Evening star., 1961-12-18
KENNEDY
President Is Encouraged
By Warm Latin Reception
Continued From Page Al


ident's plan to meet British
Prime Minister Macmillan at
Bermuda on Thursday. Mr..
Kennedy originally had intend
ed to come to Palm Beach from
Bermuda on Friday for a
Christmas vacation and still
expects to do so, Mr.. Salinger
said.
The press secretary also said
he believed Mr.. Kennedy would
60 through with his news con-
ference scheduled for Wednes-
day. No hour has been set.
Mr.. Kennedy called Mr.. Sal
niger and another aide, Ken
meth O'Donnell, into his plane
compartment at GAS am. to
tell them he had decided to get
off with Mrs. Kennedy. who
planned all the time to join
their children on the way back
from Bermuda and set up house
for the vacation.
The Kennedys are staying at
the borrowed home of retired
Col. and Mrs. Michael Caption
Paul, friends of the Presidents
father and mother, former Am
baSSador and Mrs. Joseph P.
Kennedy.
: Mr.. Kennedy had "a desire
to stay under the sum-" Mr..
Salinger said.
No Back Trouble
.Mr. Salinger said Mr.. Ken
nedy is suffering no trouble
from his back. which caused
him to unedrgo a critical Sc
ries of operations in the mid
sos when he was a Senator.
Mr.. Kennedy felt the cold
when he was in San Juan.
Puerto Rico, last Friday and
Srit got a little worse" Mr.. Sa-
linger said.
= He said Mr.. Kennedy had not
complained of the 8,600-foot
altitude in Bogota. but the
PRESIDENT spoke more slowly
than he often does when he
addressed a dinner given by
Colombian President and Mrs.
Alberto Lleras Camargo last
night.
: At West Palm Beach. where
his father was awaiting the
President and First Lady this
morning. Mr.. Kennedy walked
directly down the ramp to the
car. He stepped somewhat gin
gerly and seemed weary-which
would have been normal under
any circumstances after the
firing journey.
The Kennedys had taken off
from Bogota at LOT am. and
made scheduled refueling
stop at Ramey Air Force Base
in Puerto Rico.
The President was laid up
for a day or so by a viral in
fection last June. 1t struck him
Just as he was getting back on
his feet from a back strain
which put him on crutches.
Mr.. Salinger said Mr.. Ken
redy had not been affected by
Rogotas 8,600-foot altitude.
The presidential plane
touched down here at 1928 a m,
two hours later than originally
scheduled.
The KennedyS' whirlwind
"trip to the upper tier of South
America was an obvious per-
sonal success. An enthusiastic
greeting at Caracas, Venezuela,
where leftists had made violent
attempts to incite anti-United
States demonstrations, and an
overwhelming reception at Bo-
gotta, Colombia, treasured Mr..
Kennedy.
Puerto Rico had reacted as
expected on Friday at the start
Of the weekend journey, with
more than 100000 exuberant
spectators on the streets of San
Juan cheering the President.
Pleased by Welcome
Although the success of his
Alliance for Progress hinges
primarily on the good will and
Cooperation of governments
in power, Mr.. Kennedy was
openly gratified by his well
come from the people in
Caracas and Bogota.
Half a million or more Co.
lombians lined country roads
and jammed Bcgota's streets
yesterday to cheer the Ken
riedys. Colombian officials
called the shouting, waving,
ffower-strewing, surging DEM
onstration, the greatest by far
in their capitals history.
People swarmed about the
presidential car at one point,
waving United States and Co.
lombian flags. For a moment
the driver had trouble getting
the car through. Nowhere was
there any sign of hostility.
The Kennedys' reception in
Caracas on Saturday and their
sendoff yesterday contrasted
dramatically with the trepida-
ton felt that pro-Castro ele-
rnents and groups hostile to
Venezuelan President Romulo
Betancourt would cause grief.
Mr.. Betancourt's government
used an estimated 5000 troops
and police to scare off trouble
makers. Perhaps a quarter of
a million Venezuelans turned
out to cheer and wave at the
Kennedys.
Two Points Made