NARA Collection jfk-3 — Collection jfk-3

This folder consists of correspondence between the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, and individuals and organizations both known and unknown to the President. Materials are mainly expressions of and responses to public opinion. Of note are letters, newspaper clippings, a bill and a report from American Veterans (AMVETS) seeking the President's support on legislation (H.R. 44) to authorize funds for a USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii; and materials relating to space exploration and the American Astronomical Society.

Pamphlet titled, "A National Plan to Combat Mental Retardation," containing a statement by President John F. Kennedy on mental retardation and announcing the formation of the President's Panel on Mental Retardation.

This file contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning President Kennedy's address to the 18th General Assembly of the United Nations. In his speech the President discusses the recently signed treaty banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests (later known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty or Limited Test Ban Treaty), remarking that peace may be attainable when two nations with incompatible ideologies negotiate with each other. The President famously asks, "Space offers no problems of sovereignty…Why, therefore, should man's first flight to the moon be a matter of national competition?" President Kennedy also explains that the task of maintaining peace and decreasing global tension must be shared by all nations. He proposes ways for the United Nations to increase and improve their efforts in developing countries, specifically focusing on health, human rights, agriculture, communication, and the environment. Materials in this folder include drafts by Special Assistant to the President and speechwriter Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., a press copy, and a reading copy of the speech with handwritten notations by the President, in addition to memoranda from Schlesinger and Adlai Stevenson, Ambassador to the United Nations.

This folder contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning President Kennedy's address at the 1963 commencement ceremony for American University held at the John M. Reeves Athletic Center in Washington, D.C. In his speech the President asks the graduates to re-examine their attitudes towards peace, the Soviet Union, and the Cold War, famously remarking, "If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can make the world safe for diversity." The President also announces that he, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan have agreed to hold discussions concerning a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. Finally, he explains that the United States will not conduct atmospheric nuclear tests on the condition that other countries uphold this same promise. Materials in this folder include various memoranda, a draft by Special Counsel and speechwriter Theodore Sorensen, a press copy, a reading copy with handwritten notations by the President, and a mimeographed copy of the speech, in addition to telegrams, a program for the ceremony, a copy of the spring edition of American University's Lodestar, and a summary of foreign press reactions to the address.

This folder contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning President Kennedy's remarks at the Rice University Stadium in Houston, Texas concerning the nation's efforts in space exploration. In his speech the President discusses the necessity for the United States to become an international leader in space exploration, and famously states, "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard." Materials in this folder include a draft by Special Counsel and speechwriter Theodore Sorensen, press copies, and a reading copy of the speech. Of note are several items with handwritten notations by the President.

This item is a press copy of President John F. Kennedy's remarks at the Rice University Stadium in Houston, Texas concerning the nation's efforts in space exploration. In his speech, the President discusses the necessity for the United States to become an international leader in space exploration, and famously states, "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."

This file contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning President Kennedy's address at the University of California's 94th Charter Day held at Memorial Stadium at the school's Berkeley campus. In his speech the President discusses the important role education plays in intellectual and political leadership, and addresses the recent decision between the United States and the Soviet Union to seek agreements on joint exploration of space. Materials in this folder include drafts by Special Counsel and speechwriter Theodore Sorensen, a press copy, and reading copies of the speech, in addition to a program for the Charter Day ceremony, a memorandum concerning humorist Finley Peter Dunne's representation of honorary degrees, and a commemorative booklet published by the University of California at Berkeley.

This file contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning President Kennedy's remarks at the 1962 Yale University graduation ceremony. In his speech the President thanks the University for the honorary degree bestowed upon him, and discusses three areas of domestic concern where the prevalence of myth dangerously impedes progress: fiscal policy, confidence in an administration, and the concept of "big government." Materials in this folder include various memoranda of suggested talking points, a draft by Special Assistant to the President and speechwriter Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., a press copy, and a reading copy of the speech with handwritten notations by the President, as well as a luncheon menu, program for the commencement exercises, and an additional transcript of the speech published by Yale University.

This folder contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning President Kennedy's address at the Inaugural Anniversary Dinner. In his speech the President refers to his inaugural address to discuss the federal deficit and the strength of Democratic candidates in the 1962 Congressional campaigns. Materials in this folder include a draft with handwritten notations by the President and a press copy of the speech.

This file contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning President Kennedy's address to the American Society of Newspaper Editors held at the Statler-Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. In his speech President Kennedy addresses the purpose of American intervention abroad, touching on the Bay of Pigs incident that occurred in Cuba four days prior. Materials in this folder include a press copy and a reading copy of the speech.

This folder contains materials collected by the office of President John F. Kennedy's secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, concerning President Kennedy's address to the Oireachtas Éireann, the national parliament of Ireland, at Leinster House in Dublin, Ireland. In his speech the President discusses the historic relationship between Ireland and the United States, describes the numerous contributions to society made by Americans of Irish descent, and commends the representatives on Ireland's social, political, and economic advancements following the Famine. President Kennedy also explains the necessity for cooperative international relations in an increasingly global society, famously noting, "The supreme reality of our time is our indivisibility as children of God and the common vulnerability of this planet." Materials in this folder include various memoranda, a draft, a press copy, and a reading copy of the speech, and press releases concerning the President's presentation of the flag of the 69th New York Volunteers Irish Brigade to the Irish people. Of note are several items with handwritten notations by the President.

This item is a reading copy with handwritten notations of President-elect John F. Kennedy's address to the Massachusetts Legislature at the Massachusetts State House in Boston. In this speech, given eleven days prior to his inauguration, the President-elect quotes John Winthrop's "city upon a hill" sermon and highlights four qualities that he hopes to bring to his presidency: courage, judgment, integrity and dedication.