Universal Newsreel (1962)

[Music] 1961 was a year of international tensions compounded by crisis after crisis it was a year of riots in Cairo to protest lumumba's death it was Cuba and a red regime and Castro boast that he had always been a communist it was shamb and warfare in the Congo with that Young Nation torn aunder by civil [Music] strike 1961 was La now under the uneasy rule of a neutralist regime and it was South Vietnam battling red gorillas it was the year that the Algerian War continued to pit brother against brother this was [Music] 1961 in January John Fitzgerald Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th President of the United States and began the momentous task of guiding the nation through the critical years ahead it was a solemn ceremony as he took the oath of office and assumed the burden laid down by Mr [Applause] Eisenhower president Kennedy made made his first Venture into personal diplomacy with a trip to Europe conferring first with General deal who remained unconvinced that he can or should negotiate with Russia over Berlin Vienna was a neutral arena for a sparring match between two worlds The Men Who hold the power to write tomorrow's history met smiled and resolved no problems the dictator and the president the East and the West Constant Ally in adversity Britain received a report on his meeting from Mr Kennedy the bond between the two Nations grew stronger for a Time the very effectiveness of the United Nations was threatened when Doug hamash was killed while on a peace mission to the Congo the great Apostle of Peace had assumed his post in 1953 and brought to his work a dedication that won him International respect even from the Russians they tried to remove him but they could never question his integrity UT of Burma succeeded Mr Hamel to guide the UN during the pous times it faces man had his first great success in space when the Russians pushed a man Across the Threshold he was urri Gagarin the astronaut the Russians lionized as the first to orbit the earth it was the propaganda coup of the year after the Russian fight us plans were accelerated Commander Alan B Shepherd was sent into suborbital flight unlike the Russian Venture this took place in the white hot glare of worldwide publicity the Mercury capsule is right on course as the commander took over the controls to become the first man to guide a spacecraft 115 Mi up he went 300 miles down range right on Target and was picked up by waiting helicopters the Triumph of Alan B Shepard us space Pioneer following in Commander Shepard star studded footsteps came Captain Virgil [Music] Grom everything is a okay until the heartbreaking finale as the captain prepared to leave the capsule explosive bolts on the escape hatch let go and the Mercury is lost however the moon gets closer the line of DeMar a in the Cold War lies in Berlin West Berlin with its burgeoning Prosperity is a thorn in the side of the Reds refugees from the East escaped by the tens of thousands until the Communists in desperation threw up their wall of hate to seal off the Border in a decade more than 4 million East Germans fled their homes causing a drain on communist Germany's economy that was called no longer tolerable their answer the wall now entire families are separated their only communication a wave from a distance this is heartbreak this is the poignant drama not found in the reports of diplomats a bride in the East can only wave to her mother in the west she takes her vows in public loneliness the border is strengthened but still they escape she hangs from a secondstory window the red police try to pull her back the westerners try to free their grip [Music] [Applause] East Germans grasp any fleeting chance a guard's back is turned the Bob wire is slashed and westerners stretch forth willing hands to pull them to Asylum they gamble that a sudden rifle shot won't end their dreams that a slip won't bring disaster Freedom Is Man's most prized possession and it is only for those who love [Music] it immediately following the death of Doug homesold the United Nations assembly heard an historic address that established the policy of the Western World Mr Kennedy presented a Manifesto for peace in momentous and moving words most of them directed at the Russian delegation ladies and gentlemen of this assembly the decision is ours never have the nations of the world had so much to lose or so much to gain together we shall save our planet or Together We Shall Perish in its Flames save it we can and save it we must and then shall we earn the Eternal thanks of mankind and as peacemakers the Eternal blessing of God it was a year that shaped the future of man [Music]