HERITAGE FOR THE PEOPLE

e [Music] what was unbelievable was sorrowfully [Music] believed by a bullet fired by a single man the president was killed and the entire nation was wounded [Music] I would I'd like to say a few words about the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library many of you visit other presidential libraries and know about the custom of establishing libraries to house the papers and memorabilia of every president when he leaves the White House my husband had looked forward to retiring to his library at the end of his time in Washington and making his headquarters there as President Truman does in Independence that is why he chose the site for the library along the Charles River in Boston near the scenes of his own youth at Harvard and in the midst of the varied educational community of Eastern Massachusetts he wanted the library to play an ongoing role in preparing young men and women for lives of Public Service he visualized it as a Vital Center of education and exchange and thought almost all of what the president and his family bring into the White House and collect there while they make it their home leaves the White House with the passing of power while it is true that many personal belongings of the presidents are enshrined in their former homes beautiful houses such as Mount Vernon monachello and as laor for many years there was no one place where people could go to see all the things representative of a particular president and his administration not only personal objects but important papers of State treaty and speeches the year 1939 marked a change in this pattern a joint resolution of Congress established the Franklin D Roosevelt library located on the 33 Acre Site in Hyde Park New York near the final resting place of the president and Mrs Roosevelt and not far from the Roosevelt ancestral home on the second floor in the president's bedroom is his wheelchair rarely photographed looking somehow un accustomed to disuse at this desk the president wrote many of his famous speeches such as the one he addressed to the University of Virginia on this 10th day of June 1940 the hand that held the dagger has struck it into the back of its neighbor from earliest childhood Franklin Roosevelt was an avid collector of everything ship models Marine paintings books manuscripts and [Music] stamps his room recalls a vivid picture of the man we remember it has been kept exactly as it was on the occasion of his last [Music] visit like every world leader FD was the subject of both serious study and caricature this one of his favorites was unveiled at the 1940 grid iron dinner in Washington within the complex of hman Museum are all the elements required to keep alive the image of a great man December 7th 1941 a date which will live in infamy the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by Naval and Air Forces of the Empire of Japan the full text of this film speech as well as many others of each Administration has been made available through the resources of the national archives in 1955 the Congress took a second and most important step known as the presidential libraries act and under it was established the Harry EST Truman Library at Independence Missouri a mural painted by Thomas Hart Benton dominates the lobby in this book near the entrance are listed the many generous citizens who financed the library and then donated it to the federal government in 1957 the hall way leading from the office to the exhibit room is lined with gifts received by the former president gem encrusted swords were favorite Gifts of foreign heads of [Music] state this is what the President's oval-shaped White House Office looked like during his administration on the wall hangs a certificate of election in 1922 to his first public office a county judgeship on the other side of this sign is a legend for visitors with dubious propositions it says I'm from Missouri Harry Truman's presidential years include the era of the atomic bomb the beginning of the Cold War and the establishment of the United Nations the United Nations has been launched on its career it must succeed I know it will succeed before Us Now lies an era in which the power of atomic energy has been released that age will either be one of complete Devastation or one in which new sources of power will lighten the labors of mankind and increase the standard of living all over the world the archives at Independence lure historians biographers and Scholars from many nations a scant 150 mil separates independ dependence Missouri from abalene Kansas site of the Eisenhower Center turned over to the federal government in May of 1962 it includes the museum the Eisenhower Family Home and the Dwight D Eisenhower Library the Eisenhower Library is a working headquarters for President Eisenhower on his frequent visits to abine directly across the courtyard is the Eisenhower Museum in both the museum and Library exhibit areas are displayed MOS and Gifts acquired during a memorable career this conference table from England was used by General Eisenhower and his staff while planning details of the Normandy invasion the sweeping mural and the lobby walls depicts a career that led from Soldier to educated to Statesmen never before in history has so much hope for so many people been gathered together in a single organization your deliberations and decisions during these somber years have already realized part of those hopes only 3 months after dedication of the Eisenhower Library the Herbert Hoover Library came into being on the outskirts of the village of West Branch Iowa Museum collect ction and research facility are combined here along with the faithful reproduction of his White House Office the Hoover inaugural medal cast for the 31st president hangs near the many honors bestowed upon the man who dedicated his life to public service and education his Keen interest in children led to the establishment of many boys clubs Across the Nation this concern for youth also promp the Hoover missions to Russia and so many other countries in the grip of famine brought on by the destruction of War all Europe is cold their food supply of course is below normal and the suffering is intense we must try to prevent starvation in other nations we cannot escape the obligation to use our every resource to prevent starvation here are a few of the tokens of thanks from the children of Belgium from the people of Russia and the people of Germany his many foreign missions led to the establishment of the Hoover institution of War Revolution and peace at Stanford University in Herbert Hoover's words the institution is not merely a library through its staff for research and publication it adds to the knowledge of History it illuminates the dangers that surround us it points out paths to freedom and peace and to the safe growth of the American way of life Statesman educator humanitarian the many faces of a great American will live on in his Presidential Library soon with your help on this site a fifth presidential Library will become a reality it will never be a dead Place merely housing relics and papers of the past that would not be fitting for John Kennedy who was so intensely involved in life it will grow and change with the times now he will not see the library to be erected in his name but his parents and brothers and sisters and I all look on it as his memorial we want a beautiful building rise along the banks of the Charles when that building is completed it will be turned over to the government and will become the property of the people of the United States forever my husband believed so strongly that one's aim should not just be the most comfortable life possible but that we should all do something to write the wrongs we see and not just complain about them we owe that to our country and our country will suffer if we don't serve her he he believe that one man can make a difference and that every man should try that is why I know that the library will be the best Memorial of all the one which would have pleased him most for it will be an institution which enlists Young Americans and young people everywhere in the understanding and practice of democratic political life and service you will now see some exerpts from the many films of the president which will be available to scholar students and visitors at the [Music] library here the people of free Democratic Mexico came together to welcome the 35th President of the United States to welcome their neighbor John Fitzgerald Kennedy oh [Applause] oh June 1962 the heart of Mexico City Mayor de where the sounds of history and the making Echo and re-echo with the sounds of Mexico's ancient past [Music] [Applause] [Music] me L let me just [Applause] say I want to express the thanks of all of us to you for having us here today occasionally universities are regarded as dangerous places for presidents and we are grateful to you for your warm welcome to all of us on this occasion every one of us will go home with the most profound impression of what a strong vital people can accomplish and I think that this journey but this journey to Costa Rica has illuminated the minds of 180 million people of what a great opportunity and privilege we have to be Associated together in our common [Applause] cause via Costa Rica Anda Costa R mucho Gracia [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] we oh no [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] six presidents of the ismos reaffirmed the idea of the Declaration of Central America president orick of Costa Rica said it another way a new generation is arising here they are the men of Latin America convinced that the revolution has not been wasted it has only begun [Music] president duu Buon his wife and the members of his party arrived at the White House for a state dinner given in their honor by President and Mrs Kennedy oh [Applause] every president since Thomas Jefferson has lived in the White House which is part of the heritage of the American people associated with the memory of Great Men and great events in the history of the Republic [Applause] this statue of Andrew Jackson popular hero and president of 135 years ago faces the front of the White House where president Bui spent many hours in private conversation with President Kennedy they discussed projects of economic cooperation between the two countries especially in agriculture fisheries and Regional developments they discussed International problems particularly the current situation in Africa below the center President Kennedy said from our talks I've gained more knowledge and understanding of the problems facing your country and a deeper comprehension of the compelling forces that are shaping the new relationships among African States [Music] [Applause] the [Applause] [Music] on June the 26th a short distance from the wall and overlooking the East the people of West Berlin welcomed a visitor the president of the United States of America oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] he [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] thank you [Applause] there are many people in the world who really don't understand or say they don't what is the great issue between the Free World and the Communist [Music] World let them come to Berlin there are some who say there are some who say that communism is the wave of the future let them come to Berlin and there are even a few who say that it's true that communism is an evil system but it permits us to make economic progress l z not Berlin in common let them come to Berlin Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect but we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in to prevent them from leaving us while the wall is the most obvious and Vivid demonstration of the failures of the Communist system for all the world to see we take no satisfaction in it for it is as your mayor has said an offense not only against history but an offense Against Humanity separating families dividing husbands and wives and brothers and sisters and dividing up people who wish to be joined together freedom is indivisible and when one man is enslaved all are not [Applause] free all all free men wherever they may live are citizens of Berlin and therefore as a free man I I take pride in the words isbin beina I [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] h [Music] h [Applause] oh