DC RESIDENTS GRANTED PRESIDENTIAL VOTE 53 YEARS AGO TODAY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty three years ago today, March 29, 1961, the 23rd Amendment to the United States Constitution granting residents of the District of Columbia the vote in Presidential elections became law with ratification by Kansas and Ohio.
The Twenty-third Amendment states...
"The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct:
JACKIE NAMES WHITE HOUSE CURATOR
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty three years ago today, March 29, 1961, Mrs. John F. Kennedy named Lorraine Waxman Pearce of Delaware to be the first Curator of the White House.
Mrs. Pearce, a graduate of the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture, would work with the newly created White House Fine Arts Committee.
The 1st Lady, displeased with the lack of period furnishings in the mansion, launched the program of restoration.
Mrs. Kennedy sought to furnish the White House with historically correct, museum-quality pieces.
Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Pearce would jointly supervise the most extensive renovation of the President's home since following the burning of the mansion by the British during the War of 1812.
Mrs. Kennedy hosted a televised "Tour of the White House" in February 1962.
On the program, the 1st Lady displayed much of the work that had been done to achieve her goals.
OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty two years ago today, March 29, 1962, President John F. Kennedy asked Congress to create an Office of Science and Technology to be headed by Special Assistant, Jerome B. Wiesner.
Wiesner's position was created during the Eisenhower administration following the Soviet Union's successful launching of Sputnik I.
In his request, JFK wrote:
"Considering the rapid growth of federal activities in science and technology, it is imperative that the President have adequate staff support in developing policies and evaluating programs....to assure that science and technology are used more effectively....."
LAST US COMBAT TROOPS LEFT VIETNAM 41 YEARS AGO
Saigon, South Vietnam (JFK+50) On March 29, 1973, after eight years of direct intervention and just two months after the signing of a peace agreement, the last United States combat troops left South Vietnam.
7,000 Department of Defense civilian officials would remain in Vietnam to assist the South Vietnamese government.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy sent the first large contingent of American military advisers to South Vietnam.
JFK's successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, sent the first combat troops.
President Richard M. Nixon began a withdrawal of troops but also expanded the war into Cambodia and Laos.
PATTON'S THIRD ARMY TAKES FRANKFURT
Frankfurt, Germany (JFK+50) Sixty nine years ago today, March 29, 1945, General George S. Patton. led the Third Army of the United States into Frankfurt.
Frankfurt had suffered major damage from a month of bombing the year before by Allied air forces.
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty three years ago today, March 29, 1961, the 23rd Amendment to the United States Constitution granting residents of the District of Columbia the vote in Presidential elections became law with ratification by Kansas and Ohio.
The Twenty-third Amendment states...
"The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct:
A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the 12th...amendment."
Tennessee ratified the amendment on March 6, 1961 but Arkansas rejected the amendment. Nine other Southern states have never ratified the 23rd amendment.
JACKIE NAMES WHITE HOUSE CURATOR
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty three years ago today, March 29, 1961, Mrs. John F. Kennedy named Lorraine Waxman Pearce of Delaware to be the first Curator of the White House.
Mrs. Pearce, a graduate of the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture, would work with the newly created White House Fine Arts Committee.
The 1st Lady, displeased with the lack of period furnishings in the mansion, launched the program of restoration.
Mrs. Kennedy sought to furnish the White House with historically correct, museum-quality pieces.
Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Pearce would jointly supervise the most extensive renovation of the President's home since following the burning of the mansion by the British during the War of 1812.
Mrs. Kennedy hosted a televised "Tour of the White House" in February 1962.
On the program, the 1st Lady displayed much of the work that had been done to achieve her goals.
Mrs. Kennedy's White House Tour
OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty two years ago today, March 29, 1962, President John F. Kennedy asked Congress to create an Office of Science and Technology to be headed by Special Assistant, Jerome B. Wiesner.
Wiesner's position was created during the Eisenhower administration following the Soviet Union's successful launching of Sputnik I.
In his request, JFK wrote:
"Considering the rapid growth of federal activities in science and technology, it is imperative that the President have adequate staff support in developing policies and evaluating programs....to assure that science and technology are used more effectively....."
LAST US COMBAT TROOPS LEFT VIETNAM 41 YEARS AGO
Saigon, South Vietnam (JFK+50) On March 29, 1973, after eight years of direct intervention and just two months after the signing of a peace agreement, the last United States combat troops left South Vietnam.
7,000 Department of Defense civilian officials would remain in Vietnam to assist the South Vietnamese government.
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy sent the first large contingent of American military advisers to South Vietnam.
JFK's successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, sent the first combat troops.
President Richard M. Nixon began a withdrawal of troops but also expanded the war into Cambodia and Laos.
Veteran at the Vietnam Wall
Frankfurt, Germany (JFK+50) Sixty nine years ago today, March 29, 1945, General George S. Patton. led the Third Army of the United States into Frankfurt.
Frankfurt had suffered major damage from a month of bombing the year before by Allied air forces.
General George S. Patton
