...thoughtfully weighed."

Privately, JFK described his final decision had been building up "like a coral reef" since the USSR launched their atmospheric nuclear tests in the fall.  In polling the National Security Council, there was unanimous agreement that the U.S. had to resume the tests.

Arguments against the decision came from from scientists like Nobel Prize winning Linus Pauling* who said that 20 million unborn children would suffer damage as a result.  2000 protesters made known their opposition to JFK's decision in New York's Time Square.

*Linus Carl Pauling (1901-1994) was born in Portland, Oregon & earned his B.S. at Oregon State University & PhD at the California Institute of Technology in 1925.  LCP won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 & is rated one of the top 20 scientists of all time.

JFK+50 NOTE

In August 1963, JFK signed the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty which outlawed nuclear testing in outer space, under water and in the atmosphere.

SOURCES

"March 12, 1961:  The Decision To Resume Nuclear Testing", Newsweek, www.newsweek.com/

"The Grinding Decision--"Built Like Coral", Newsweek Magazine, March 12, 1962.

Types of Nuclear Testing
by User: Fastfission
www.commons.wikimedia.org/

JFK ANNOUNCES NUCLEAR TEST BAN AGREEMENT

JFK ANNOUNCED NUCLEAR TEST BAN AGREEMENT 52 YEARS AGO TONIGHT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-two years ago this evening, July 26, 1963, President John F. Kennedy announced that an agreement had been reached in Moscow on a limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty*.

The President, speaking to a national television audience, said:

"Yesterday a shaft of light cut into the darkness.  Negotiations were concluded in Moscow on a treaty that will ban all nuclear tests in the air, outer space and under water."

According to the JFK Library, work toward a nuclear test ban treaty began in May 1955 when the United Nations Disarmament Committee brought together Canada, France, UK, US, and USSR for discussions.

After a moratorium on testing, the Soviets conducted 31 nuclear tests over a 90 day period including the explosion of a 58 megaton hydrogen bomb, 4000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.

According to the National Security Archive, "pressure for testing on both sides of the Cold War line ended the moratorium and shaped the Limited Test Ban Treaty."

JFK, who reluctantly approved resumption of atomic testing by the United States on April 25, 1962, announced at American University on June 10, 1963 the resumption of negotiations.

JFK said...

"If we cannot end our differences...at least we can help make the world safe...for diversity."

The biggest snag in negotiations on limiting nuclear testing had been the reluctance of the USSR to approve inspections to verify underground nuclear tests.

The American negotiation team in Moscow, led by Averell Harriman**, carefully avoided proposing a limitation on underground testing, thus removing previous objections by the USSR.

The National Security Archive argues that while the limited treaty "eased global anxiety over fallout from nuclear tests and suggested the possibility of a new era in U.S.-Soviet relations," it signified  "a deeper failure" to curb proliferation of nuclear weapons and to provide a "check on U.S.-Soviet arms competition."

Although the treaty was limited, JFK considered it his greatest achievement as President.  It has been ratified by most nations. 

*The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed in Moscow on Aug 5, 1963, ratified by the US Senate on Sept 24, 1963, signed by JFK on Oct 7, 1963 and went into effect on Oct 10, 1963. It banned the testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, outer space and under water.  

**W. Averell Harriman (1891-1986) was born in New York City.  He established a successful Wall Street banking business and became chairman of the Commerce Dept's Business Council. WAH served as an envoy for FDR in Europe during WWII and later as US ambassador to the USSR and Britain.  

SOURCE

"Nuclear Test Ban Treaty," John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, www.jfklibrary.org/

"The Making of the Limited Test Ban Treaty, 1958-1963," William Burr and Hector L. Montford, editors, August 8, 2003, The National Security Archive, www.nsarchive.gwu.edu/

JFK Signs Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

October 7, 1963

Photo by Robert Knudsen

JFK Library Image

NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY

NUCLEAR TEST BAN AGREEMENT ANNOUNCED 51 YEARS AGO TODAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy announced on July 26, 1963, fifty-one years ago today, that an agreement had been reached in Moscow on a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty*.

The President, speaking to an evening national television audience, said:

"Yesterday a shaft of light cut into the darkness.  Negotiations were concluded in Moscow on a treaty that will ban all nuclear tests in the air, outer space and under water."

The President concluded with these words:

"Let us...step back from the shadows of war and seek out the way of peace.  And if that journey is a thousand miles, let history record, that we, in this land, at this time, took the first step."

JFK Announces Test Ban Agreement

July 26, 1963

JFK Library Photo

According to the JFK Library, work toward a nuclear test ban treaty began in May 1955 when the United Nations Disarmament Committee brought together Canada, France, UK, US, and USSR for discussions.

As a United States Senator, John F. Kennedy supported a nuclear test ban beginning in 1956.

After a moratorium on testing, the Soviet Union announced resumption and conducted 31 nuclear tests over the next 90 day period including the explosion of a 58 megaton hydrogen bomb, 4000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.

Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly on Sept 25, 1961, President Kennedy said...

"The weapons of war must be abolished, before they abolish us."

JFK, who reluctantly approved resumption of atomic testing by the United States on April 25, 1962, was able to announce in his speech at American University on June 10, 1963 that a new round of negotiations with the Soviets had begun in Moscow.

JFK said...

"If we cannot end our differences...at least we can help make the world safe...for diversity."

The biggest snag in negotiations on limiting nuclear testing going back to 1955 was the reluctance of the Soviet Union to approve inspections to verify underground nuclear tests.

The American negotiation team in Moscow, led by Averell Harriman**, carefully avoided proposing a limitation on underground testing, thus removing previous objections by the USSR.

Although the treaty was "limited" JFK considered it his greatest achievement as President.  It has been ratified by most nations. 

*The Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed in Moscow on Aug 5, 1963, ratified by the US Senate on Sept 24, 1963, signed by JFK on Oct 7, 1963 and went into effect on Oct 10, 1963. It banned the testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, outer space and under water.  

**W. Averell Harriman (1891-1986) was born in New York City.  He established a successful Wall Street banking business and became chairman of the Commerce Dept's Business Council. WAH served as an envoy for FDR in Europe during WWII and later as US ambassador to the USSR and Britain.  

SOURCE

"Nuclear Test Ban Treaty," John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, www.jfklibrary.org/

JFK Signs Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

The White House, Treaty Room

October 7, 1963

Photo by Robert Knudsen

JFK Library Image