John F. Kennedy

“ President, there is meeting here now a nationwide group of labor, agriculture and industry, which wants to abolish or restrict the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act. They say that it robs us of gold, robs American workers of jobs. What is your position on such a proposal?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think that their meeting here is well within their rights as citizens of the United States, and I think that we should listen to their views. This is a matter of great concern. ”

“ QUESTION: Mr. President, sir, do you have any plans for quick Federal aid for the unemployed?
THE PRESIDENT: 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 profitably take to provide the protection for the unemployed, and also to stimulate the economy.
On the immediate question, I will discuss that in the State of the Union Address on Monday.
QUESTION: Mr. President, now that the Soviets have released the RB-47 fliers, could you estimate for us the chances of you meeting with Premier Khrushchev. ”

“ I am extremely interested in making sure that every American is given the right to cast his vote without prejudice to his rights as a citizen, and therefore I can state that this Administration will pursue the problem of providing that protection, with all vigor. ”

“ President, on that subject, Press Secretary Salinger said today -- indicated today, there might be a need for a tightening on information on national security. Doesn't the policy of deterrence require that the enemy have knowledge of our strength -- of our intentions and the ability to carry them out -- and wouldn't we risk a possible miscalculation by tightening up information? ”

“ And if American interests may be damaged by those movements, or revolutions, or whatever term you want to use, we feel that this should be a matter that should be negotiated. What we are, of course, concerned about is when these movements are seized by external forces and directed not to the improving the welfare of the people involved, but towards imposing an ideology which is alien to this hemisphere. ”

“ If there is a desire for food, and a need for food, the United States would be glad to consider that need, regardless of the source. If peoples’ lives are involved, if there is a desire for food, the United States will consider it carefully. ”

“ I think the Congress should consider their views carefully, and I hope that in their consideration they will consider the whole problem of trade. And I do think we should realize that the balance of trade has been in our favor, and the gold flow would have been substantially worse if we had not had this favorable balance of trade.
QUESTION: Mr. President, in relation to the gold flow problem, the outgoing Administration has ordered a cutback in the number of American military and civilian dependents stationed abroad in the so-called hard currency nations. ”

“ The United States government is gratified by this decision of the Soviet Union, and considers that this action of the Soviet government removes a serious obstacle to improvement of Soviet-American relations.
Our deepest sympathy and understanding goes to the families of the men of the RB-47 who gave their lives in the service of their country. At the same time, I am sure that all Americans join me in rejoicing with the Olmstead and McKone families. ”

“ I may say that the United States is interested, and I think that this Administration is extremely interested, in movements in Latin America and Central America, and the Caribbean, which provide a better life for the people. ”

“ THE PRESIDENT: Well, this matter has been under discussion by the American Ambassador and Mr. Khrushchev on one occasion, and representatives of the Soviet Foreign Ministry, since this week end. The fliers were released as of two a.m. yesterday morning, but in the plane taking off there was a tire that was blown, and therefore the plane did not take off. Our last information is that it took off at 5 o'clock our time this afternoon. It will fly to Amsterdam, and then we expect the fliers to be brought to the United States tomorrow afternoon. ”

“ Well, the people in New York, the Democratic organizations in New York who are interested in the success of the Democratic Party, they have to make their judgments as to what kind of party they want to build there. ”

“ President Kennedy holds his first press conference in the State Department Auditorium, January 25, 1961. THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Won't you be seated.
I have several announcements to make, first. I have a 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 a clear American position. ”

“ I think that we are new, however, on the world scene, and therefore I felt that there would be some use in informing countries around the world of our general view on the questions which face the world and divide the world. ”

“ QUESTION: Well, I believe that you yourself agreed –
THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's why I stated that it would be well to release these polls, and that is why I said that I would be glad to release these polls. ”

“ The families, as well as the men, comported themselves in these trying times, in a way which is truly in the best traditions of the military services of the United States. Restraint in these conditions is obviously 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.
QUESTION: Mr. President, this RB-47 case was regarded by the Russians as an over-flight, although we took a different position. ”