Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1961-02-18
Kennedy Warns
Nation Of Tide Of
World Crises

American domestic problems
"pale when placed beside" the
"harsh enormity" of the foreign
crises facing us in the next four
years, Pres. John F. Kennedy told
Congress in his first State of the
Union message.
Breaking sharply with former
Pres. Eisenhower's estimate that
in the past eight years the United
States has forged ahead under a
constructive foreign policy" Ken
nedy told Congress that in every
principal area of crisis "the tide
has been running out and time has
not been our friend"
"The news will be worse before
it is BETTER" the President warned.
"And while hoping for the best,
we should prepare ourselves for
the worst"
Kennedy's bleak statements on
our foreign relations problem oc-
cupied more than half of a rela-
lively brief 4,600-word message
that he delivered in person.
Meeting published charges that
he painted black picture so as to
claim credit for any improvement
and to lay blame for failure on the
LEGACY" he inherited from Eisen-
hover, Kennedy told his news con-
ference two days later:
"My statement stands as my
view of the problems facing the
United States at home and abroad.
To the best of my ability, it is an
accurate presentation. Anyone who
thinks that it was laid on thick for
political reasons is making Sc
rious mistake"
On domestic issues, Kennedy be-
gan his message with a blunt
statement that "the American
economy is in trouble" with the
heritage of an incomplete recov-
cry" from the 1858 recession and
a new recession now seven months
old.
eve cannot afford to waste idle
hours and empty plants while
awaiting the end" he declared.
"This Administration does not in
tend to stand helplessly by"
He promised series of special
messages within t next two
weeks on specific proposals "to
show the world what free econ
omy can do-to reduce unemploy-
ment, to put unused capacity to
work, to spur new productivity, to
foster higher economic growth"
On the relatively recent problems
involving a gold outflow and a
deficit in balance of payments, the
President pledged that his Admin
istration would not devalue the
dollar, would not fall back on ere
strictive trade policies" or weaken
our (world) commitments" but
would seek to lease our dollar out
lays abroad" ~--~ F.
This objective would be sought,
he said, without placing the full
burden" on the families of service
men abroad, large numbers OF
whom had been ordered by Eisen-
hover to return home. In his news
conference, he announced revoca-
ton of the previous order.
Our Greatest Challenge
Kennedy said that he would
"build on" the budget estimates of
expenditures and revenues proposed
by Eisenhower, although his eco
nomic advisers doubted that the
tax revenues estimated by the pre-
vious Administration would be
reached.
He said his own expenditure pro-
grams would not "of and by them
selves unbalance" the Eisenhower
budget but that "our national
household is cluttered with unfin-
ished and neglected tasks and I'VE
will do what must be done"
The President, nevertheless
warned that "our greatest chal-
lenge" is to help meet the needs OF
"neutralist" and emerging nations
and that "our first great obstacle
lies in the Soviet Union and Com
munist China.
No man entering the presidency
could fail to be staggered, ne
said by realizing that "each day
we draw nearer the hour OF max
imum danger"
In Asia, Africa and Latin Amer