davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23
Vital Interest
In Space

Mr.. Kennedy followed the
United States efforts to con-
quer space closely.
The Russians, who had pion-
eered In space exploration, had
sent two men into space, one
on q 17-orbit mission, before
1t. Col. John H. Glenn boosted
American morale by circling
the earth three times on Feb.
2, 1862. He was followed that
same year by 1t. Cmdr. NAL
colin Scott Carpenter Of the
Navy who made another
triple round the-earth flight
on May 5.
On October 8 Navy Cmdr.
Walter M. SchirTa Jr. orbited
the earth six times. But be-
fore he did so the Russians had
sent two men into twin orbits,
one for four days and the other
for six.
The longest American space
flight ended on May 16, 1868.
It was a 22-orbit 34-hour flight
by Air Force Maj. Gordon
Cooper.
Mr.. Kennedy called it "a
great achievement for our So
ciety and q great achievement
for free men and women"
Peace has q victory as well
as war;" he said, land this
was one Of the victories for
the human spirit today"
This achievement was coun-
tered by Russia the following
month. The Russians sepa-
rately launched q man and q
woman, first Of her sex into
space. The man circled the
globe more than 81 times in
119 hours, the woman orbited
48 times in II hours.
Mr.. Kennedy had expressed
hope that the United States
would land on the moon by
1870. He suggested that Russia
and the United States make a
joint expedition but Russia re-
jected the idea.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23
Adenuuer
Visits President

With the Cuban crisis still
simmening, West Germany
Chancellor Konrad Adenauer
flew to Washington to confer
with Mr.. Kennedy on the Berlin
problem. It was the aged AIDE
nauer's third visit to the young
President and during each the
Berlin issue dominated the dis
cusSions.
The divided city Of West and
East Berlin had been a thorn
since the end of World War II.
Mr.. KhruShchev called West
Berlin. showplace Of the Free
World surrounded by commu-
nism. a bone that must come
out of the Russian throat. He
threatened to sign a separate
peace treaty with East Ger
many and turn over access to
West Berlin to the East Ger
man Communist government.
The East Germans whom the
Western powers did not recog-
nize, said the city should be
theirs.
MFR. KhruShchev stepped up
his offensive by questioning the
inviolability of Western air
access to Berlin. The West in
sisted on. its right to unre-
stricted use of the air corridors
between West Germany and
West Berlin.
The SovietS charged the
United States with airlifting
Saboteurs and spies into West
Berlin for action against East
Germany and other Soviet bloc
nations. In replying. to this
charge, the White House said
in a statement:
THE United States must
serve a solemn warning to the
Soviet Union that any inter-
ference by the Soviet govern
ment or its East German re-
gime with free access to West
Berlin would be an aggressive
act for the consequences of
which the Soviet government
would bear full responsibility. I"
Throughout the spring and
summer Of 1862 Mr.. Kennedy
issued warnings to Mr.. Khru-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23

Cuba remained q problem.
Cuban exileS in the United
States worked necessarily for
the release Of loved ones cap
tured during the Inflated in
vasion Of 1861. An effort to
ransom the prisoners failed
because of Mr.. Castro's ex-
orbitant demands.
Finally, through private ne
gotiations conducted with
Castro by James B. Donovan,
a New York lawyer skilled in
mdercover negotiations, an
other ransom of privately do
mated drugs and baby food was
agreed upon and lib impris-
oned Cuhans were flown to
Miami Just before Christmas,
1852.
Mr.. Kennedy greeted the re-
turned men in a ceremony In
the Orange Bowl. Accepting
the invasion flag. which the
men brought back from prison
the President declared: IT car
assure you that this flag will
be return to this brigade in q
free Cuba"
Early in 1868 administration
critics, spearheaded by United
States Senator Kenneth B,
Heating. Republican. Of New
York. charged that Russian
troops still were maintaining
and guarding medium-range
missile sites they had previous
ly constructed in Cuba.
The Defense Department, in
reply, publicly exhibited aerial
photographs pu1portedly show
ing how the Russians had de-
stroyed their intermediate and
medium-range sites.
Mr.. Kennedy. at a news con-
ference. acknowledged there
still is a body Of Soviet military
equipment and technicians" in
Cuba, but he disclosed the
United States and Russia were
discussing the possibilities OF
withdrawal. Later the Kremlin
advised 1t was withdrawing
more Of its troops from the
island.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23
Bombing
Skaters Peace

The situation simmered as
progress was sought through
biracial talks. But the peace
was shattered on September II
when q bomb exploded in the
Sixteenth Street Baptist
Church during a Sunday School
session. Four Negro girls we're
killed and % other persons
were injured. The bombing cli-
NAKED the first week of token
Indignation Of three white
schools.
In the midst Of the Birming-
ham trouble. the Kennedy ad-
ministration also tangled with
Alabama's Gov. Wallace over
the admission Of two Negro
students to the University of
Alabama. Although Gov. WAL
lace made good q threat to
stand on the school house steps
and forbid the students en-
trance, he bowed to federalized
Alabama National Guardsmen
and the students entered the
university.
The unrest spurred the Presi-
dent to send a special message
to Congress in June asking it to
help end "rancor, violence, dis
unity and national shame" BY
passing what was described as
the most sweeping civil rights
bill since Reconstruction days
The bill brimmed with weap-
ons against racial discrimina.
ton in stores, hotels and other
public places. In schools, II
jobs and polling booths. The
President called its enactment
imperative"
He chided Congress for moi
enacting earlier proposals anC
said. THE result Of continued
federal legislative inaction will
be continued. If not increased
racial strife" At the same tim,
he appealed to Negroes to reil
their demonstrations so Con
gress can freely work its will.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23
Forced Pledged
On Blockade

The days following the quar-.
antine announcement were
tense. Military forces were built
up in the Southeast. The Organ
ization Of American States met
the next day and unanimously
adopted q resolution offered by
Secretary Of State Dean Rusk
authorizing "the use Of force in
dividually or collectively" to en-
force the blockade. With that
legal backing, Mr.. Kennedy is
sued the proclamation to be-
come effective at 10 am. the
next day. Twenty-Five Russian
ships were reported en- route
to Cuba.
Meanwhile, United Nations
Acting Secretary General q
Thant asked both Mr.. Kennedy
and Mr.. Karushchev to suspend
both the arms blockade and
arms shipment for two or three
weeks pending negotiations
Mr.. Khrushchev accepted
Washington agreed to cooper
ate to avoid q conformation.
Twenty hours after the proc
lamation was issued a Russian
ship carrying oil was intercept
ed. 1t was allowed to proceed.
Tension mounted. The Krem-
lin stalled. On Friday, October
26, the State Department called
attention to the Presidents
speech in which he said If mis-
sile-site preparation continued,
further action will be justi-
fled"
At 9 pm. that night q letter
arrived from Mr.. Khrushchev.
Although not explicitly stated,
it contained an offer to with
draw the offensive weapons
under q. N. supervision in re-
turn for a guarantee the United
States would not invade Cuba.
The following day-Saturday-
a second note from Russia Of
fered to trade Cuba bases for
United States bases in Turkey.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23

John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
55th President Of the United
States, was the first American
chief executive to face the pos
sibility Of nuclear war and to
risk 1t with a show Of force
to protect American interests.
But later he succeeded in
achieving an accord with Rus
STA limiting nuclear tests.
Domestically, he was con-
fronted by q racial problem
that epitomized q contem-
porary world issue-the rela-
tionship between the black and
white races.
There were foreign prob
lens old and new during his
administration. Inherited from
previous administrations was
the Cold War with Soviet
Russia.
Despite Soviet Premier NJ
kita Khrushchev's determine
ton to rid West Berlin Of
Allied occupation troops, Mr..
Kennedy held American forces
there. He kept American troops
in Southeast Asia 10 thwart
Communist penetration in
that area.
Through economic help he
sought TO aid Latin America,
q target Of propaganda from
Cuban Prime Minister Fidel
Castro. avowed disciple Of Mr..
Khrushchev. And he acted in
similar fashion in Africa where
newly emerged nations CROPPED
their way unSteadily toward
stability. often with violence.
In Europe there was the
problem Of keeping the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization
intact-a problem enlarged by
French President de Gaulle's
announced intention not to take
direction or protection from the
United States.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23
invasion Fiosco
Hurts Prestige

Mr.. Castro's RusSian-built
military might crushed the in
vasion. Anticipated OBJECTIONS
from Castro's forces failed to
materialize. And the United
States did not come to the in
vaders' aid militarily. United
States prestige abroad plum
meted.
While the invasion was In
progress Mr.. Khrushchev
warned Mr.. Kennedy to "call q
halt to the aggression" or else
Russia would give AL neces-
sary assistance" In resisting
the invasion. But the Presi-
dent replied:
"In the event Of any military
Intervention by outside force
we will Immediately honor our
obligations under the inter-
American system to protect this
hemisphere against external
aggression"
Later, in q speech, Mr.. Ken
nedy warned Communist foes
that the United States would
and non-Communist friends
act on its own against Cuba's
Reds II United States security
vos threatened. This Is what
he did in October, 1862.
The Nations first tnkling
came Sunday, october 81. There
were reports Of tension In
washington, but newsmen
were unable to pin down the
cause.
On Monday 1t was announced
Mr.. Kennedy would address the
Nation at z pm. on a matter
of greatest urgency. Mean
while, 1t was learned that
Congressional leaders had been
summoned back to the capital
At the appointed hour a seri-
Gus, stern President could DC
seen on the television screen
without wasting words he out
lined evidence of atomic missile
sites In Cuba. He blamed So
Wet Russia, which had been
assuring the United States II
was sending only defensive
weapons to the island. Said
Kennedy:
This secret, swift and extra
ordinary build-up Of Commu-
mist missiles in an area well
known to have a special and
historical relationship to the
United States and the nations
of the Western Hemisphere is
a deliberately provocative and
unjustified change In the status
quo which cannot be accepted
by this country, If our courage
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23

shchev that the Western Allies
intended to remain In West
Berlin. He repeatedly asserted
that the United States would
stand by its pledge to defend
West Berlin.
In June, 1868 he re-empha-
sized this in a visit to West
Germany, where he was greeted
enthusiastically.
To q West Berlin throng he
described himself as "a Ber-
liner" asserting that AL free
men, wherever they may live
are citizens Of Berlin"
West Berlin was not Mr.
Kennedy's only worry. The
United States was involved
with the Communists In suct
far off places as Laos and
South Wet Nam In Southeast
Asia.
In May. 1862. Mr.. Kennedy
dispatched United States naval
air and land forces to tn,
Thailand-LaoS border becaus,
of q pro- Communist seizure o.
control Of most Of northern
Laos. The maneuver was in
tended to demonstrate United
States commitment in Thai
lands defense and to place
more troops closer to land
locked Laos.
Two months later q treaty
establishing the neutrality Of
Laos was signed in Geneva by
q 14-nation conference. Tht
treaty carried q protocol pro-
viding for withdrawal o.
foreign troops.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23
Faced Many Crises
Here and Abroad

At home. in addition to the
Indignation crisis. Kennedy be-
came embroiled with the steel
industry over q price increase
which he halted, faced q Ma
tion-wide railroad strike which
resulted in congressional ac-
ton, fought for q tax cut
which he called necessary to
spur the economy and to
avoid q possible recession and
watched avidly the United
States race into space with the
Russians.
The nuclear crisis broke in
the waning months Of his sec
ond year In office when he con-
fronted Premier Khr1shchev
with Q demand to remove Rus
sian missiles set up In Cuba
and pointing at the United
States 90 miles away.
Mr.. Kennedy ordered o naval
quarantine on such offensive
weapons being sent to the
island nation, said ships carry
ing them would be turned back
and called on Premier Khru-
shchev to withdraw the weapons
already there.
For five days the Nation and
the world waited for word from
Mr.. Khrushchev, sworn foe Of
the Free World. On Sunday.
October 20, 1862. came intense
relief. Mr.. Khrushchev an
nounced he had ordered work
stopped on missile bases. said
the missiles would be Grated
and returned to Russia and
promised that the United Ma
lions would verify the dismant-
ling.
The crisis involving Cuba was
not Mr.. Kennedy's first with
that small Caribbean nation.
Soon after he was inaugu-
rated January 20, 1861 Cuban
refugees with United States
backing invaded their homeland
in an attempt to wrest it from
Castro. The invasion was a
fiasco.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23
Underground
Tests Ordered

A United States spokesman
said the country had the capa.
city and know-how to develop
a 50-megaton bomb but had
concluded 1t was Of question
able military value. He said Mr.
Khrushchev's primary purpose
was to create terror.
After RusSia's renewal Of nu-
clear detonations. Mr.. Kennedy
announced resumption Of I'M
foreground and laboratory tests
by the United States. Such tests
do not create the hazard Of
fallout.
I'VE have no other choice In
fulfillment Of the responsible
ties of the United States to its
own citizens and to the security
Of other free nations" he said.
Meanwhile, Russia announced
1t would hold more tests If the
United States continued under
ground blasts or started atmos-
pheric explosions.
The United States resumed
atmospheric tests in April, 1862,
but only after Russia rejected a
treaty prohibiting all tests. Rus
STA promptly resumed tests in
midsummer and the United
States followed with more tests
in the autumn.
Finally in June. 1868, in a
speech at American University,
Mr.. Kennedy proposed astral
egg of peace" to-. lead the
United States and the Soviet
Union out of the vicious and
dangerous cycle" Of the cold
war. AS e first step, he said.
high ranking representatives
of the United States, Great
Britain and Soviet Russia
would meet in Moscow in a
renewed effort to agree on a
nuclear test ban. AS a demon
stration Of its good faith, he
said the United States would
refrain from atmospheric tests
so long as others did likewise.
A treaty banning nuclear
weapons tests in space. in the
atmosphere and under water
was initiated in Moscow In
September. The three nations
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23

after dawn November 2 the pal
ace fell. Diem and his brother
we're dead. Some said the
brothers committed suicide.
Others said they were assassl-
mated. The military installed a
civilian as Premier of a care
taker government.
The United States. which
considered the country vital TO
the Western defense position
in Southeast Asia and had in
vested $2.5 billion in aid and
1880 troops, watched closely.
In an assessment Of his first
year in office, Mr.. Kennedy
told q news conference that
failure to reach agreement with
the Soviet Union on q nuclear
test ban had been his greatest
disappointment. He achieved 9
limited test ban in 1868, his
third year in the White House
Nuclear testing had been Q
constant problem. In September
1851 Russia junked a three-yeal
moratorium in atomic weapons
attributing its decision to pres
sure from "imperialistic coun-
tries"
Mr.. Kennedy called the de-
ciSion utter disregard Of the
desire Of mankind for a de-
crease in the arms race"
Russia proceeded with the
tests in Central Asia between
September and November. Mr.,
Khrushchev said one blast In
the series was on the plus side
Of so megatonS a 50-megaton
blast Is equivalent to so million
tons Of INT.
This was in defiance of world
wide appeals not to test such
bomb because atomic explo-
sions in the atmosphere cause
radioactive fallout-small pol
Sonous particles which car
harm life If received in large
doses.
The Soviet action caused q
wave Of angry protest and
alarm over the danger to hui
manity that it created. The
White House denounced it as 9
device to incite fright anc
panic"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23
Racial Strife
Erupts

At home Mr.. Kenndy found
himself deep in the Civil
Rights problem from the very
start Of his administration.
In the spring Of 1861. his
first year In office. Negro and
white groups, called themselves
Freedom Riders sought to
break down bus station racial
barriers and ran into violence
in Alabama. There were incl
dents at Admission, Birmingham
and Montgomery, among 9TH
ers. The worst was at Mont
gomery.
At least 20 persons were
beaten with fists and clubs In
a bloody riot there. The riotine
around the Greyhound bus sta
ton continued for nearly two
hours before the white mob
numbering close to 1000 81
times-was broken up with tear
gas by State and city police
President Kennedy's brother
Attorney General Robert F
Kennedy, ordered several hun
dred United States marshali
. to Montgomery. The Guards
men with fixed bayonets scat
tered a bowling mob that triec
to overwhelm Federal mar
shals protecting q Negro church
mass meeting.
Gov. George c. Wallace par
ticularly blamed the marshal'
for causing the outbreak d
the church. He said he still
admired the Kennedy admin
istration but added that "tht
= President and the UniteC
States Attorney General mad
4 a mistake in this matter"
r Attorney General Kenned,
t declared, however. there woul'
\ have been IAN extremely blood
S and costly riot" in Montgomer
}. but for the presence Of tn
! marshals.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23

by fire hoses and police dogs.
More than 2.400 Negroes and
whites were jailed and two Ne
gro residences were bombed at
the heighth Of the fury. Fed
eral troops were sent to bases
near Birmingham for possible
use. The President read a
statement asserting the Gov
eminent would do all il could
TO preserve order, to protect
the lives Of its citizens and to
uphold the law Of the land.
He expressed di1nay at the
efforts Of those who would re-
place Cancellation and good viii
with violence and hate"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23
Halls Accord
As Milestone

Mr.. Kennedy hailed the &C.
cord as q significant milestone
in our efforts to maintain and
further world peace" He
said, ut is q heartening indi-
cation that difficult and al
times seemingly insoluble inter-
national problems can In fact
be solved by patient diplomacy"
Mr.. Khrushchev. sounding q
similar theme, suggested that
other unsettled international
problems, however comphcat-
ed" could be resolved In the
same spirit.
AS time went on, however,
there were indications that
Loas' coalition government OF
neutralist, right-wing and left
wind was frail and insecure.
There really was no peace.
Fighting ragged in South Wet
Nam, where the Communist
Wet Cong from the north
fought to overrun the country
and place it in Communist
hands. United States military
advisers tried to help the gov
eminent of President Ngo Dinh
Diem, but they spoke Of the
Wet Nam involvement with the
infiltrated Communist guer-
rillas in terms Of years and
millions Of dollars.
The situation became further
complicated in 1868 by a politi-
cal-religious outbreak involving
Buddhists, a majority in the
country, and the Roman Cath
ole Diem family. The Bud
-dhists, charging repressions,
demonstrated. The Diem gov
eminent raided pagodas and
jailed BuddhistS. Some Bud
dhists burned themselves to
daafh ,1ylhIirlv In nrotpSt.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-11-23
Nightmare
In Mississippi

Far worse rioting-two per-
sons were killed-occurred Sep
TENDER 30, 1862, when Negro
James H. Meredith sought to
register at the all-white Uni
versity Of Mississippi in oxford.
He finally registered with the
aid of United States marshals
and Federal troops but not
before an awful nightmare Of
tear gas and buckshot, rifle
bullets and flying bricks,
screaming hordes Of people
gone wild and blood and death.
1t was the biggest clash OF
State versus Federal power
since the Civil War. The Nation
and the world watched tenSely
as Mississippi's Gov. Ross Bar
nett sought to defy the Fed
eral Government which was
determined to uphold Federal
court orders admitting Mr.,
Meredith to the university.
Mr.. Meredith's struggle to
enter Ole Miss began 16 months
earlier. His application was re-
jected. The case moved back
and forth between State and
Federal courts. Mr.. Meredith
commended he had been refused
because of his race. A Federal
Court Of Appeals upheld his
contention.
Mr.. Meredith made four at
tempts to register at the uni
versity. On first try on the
campus, Gov. Barnett blocked
him and invoked interposition
putting himself and the
States police powers between
orders Of the Federal court and
the people of the State.
The Governor blocked a sec
ond try and 1t. Gov. Paul B.
johnson thwarted a third. The
Justice Department abandoned
a fourth attempt when Fed
eral marshals accompanying
Meredith were called back be-
cause of a possibility Of vio-
lence and bloodshed.
When marshals finally es-
corted Meredith to an apart
ment on the campus on Sum-
day, September 80, an unruly
mob Of $500 students, towns
people and out-of -towners
opened I'D with a barTage of
rifle bullets. rocks, bottles and
acid. The marShals fought back
with tear gas. Meanwhile, Mr..
Kennedy, who had made q
fruitleSs appeal for order, dis
patched federalized Mississippi
Guardsmen and
troops to the college town.
Mr.. Meredith registered the
next day and began classes
under the protection of mar
shals. They remained with him
until he graduated in August,
1868.
Gov. Barnett and 1t. Gov.
Johnson both were cited for
contempt of court for defying
the court orders to admit Mr..
Meredith. They faced possible
jail sentences and fines.
Racial strife boiled anew in
the spring and summer Of
1868, spreading to other South
ern States and some northern
cities, as Negroes demonstrated
for equal rights. Birmingham,
Ala, took the spotlight when
Negro mass demonstrations In
April and May we're countered