davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-01-26
Sees No Danger
In TV Sessions

@. Mr.. President, there has
been some apprehension about
the instantaneous broadcasts
Of presidential press confer
ences such as this one. and
the contention being that an
inadyertent statement no
longer correctible, as In the old
days, could possibly cause some
grave consequences. Do you
feel that there Is any risk or
could you give us some thought
on that?
A. It is my UNDERSTANDING
that the statements made by
President Eisenhower were on
the record, and they may have
been q Qualification that could
have been issued afterward.
but 1t still would have been on
the record as o Qualification
SO that ! do not think that the
interests Of our country-it
seems to me they are as vel
protected under this system q,
they were under the system fol-
lowed by President Eisenhower
and this system has the ad.
vantage Of providing more di.
rect communication.
Q. Under what condition.
would you consider reopenine
diplomatic relations with Cuba
and are you considering such
10 step now7
A. Well, to take the last part
Evening star., 1961-01-26
Avoids Comment
On Khrushchev Visit.

@. Mr.. President, there have
been reports that Mr.. Khru-
shchev might come to the United
Nations General Assembly for
the resumption Of the disarma-
ment debate some time in
March. II this were to happen,
would you welcome a visit by
him to Washington for a get
acquainted meeting?
A. I have not heard officially
OF any proposal by Mr.. Khru-
shchev to come to the United
States. I have merely seen
newspaper reports, and feel
that it would be more appro-
pirate to wait until we had
some indication whether Mr.
Khrushchev is planning to
come to the United Nations.
@. Mr.. President. can you
tell us something about what
your role was. If you had one
in the release Of these flyersi
Did this come about as q con.
sequence Of some action you
took?
A. Well, this matter has beer
under discussion by the Amer.
ican Ambassador and Mr.
Khrushchev on one occasion
and representatives Of the SO.
Wet Foreign Ministry since thi,
weekend. The flyers were re.
leased as Of 2 am. yesterday
morning, but in the plane tax.
ing off there was a tire that
was blown and, therefore, thu
plane did not take off. Our last
Evening star., 1961-01-26
Moscow Talk
Was 'FriendK'

@. Mr.. President, what more
can you tell us about the Ions
conversation that Ambassador
Thompson had with Mr.. Khru-
shchev. including whether the
tone Of that conversation was
anywhere near as friendly a
that Of the messages that
Mr.. Khrushchev has sent you
A. I would say the tone was
friendly. and. Is . result Of the
conversations, as I have said,
the decision was made to re-
lease the flyers. But the con-
versations were conducted In
an atmosphere Of civility.
Q. Could you give us any
indication ct all as to what
other subjects were taken up
In addition to the release Of
the RB-47 flyers?
A. No. ] think that I will
stand on my previous state
ment.
Evening star., 1961-01-26

information Is that 1t took off
at S o'clock our time this after
noon. It will fly to Amsterdam,
and then We expect the flyers
to be brought to the United
States tomorrow afternoon.
Q. Mr.. President, one Of your
task forces recommended that
you resist any early move TO-
wards general disarmament
negotiations until Q firm and
fixed United States policy could
be worked out. What Ia your
reaction to that report and how
much time do you think 1t
might take to get q firm, fixed
United States policy?
A. Well. Mr.. McCloy has re-
sponSibility over the area Of
disarmament as well aS nu-
clear testing. He has, as I have
said. set up this committee,
advisory committee on nuclear
testing. We expect to also get
the American position clearer
on general disarmament. There
is not the same deadline that
we have been facing on the
nuclear testing, where We were
supposed to resume in early
February. But I can state that
this was q matter which was
discussed early this week by
the Secretary Of Defense and
the Secretary Of State and Mr..
McCloy. and we are preparing
Qualification Of the American
positions on this problem.
Evening star., 1961-01-26

mittee or the House Foreign
Relations Committee, II they
would like them.
@. On the larger question,
Mr.. President, about the abuse
Of executive privilege to sup
press all sorts Of information.
what is your position on that.
sir?
A. That Is q statement and
really not completely . ques-
ton.
@. Well. / believe that you
yourself agreed
A. That is why I stated that
1t would be well to release
these polls and that is why
said that I would be glad to
release these polls.
Now, II other matters come
up, we will have to make q
judgment, whether 1t is an
abuse or whether 1t Ii within
the constitutional protection
given the Executive, and
would hope that we can within
the limits Of national security
make available information tc
the press and to. the people
and I do think that 1t would
be helpful to release the polls
which were discussed last fall
Evening star., 1961-01-26

The President-Good after
noon, and be seated.
I have several announce
ments to make first.
! have q statement about the
Geneva negotiations for an
atomic test ban.
These negotiations as you
know are scheduled to begin
early in February. They are of
great Importance and we will
need more time to prepare O
clear American position, so we
are consulting with other gov
ernments, and we are asking to
have it put off until late March.
AZ you know, Mr.. John Nc
Cloy Is my principal adviser In
this field, and he has organized
Q distinguished panel Of ex-
perts headed by DR.. James Fisk
Of the Bell Laboratories, and
MIR. Salnger (Press Secretary
Pierre Salinger) will have q list
Of the names at the end Of the
conference. who are going to
study previous positions that
we have taken In this field, and
recommend to Mr.. McCloy, also
for my guidance, what our posi-
ton would be in late March
when we hope the talks will re-
sume.>
Secondly, the United States
Government has decided to in
crease substantially its contri-
button towards relieving the
famine in the Congo. This will
be done by increasing the sup
ply Of corn meal and dry milk,
by adding contributions Of rice,
and by airlifting 1000, tons of
food supplies. seeds. and hospi-
tai supplies from q number Of
African nations to the Congo.
It is the intention Of the
United States Government to
meet fully the emergency re-
quirements Of the Congo. for
rice. corn. dry milk and other
foodstuffs in our surplus
stocks. Assurances have been
received from the United Ma
tions that with the help of this
program, the flow Of supplies
will be adequate to relieve the
distressed. The United States
Government will cooperate
fully to help the United Ma
tions prevent famine in the
Congo.
Evening star., 1961-01-26
States Purpose
OF inaugural

@. Mr.. President, your In
augural Address was unusual
in that you dealt only with
Americas position in the
world. Why. Mr.. President, did
you limit yourself to this global
theme?
A. Because the issue Of war
and peace Is involved. and the
survival Of perhaps the planet.
possibly our system. and. there
fore. this Is q matter of pri-
mary concern to the people of
the United States and the
people Of the world.
Secondly. I, representing q
new administration. think the
views Of this administration are
quite well known to the Ameri-
can people and will become
better known in the next
months.
think that we are new,
however, on the world scene,
and. therefore felt that there
would be some use in inform
ing countries around the world
Of our general view on the
questions which face the world
and divide the world.
@. Mr.. President. you have
spoken of the situation where
there are crises in the world
now. One Of these places is
Laos. Do you have any hopes
that a political settlement can
be negotiated there?
A. Well, as you know, the
British government has pre-
sented to the Soviet Union, and
to the best Of my information
an answer has not been received
by the British. q proposal to
re-eStablish the. International
Control Commission.
. We ought to know shortly
whether there is any hope that
that commission can be re-
established. AS to the general
view on Laos. this matter is of
great concern to US.
The United States Is anxious
that there be established in
Laos q peaceful country. an
independent country. not domi-
mated by either side. but con-
cerned with the life Of the
people within the. country. We
are anxious that that situation
Evening star., 1961-01-26
Will Discuss
- Aid to Jobiess

@. Mr.. President, sir. do you
have any plans for quick Fed
eral aid for the unemployed?
A. We are going to send a
message to the Congress right
after the state-of-the- Union
address on what steps we think
the Government could profit
ably take to provide the pro-
lection for the unemployed. and
also to stimulate the economy
On the immediate question, ]
will discuss that in the state
of-the- Union address on Mon
day.
@. Mr.. President. now that
the Soviets have released the
RB-47 fliers, could you estimate
for us the chances of you meet
ing with Premier Khrushchev?
A. Yes. There is no relation
ship nor has there been in the
discussion between the two
matters Therefore, there has
been no change in my previous
statement that there are nc
plans at the present time for
meeting with Mr.. Khrushchev
@. Mr.. President, will you
tolerate the continued abuse OF
executive privilege to suppress
information which is needed BY
Congress? For instance, now
that you are President, will you
direct the USIA to give the
Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee those prestige poll,
which you urged the previou.
administration to make avail
able during the campaign?
A. Well, let me say that
would have no objection at al
to polls. or the results Of the
polls being made available. and
will be delighted to check ir
and see what we can do about
making 1t available to the
1Senate Foreign Relations Com
Evening star., 1961-01-26

outgoing administration has
ordered Q cutback in the num-
Der Of American military and
civilian dependents stationed
abroad in the so-called hard
currency nations. The day be-
fore your inaugural. the out
going Defense Secretary advised
your incoming Defense Secre-
tary in the matter of urging
him that relief should be sought
as soon as possible because of
what the outgoing Defense
Secretary termed the adverse
effect Of the order on the
morale Of the military and
their families. Have you had
a chance to make up your mind
on that position?
A. Mr.. Mcnamara and Mr..
Dillon have discussed the effect
Of this order on military morale
and our military strength and
the rate Of re-enlistment, and
1t Is really o question Of deter
mining what alternative steps
can be secured which would be
less harmful. but which would
protect the flow Of gold.
I do expect to make some
reference to this matter of-gold
outflow in the state of the
Union address. and I will send
within q two-week period after
the state-of the Union address
Q message to the Congress
dealing with the gold out flow
and our recommendations for
meeting 1t. We will at that time
come to some Judgment as to
whether q more satisfactory
method Of protecting our gold
could be secured than providing
for the return Of the Americans
serving abroad in the military
I will say that our study sc
far has convinced us that the
dollar must be protected. that
the dollar can be protected in
its present value. and exchange
controls are not essential. but
IT. 10 Q most serious problem
and 1t will-he the subject Of q
message to the Congress.
@. The State of New York
gave you one Of your hand.
soonest majoritieS in the 1856
election campaign. but now the
Democrats Of New York are
rather bitterly divided ovel
leadership. As the leader Of the
Democratic Party nationally
are you going. to take some
steps to try to heal the splits
in New York;
A. Well. the people in New
York and the Democratic or.
ganizations in New York are
interested in the success Of the
Democratic Party. and the,
have to make their judgment.
as to what kind Of a party they
want to build there. 1 have
asked Mr.. Bailey. the new
chairman Of the Democratic
National Committee, to lend 9
helping hand in attempting tt
alleviate some Of the distress.
Evening star., 1961-01-26

sibility. I will give my view as
an interested citizen.
@. Mr.. President. are any
plans being made to implement
the recommendations in the
Vorhees report on the Cuban
refugee problem, and secondly,
do you plan to appoint some
body to continue Mr.. Vorhees'
work?
A. We are considering the
recommendations Of Mr.. Vor-
hees and the whole problem of
the Cuban refugees. but I do
not have any statement to make
on It at this time,
Evening star., 1961-01-26
Further Comment
On Information

@, Mr.. President, on that
subject. Press Secretary salin-
ger said today. indicated today,
there might be o need for .
tightening on information on
national security. Doesn't the
policy Of defense require that
the enemy have knowledge OF
our strength and-of our in
tentionS and the abilities to
carry them out-and wouldn't
there be q risk Of possible mis-
calculation by tightening up
informatione
A. Well. I think that the
enemy Is informed of our
strength. I think Mr.. Salinger
in his statement today ut lunch
indicated his Judgment based
on his experience 50 far. that
there has been very ample in
formation given 30 that the
enemy can make q determine =
tion as to our strength. I am
anxious that we have o maxi
mum flow Of information, but
there quite obviously are some
matters which involve the Sc
curity Of the United States,
and 1t is q matter on which the
press and the Executive should
attempt to reach q responsible
decision.
I could not make q predic-
ton about what those matters
Will be, but all of us here are
aware that, there are some
matters which 1t would not be
well to discuss at particular
times. So we will just have
to wait and try to work to-
gether and see If we can pro-
vide as much information as
we can within the limits of ma
tional security. I do not believe
that the stamp, National Secu-
rity" should be put on mistakes
Of the administration which do
not involve the national security.
And this administration would
welcome anytime that any
member Of the press feels that
we are artificially invoking
that cover. :, But I must say
that I do not hold the view
that all matters and all in
formation which is available
to the Executive should be made
available at all times. and I
don't think any member of
the press does. So 1t is a
question Of trying to work out
a solution to a sensitive matter.
@. Mr.. President, in the past
two days. Secretary of State
Dean Rusk has issued state
ments, one with your name on
1t, to the effect that this coun-
try wants to return to quiet.
private diplomacy. Could you
give us some idea of the mean
ing behind this, Mr.. President?
Are you trying to suggest that
to Khrushchev, you would like
to resort to this for the time
being without offending him or
making him 60 off the cordial
path that he is on at the pres
ent time?
A. The last part of that was
what?
O. Are you trying to suggest
Ito Mr.. Khrushchey what you
are saying in these statements,
THAT you don't want a summit
meeting now. you would like 1t
TO 60 through private channels,
and trying to do this without
offending him or getting him
off the cordial path that he is
on now?
! A. I would Just say. without
accepting the question COM
Evening star., 1961-01-26

pletely as . premise. I would
say that the Secretary Of State
Is anxious to explore with in
terested countries what chance
we have Of lessening the world
tension, which. In some areas
Of the world, Is quite high to-
night. and, therefore. there are
occasions when traditional ex-
changes between diplomats and
the countries involved are in
the national interest. That. I
think, Ii what Mr.. Rusk has
directed his attention to. I am
hopeful that from those more
traditional exchanges we can
perhaps find greater common
ground.
Evening star., 1961-01-26
Tells of Release
OF u. S. Ffers

Third, I am happy to be able
to announce that Capt. Free
man b. Olmstead. and Capt.
John r. McKone. members of
the crew Of the United States
Air Force RB-47 aircraft, who
have been detained by Soviet
authorities since July /. 1860,
have been released by the So
Wet Government. and are now
en- route to the United States.
Ths United States Govern
ment is gratified by this de-
ciSion Of the Soviet Union, and
considers that this action OF
the Soviet Government re-
moves q serious obstacle to i'm
provement Of Soviet-Americar
relations.
MY deepest sympathy and
understanding goes to the
families Of the men Of the RB-
81 who gave their lives in the
service Of their country. Al
the same time. I am sure that
all Americans Join me in re-
joicing with the Olmstead and
McKone families.
The families as well as the
men comported themselves In
these trying times in q way
which Is truly in the best ira.
ditions Of the military serv-
ices Of the United States. Re.
straint in these conditions OBJ
viouSly Is not easy. But they
can be assured that they have
contributed in large measure
to the final achievement Of the
objective which we all sought
the release Of the men.
@. Mr.. President, this RB-41
case was regarded by the Rus.
slams as an flight, al.
though we took a different DO.
sition. In the light Of this
announcement, what will be
your general policy on over.
flights and on such things q.
the U-2 case, or the o.:
flights? Do you conceive oi
circumstances which might
warrant resumption Of suct
things as the U-2 flights?
A. The Soviet government Il
fully aware Of the United State.
Government views with respect
10 the distinction between the
question Of the United State.
Air Force. RB-47 and the Incl.
dent which occurred over So.
Wet territory on May 1, 1860
involving an American U-2 TYPE
aircraft. Flights Of American
aircraft penetrating the all
space Of the Soviet Union have
been suspended since May, 1860
I have ordered that they no
be resumed. ...
Evening star., 1961-01-26
Stdtes Position
On Rules Fight

@. Mr.. President. you have
said In the past. sir, that the
President should be in the thick
Of the political battle, and I
wondered. sir. II you could tell
us what part you are playing
In the efforts to expand the
Rules Committee and whether
you feel your domestic pro-
gram, whether the success of
your domestic program In part
depends on expanding the
Rules Committee?
A. Well. the Constitution
states that each House shall be
the judge Of its own rules and
therefore, the Speaker of the
House, Mr.. Rayburn, has. been
extremely anxious that the
House be permitted to settle
this matter in its own way.
But Ii Is no secret that ]
would strongly believe that the
members of the House should
have an opportunity to vote
themselves on the programs
which we will present. That.
think. Is the reason the people
selected them to 60 to the House
Of Representatives. and to the
Senate. and selected me az
President, so that we could pre-
sent programs. and consider
programs and vote on programs
which are put forward for the
benefit OF the country:
I am hopeful that whatever
Judgment is made by the mem.
bers of the House, it will per-
NIT the members to vote or
these bills. This is a very diff.
ficult time in the life of oul
country. Many controversies
measures will be presented
Wnlcn WILL oe In controversy anC
will be debated.
But in the end, the majority
Of the members Of the House
the majority of the members
Of the Senate. l hope. will have
a chance to exercise their will
and a small group OF men will
not attempt to prevent the
members from finally lettint
their judgments be known.
For example. we have q hous.
ing bill which is going to com,
before the Congress this year
We have an aid-to-educatior
bill. We have legislation which
will affect the income of farm.
ers. Shouldn't the members O.
the House themselves. and no
merely the members Of tn,
Rules Committee, have q chanc,
to vote on those measures?
But the responsibility rest
with the members Of the House
I would not attempt in any wa!
to infringe upon that reSpor
Evening star., 1961-01-26

first, we are not considering
such . step at the present time
I may say that the United
States is interested. and / think
this administration is extremely
interested. in movements In
Latin America and Central
America. and the Caribbean,
which provide Q better life for
the people.
II American interests may
be damaged by those move
ments. or revolutions, or what
ever term you want TO use, we
feel that this should be Q mat
ter that should be negotiated.
What we are. Of course, con-
cerned about Is when these
movements are seized by ex-
ternal forces and directed not
to the improving Of the well
fare Of the people involved. but
towards imposing an theology
which Is alien to this hemis-
phere. That Is q matter Of con-
cern. particularly when that
Intervention takes the form Of
military support which threat
ems the security and the peace
Of the Western Hemisphere.
Now. I am hopeful that gov
ernmehts win be established
throughout all Of Latin Amer
lea, and governments which are
established. and I think nearly
all Of them do share the same
view that we have, to provide
in this hemisphere . better life
for the people involved; that
we are interested in that, and
we are concerned shout 1t, and
American policy will be directed
toward that end. But we are
also concerned that In the
name Of that peaceful revolu-
tion, when 1t is seized by aliens
for their purposes. it Is very
difficult for the United States
to carry on happy relations
with those countries.
So to answer your question
we have no plan at present to
resume : diplomatic relations
with Cuba because Of the fac
tors which are involved on that
island.
Evening star., 1961-01-26
Will Provide
Vote Protection

@. Does your administration
plan to take any steps to solve
the problem In Fayette County.
Tenn, where tenant farmers
have been. evicted from their
farms because they voted last
November. and now live In
tents?
A. The Congress, Of course,
enacted legislation to place
very clear responsibility on the
Executive Branch to protect
the right Of voting.
I supported that legislation,
and I am extremely interested
IN making sure that every
American Is given the right to
east his vote without prejudice
to his rights as o citizen, and.
therefore. I can state that this
administration will pursue the
problem Of providing that pro-
lection with all vigor.
@. Sir. would you please
tell US how it was possible for
you to do by executive order
what Mr.. Benson always told
US was impossible for him to
do without more legislation?
I refer to the order expand
ing the distribution Of food To
unemployed and giving them
more variety in their diet.
A. I would not attempt to
comment on Q quotation Of Mr..
Benson. and I do not think
there was any question Of our
rights in issuing the executive
order under the authorities
given us by the Constitution
and by legislative action.
I think that we are within
our rights. It is . Judgment as
to what Is the best use to make
Of the funds that are avail
able.
The funds are quite limited.
The diet which Is being pro-
vided for the people unem-
ployed is still inadequate.
Nevertheless. we have used the
funds that are available to the
maximum, and I do not think
that there is any question that
we were within our rights.
@. Could you tell us how and
when you learned that these
flyers were going to be re-
leased?
A. I learned as o result Of the
conversations which Ambassa-
dor Thompson had with the
Soviet officials. and, therefore
we were informed as to the
date and the time yesterday.
Evening star., 1961-01-26

come forward, and the United
States Is using its influence to
see that that independent coun-
try. peaceful country, uneorn-
mitted country. can be estab-
lished under the present very
difficult circumstances,