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Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-235
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of October 31, 1963 (News Conference 63). During this press conference President Kennedy answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including troop reductions in Europe and Vietnam, the resignation of Secretary of the Navy Fred Korth, civil rights, and the 1964 Presidential race.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-217-001
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks to members of the United Negro Colleges Development Campaign in the Rose Garden of the White House. In his remarks the President identifies education as a catalyst for social change and crucial to the development of the nation's future leaders.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-215
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of September 12, 1963 (News Conference 61). The President begins the press conference with a statement on the importance of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and urges the Senate to pass the legislation. He goes on to announce that in the previous two weeks, schools in 150 Southern cities were desegregated with little difficulty. Following these statements the President answers questions on a variety of topics including the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, Vietnam, Cuba, and civil rights.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-210
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of August 20, 1963 (News Conference 60). The President begins the press conference with a statement urging the House of Representatives to pass the Mutual Defense and Assistance Bill of 1964, stating that the foreign aid program is essential to the strength of the free world. Following this announcement the President answers questions on a variety of topics including the four safeguards proposed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to protect the country under the limited language of the Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), the upcoming civil rights march in Washington D.C., atmospheric nuclear testing, British Guiana, and legislation.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-208
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of August 1, 1963 (News Conference 59). The President begins the press conference with a statement on the importance of education and urged parents and members of the community to help children stay in school. Following this announcement the President answers questions on a variety of topics including the nuclear test ban treaty, underground testing for nuclear weapons, miscegenation laws, civil rights demonstrations, and the second anniversary of the Alliance for Progress.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-205
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of July 17, 1963 (News Conference 58). The President begins the press conference with an update on the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty negotiations occurring in Moscow between the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union, and expresses satisfaction at their progress. He then announces the preliminary budget results for fiscal year 1963 and urges a reduction and revision of taxes in order to further boost the economy. Following the announcements the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the space program, Cuba, civil rights demonstrations, and the current economic state of the country.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-194-001
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s radio and television address on civil rights. In his speech the President responds to the threats of violence and obstruction on the University of Alabama campus following desegregation attempts, explaining that the United States was founded on the principle that all men are created equal and thus, all American students should be allowed to attend public educational institutions without the presence of military force, regardless of race. He also discusses how discrimination affects education, public safety, and international relations, noting that the country cannot preach freedom internationally while ignoring it domestically. The President asks Congress to enact legislation protecting all Americans' voting rights, legal standing, educational opportunities, and access to public facilities; but recognizes that legislation alone cannot solve the country's problems concerning race relations.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-192-001
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s address at the United States Conference of Mayors held at the Hawaiian Village Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii. In his speech the President states that although federal and state legislation may improve civil rights, community leadership is crucial because of the comprehensive nature of race relations, which effects housing, employment, education, and local economies. He proposes five courses of action for mayors to improve race relations in their cities: establish a biracial Human Relations Committee, ensure the constitutionality of local practices, follow non-discriminatory employment practices for municipal workers, create a special campaign to lessen unemployment by reducing school drop-outs among both races, and enact equal opportunity ordinances concerning housing, employment, and access to public facilities.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-191-001
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s address at the San Diego State College graduation ceremony held at the Aztec Bowl in San Diego, California. In his speech the President explains the importance of education as the basis for a free society and discusses the necessity to improve state and federal policies in order to ensure equal educational opportunities for all citizens regardless of race or economic station.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-186
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of May 22, 1963 (News Conference 56). During this press conference President Kennedy answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the controversial integration at the University of Alabama, the 1963 Wheat Referendum, the 1964 Presidential election, troops in Vietnam, foreign aid, and the progress of the nuclear test ban proposal.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-184-002
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks for radio and television regarding the renewal of racial strife in Birmingham, Alabama. In his address the President condemns the bombings, rioting, and general violence of the previous evening and calls for all Birmingham citizens to put an end to the strife. The President also announces that the government will do what is necessary to preserve the peace and that, if needed, the Alabama National Guard is ready for service.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-181
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of May 8, 1963 (News Conference 55). The President begins the press conference with a statement concerning recent civil rights issues and demonstrations in Birmingham, Alabama, and urges leaders on both sides of the issue to continue their cooperative efforts to achieve equality. Following this statement the President answers questions from the press on a variety of topics including the situation in Birmingham, Alabama; desegregation of the University of Alabama at Huntsville; a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Pearson; agricultural legislation; tax cuts; and the forthcoming GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) meeting at Geneva.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-108-004
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks to new participants in the Plans for Progress equal opportunity program in the East Room of the White House.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-143-008
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks in the White House East Room upon the signing of The Joint Statement on Union Program for Fair Practices by Vice President Lyndon Johnson and the presidents of several labor unions. In his speech President Kennedy discusses the development of the American labor movement, and commends his audience for their pledge to confront the issue of discrimination in their unions.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-132-002
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s radio and television address to the nation regarding desegregation and racially motivated violence at the University of Mississippi. In his speech President Kennedy regrets the necessity for any action by the federal government, but explains that the freedom to disagree with the law does not include the freedom to disobey it. The President calls upon the citizens of Mississippi to allow student James Meredith an equal opportunity for education and to preserve law and order by upholding their tradition of honor and courage.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-128-002
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks recorded for a ceremony commemorating the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation held at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. In his speech President Kennedy discusses the progress concerning racial relations since the 19th century, but reminds his audience that the Emancipation Proclamation was the beginning of the struggle towards absolute equality, and much remains to be done to eliminate segregation and discrimination.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-021-004
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks at the first meeting of the President’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity (later known as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) held in the White House Cabinet Room. In his speech President Kennedy explains the committee’s mission to create and enforce policies to end employment discrimination.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-168-002
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks to legislative and civil rights leaders of the International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers (IUEW) of the American Federation of Labor, Congress of Industrial Organization (AFL-CIO). In his speech the President commends the IUEW-AFL-CIO for the economic support of its members, support for free trade, and its fight for civil rights.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-161-006
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks at the swearing-in ceremony of former Governor of Pennsylvania David L. Lawrence as Chairman of the President’s Committee on Equal Opportunity in Housing held in the Cabinet Room of the White House.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-159-006
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks to participants signing the Plans for Progress equal opportunity agreements in the White House State Dining Room. In his speech the President commends the participants for their efforts and discusses how signing the agreement is a beginning to more comprehensive efforts to ensure equal employment opportunities.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-159-002
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s remarks at the 50th anniversary luncheon of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority held at the International Inn in Washington, D.C. In his speech the President congratulates the sorority on their anniversary and explains the necessity for all Americans to have equal opportunities for education.
Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-048
Sound recording of the President’s News Conference of August 30, 1961 (News Conference 16). President Kennedy begins the press conference by congratulating officials and residents of Atlanta, Georgia for the orderly manner in which four high schools were desegregated. He announces that the Foreign Ministers of France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and West Germany (Federal Republic) would be meeting on September 14, 1961 to consult about the situation in Berlin and the appointment of General Lucius Clay as his personal representative in Berlin. The President then reads the text of his message to the conference of unaligned states scheduled to convene in Belgrade on September 1, 1961. Following the announcements the President answeres questions from the press on a variety of topics including the situation in Berlin, United States-Soviet relations, and steel prices.