"DEMAND DESEGREGATION OF ALL PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS"

NEGRO STUDENTS CLASH WITH POLICE IN DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) On May 14, 1963, Associated Press reports that "negro students...clashed with police and rock-throwing whites in a...two hour demonstration" here in Nashville last night.

The negro students are demanding desegregation of all public accommodations.  

Nashville mayor Beverly Briley* "continued his efforts to reach a bi-racial accord and 'preserve the peace.'"

Police made six arrests and two people were hospitalized.

*Clifton Beverly Briley (1914-1980) was born in West Nashville, TN & graduated Cumberland University Law School in 1932.  CBB served in the US Navy in WWII & as the 1st major of the newly consolidated Nashville-Davidson County metropolitan government.

He was mayor, a Democrat, from 1963 to 1975. Briley Parkway, a major Nashville thoroughfare, is named in his honor. 

SOURCE

"Racial Fights Break Out In Downtown Nashville," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 14, 1963, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Mayor Beverly Briley

Photo by Jack Corn

1967

GRAND OLE OPRY

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1780

GRAND OLE OPRY CELEBRATES 90TH YEAR 

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) WSM radio began broadcasting a new "Barn Dance" program 90 years ago today, November 28, 1925, from the National Life and Accident Insurance Company here in Music City USA.  The radio program featured a 77 year old fiddler named Uncle Jimmy Thompson.

The term "Grand Ole Opry" was not spoken on the air , however, until December 10, 1927.  The program was originally known as the "Barn Dance" but in introducing Deford Bailey, "the harmonica wizard," in 1927, emcee Walter Damrosch said:

"For the past hour, we have been listening to music from the Grand Opera.  From now on, we will present the "Grand Ole Opry".

The Barn Dance followed NBC Red Network's Music Appreciation Hour which consisted of classical music.

On June 5, 1943, the Opry moved to the RYMAN AUDITORIUM.  It would be the home of the Opry until 1974 when the move was made to the Grand Ole Opry House at Opryland USA.

Opry member Alan Jackson said...

"The ultimate dream when you're in country music is to be asked to join the Grand Ole Opry.  It's the cornerstone of country music.  I don't know if Nashville or country music would exist if it wasn't for this foundation, and I'm proud to be part of it."

SOURCE

"Grand Ole Opry To Celebrate 90 Years of Great Country Music With Nine-Month Celebration," www.opry.com/90-celebration

Ryman Auditorium

Home of the Grand Ole Opry

(1943-1974)

Nashville, Tennessee

Photo by Ryan Kaldari (2005)

JFK COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY 50 YEARS AGO TODAY

May 18, 2013

JFK COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY 50 YEARS AGO TODAY

Nashville, Tennessee (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy gave the commencement address to the faculty and graduates of VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY* here in Nashville 50 years ago today, May 18, 1963. 

               JFK Speaking at Vanderbilt
      nashvilepastandpresent.blogspot.com



Vanderbilt University, founded in 1873, was named for Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt who hoped his $1 million endowment would help heal the wounds between the North and South brought by the Civil War.

VU has an enrollment of 12,000 from all 50 states and 90 foreign countries.

In 2012, VU was ranked 17th among all universities in the United States and #1 in the fields of special education, audiology and educational administration.

Her alumni include Dinah Shore, Rosanne Cash, Amy Grant and Dierks Bentley.

              Cornelius Vanderbilt Statue
           Vanderbilt University Campus
                   Nashville, Tennessee
             Photo by John White (2011)

The President was the honored participant in the 90th commencement exercises held at Dudley Field on the university campus located just west of downtown Nashville.

More than 30,000 people attended the event with the President's address beginning at 11:10 a.m. local time.

Other guests included Tennessee senators ESTES KEFAUVER and ALBERT GORE, SR. as well as Tennessee Congressmen Richard R. Fulton, Joe L. Evans, Ross Bass, Robert A. Everett, and Tom Murray.

The day of the Vanderbilt commencement was also the 30th anniversary of the TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (TVA).  Guests included members of the Army Corps of Engineers of the Tennessee Valley.

The President began his address by thanking the Governor of Tennessee, Frank G. Clement, and the Mayor of Nashville, Beverly Briley, as well as the people of the city and state "for a very generous welcome."

JFK continued...

"Vanderbilt University...has grown from a small Tennessee university...to one of our Nation's greatest, with 7 different colleges, and with more than half of its 4200 students from outside...the state."

The President also paid tribute to the TVA, which he said...

"transformed a parched, depressed, and flood-ravaged region into a fertile, productive center of industry, science and agriculture."

JFK said that we were also acknowledging the contributions of...

 "a great Tennessee statesman, CORDELL HULL, the father of reciprocal trade (and) the Secretary of State (under FDR) who presided over the transformation of the Nation from a life of isolation...to a state of responsible world leadership."

The President also paid recognition to J. PERCY PRIEST who represented the Nashville area in Congress for 16 years and who was a former colleague.*

*Two TVA dams were in the process of construction named in honor of these two great Tennesseans, Cordell Hull and J. Percy Priest.

James Percy Priest (1900-1956) was a member of the US Congress from 1941 to 1956.  He was born in Maury County, Tennessee and was a graduate of the State Teachers College in Murfreesboro (now MTSU) and Peabody College in Nashville (now Vanderbilt).

Priest was 1 of 3 Tennessee congressmen who did NOT sign the Southern Manifesto condemning the Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954.

                            J. Percy Priest
                  Harris and Ewing Photo
               Library of Congress image


JFK said that the unchanging theme of the stories of these men...

"is that everything changes but change itself."

He added...

"We live in an age of movement and change, both evolutionary and revolutionary, both good and evil--and in such an age a university has a special obligation to hold fast to the best of the past and move fast to the best of the future."


The President continued...

"The essence of Vanderbilt is still learning.  The essence of its outlook is still liberty.  And liberty and learning will and must be the touchstones of any free university in this country.  

For liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain."

In keeping with his theme of "ask what you can do for your country", JFK urged the graduates...

"to enter the lists of public service....for we can have only one form of aristocracy in this country.  As Jefferson wrote...in rejecting John Adams suggestion of an artificial aristocracy of wealth and birth, 'It is....the natural aristocracy of character and talent.'"


The President concluded by saying:

"90 years from now, I have no doubt, that Vanderbilt....will...still be teaching the truth--the truth that makes us free and will keep us free."

                  Vanderbilt University
                   Nashville, Tennessee
             Photo by John White (2011)