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Theodore C. Sorensen Personal Papers
TCSPP-072-008
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. National Security Files
JFKNSF-305-015
This folder contains materials regarding President John F. Kennedy's address at the commencement ceremony for American University in Washington, D.C. In his speech President Kennedy calls for a re-examination of attitudes towards peace, the Soviet Union, and the Cold War, and announces the United States will not conduct atmospheric nuclear tests as long as other countries uphold the same pledge. 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. Materials in this folder include various memoranda containing editing suggestions for the speech, a draft by Special Counsel and speechwriter Theodore Sorensen, and telegrams regarding Premier Khrushchev's reaction to the speech.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Central Subject Files
JFKWHCSF-0926-032
This folder contains correspondence in support of President John F. Kennedy's address at the commencement ceremony for American University in Washington, D.C. In his speech President Kennedy calls for a re-examination of attitudes towards peace, the Soviet Union, and the Cold War, and announces the United States will not conduct atmospheric nuclear tests as long as other countries uphold the same pledge. 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.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Central Subject Files
JFKWHCSF-0926-031
This folder contains correspondence in support of President John F. Kennedy's address at the commencement ceremony for American University in Washington, D.C. In his speech President Kennedy calls for a re-examination of attitudes towards peace, the Soviet Union, and the Cold War, and announces the United States will not conduct atmospheric nuclear tests as long as other countries uphold the same pledge. 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. This folder also contains a copy of a press release of the speech as given.
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Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. President's Office Files.
JFKPOF-045-002
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.