President John F. Kennedy
State Department Auditorium
Washington, D.C.
January 24, 1963
4:00 P.M. EST (Thursday)
359 In attendance
Listen to this news conference.
THE PRESIDENT : Good afternoon. I have an opening statement.
It would be well to remind all concerned of the hard and fast realities of this Nation's relationship with Europe-- realities of danger, power, and purpose which are too deeply rooted in history and necessity to be either obscured or altered in the long run by personal or even national differences. The reality of dangers is that all free men and nations live under the constant throat of the Communist advance. Although presently in some disarray, the Communist apparatus controls more than one billion people, and it daily confronts Europe and the United States with hundreds of missiles, scores of divisions, and the purposes of domination.
The reality of power is that the resources essential to defense against this danger are concentrated overwhelmingly in the nations of the Atlantic Alliance. In unity this Alliance has ample strength to hold back- the expansion of communism until such time as it loses its force and momentum. Acting alone, neither the United States nor Europe could be certain of success and survival. The reality of purpose, therefore, is that that which serves to unite us is right, and what tends to divide us is wrong. The people and Government of the United States over the three past administrations have built their policy on these realities. The same policy has been followed by the people and governments of Europe. If we are to be worthy of our historic trust, we must continue on both sides of the Atlantic to work together in trust.
QUESTION: Mr. President, as you may be aware, there seems to be some conflict on the part of history involving the Bay of Pigs invasion. As you know, the Attorney General says that no United States air support was contemplated, so, therefore, there was none to be withdrawn.
Yet today, editor Jack Gore, of the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, News says that to a group of editors, who visited you on May 10, 1961, you told them that air cover was available, but you had decided not to use it.
Mr. Gore said you told these editors that one reason for your decision was that Ambassador Stevenson had complained that any such action would make a liar out of him in the UN. Now, also today, a Mr. Manuel Penobos, who has been rather vocal for the last day or two, a member of Brigade 2506, says that the United States military instructors of that brigade promised the men that they could expect air cover. Out of this welter of seemingly different stories, I wonder if you can set us straight on what the real situation was?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes. There was no United States air cover planned, so that the first part of the statement attributed to the Attorney General, of course, is correct. Obviously, if you are going to have United States air cover, you might as well have a complete United States commitment, which would have meant a full-fledged invasion by the United States. That was not the policy of the United States in April, 1961.
What was talked about was the question of an air strike on Monday morning by planes which were flown by pilots, B-26 planes which were flown by pilots based not in the United States, not American planes.
That strike, as the Attorney General's interview in U. S. News and World Report described it, was postponed until Monday afternoon. I think that the members of the brigade were under the impression that the planes which were available, which were the B-26 planes, would give them protection on the beach. That did not work out. That was one of the failures.
The jets, the training jets, which were used against them were very effective and, therefore, we were not-- the brigade was not able to maintain air supremacy on the beach.
So I think that the confusion comes from the use of the words "air cover", not to talk about United States air cover as opposed to air cover which was attached to the brigade, some of which flew from various parts of this continent, not from the United States. So I think that will make it clear. As I said from the beginning, the operation was a failure, and the responsibility rests with the White House.
We engaged in intensive analysis of the reasons for the failure afterwards, headed by General Taylor, who is now Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; in the Congress, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee conducted an investigation, and it seemed to me that the conduct of operations in October 1962 indicated that a good many lessons had been learned.
As to the recollection of the editor, there was no such conversation of the kind, at least that has been read to me. The problem of air cover and one of the reasons that the invasion failed may have well been discussed, but only in the terms that I have described, because what I have described are the facts.
QUESTION: Mr. President, Mr. Gromyko has said that France must sign any nuclear ban treaty if it is to be meaningful. In view of that, are you still encouraged by the prospects for such a treaty and, also, could you tell us what this Government's position now is on whether Communist China should also be a signatory to the treaty?
THE PRESIDENT: I think the first problem is to attempt to negotiate the details of the treaty, which these conversations are now going on with the Soviet Union, the British, and the United States. Then, if we are successful, if we work out a treaty which we believe gives us assurances which we believe can provide for end of testing and security for the countries involved, the Senate of the United States accepts it under the constitutional provisions, then I would hope that other countries would be willing to sign it.
If other countries signed it, then, of course, great progress would be made. If other countries did not sign it and began to test, then we would have to make a judgment, and I am sure that this would be written into the treaty. We would have to make a judgment as to whether this destroyed the treaty, the purpose of the treaty, and, therefore, the treaty was at an end. But I think we ought to go at it one step at a time.
The first step is to see whether the British and the Americans can work out an effective test ban treaty with the Soviet Union. Once that is done, then I think we can move on to these other questions.
QUESTION: Mr. President, there are new reports of a Soviet military build-up in Cuba. I wonder if there is any truth to this report and if it might pose a threat to our intelligence operation there, our surveillance.
THE PRESIDENT: No, we have been conducting continued surveillance. The best information we have is that one ship has arrived since the October crisis, which may have arms on it, possibly military cargo. But there has not been a military build-up in that sense of the equipment coming in from outside of Cuba. There is no evidence that this ship carried any offensive weapons.
Now, on Cuba itself, there are still-- we think that probably about 4500 Soviet technicians who were connected with the offensive weapons were withdrawn after the late October agreement. We figure there are still approximately 16,000 or 17,000 Russians there, that the Soviets are continuing to operate the SAM sites and other technical pieces of equipment, and there are some organized units, the same organized units we have described before, which are still on the territory of Cuba. They are exercising, building some barracks. That is the kind of activity which is going on. There is no influx of military equipment other than the ship and, as I say, our scrutiny of Cuba is daily.
QUESTION: Mr. President, do you have any plans to go to the Congress to ask for a revision of the foreign aid treatment to Yugoslavia and Poland, an alteration of the most favored-nation clause?
THE PRESIDENT: I would hope that the Congress would reconsider the action that they took last year in connection with the trade bill. We are in a very changing period in the world, in fact in all parts of the world, behind the Iron Curtain and indeed on this side of the Iron Curtain.
To take legislative action which denies us an opportunity to exploit or to develop whatever differences in attitude or in tempo which may take place behind the Iron Curtain seems to me to be unwise. Once the Congress takes its action, that legislation exists for two, five or ten years. The situation during that period of time may change.
Now, I believe that we would be better off if we had-- if the President, whoever he was, was given the option of extending the most-favored-nation treatment to Poland and Yugoslavia. The trade really is better in this case than aid, and we would then make a determination, based on the situation in both of those countries, whether the most-favored-nation privileges should be granted.
I am not suggesting that in every case they should be. I am not suggesting that in some cases they shouldn't be removed. But I do think that it should be a weapon in the arsenal of the President, with the President reporting to the Congress, the Congress maintaining close scrutiny, and not merely to make a judgment today on events when events may entirely change in the next 12 months. So I will recommend it to the Congress.
QUESTION: Going back to the Caribbean, sir, would you favor letting the residents of Puerto Rico vote in Presidential elections, even though they retained their commonwealth status, and thus pay no Federal income taxes?
THE PRESIDENT: I had not heard that that was a proposal. The proposal that I heard might be put before the voters of Puerto Rico in regard to a commonwealth status did not include the right to vote in Presidential elections. If they are going to vote in Presidential elections, you raise a question of whether you should be a state, and take on the burdens and the privileges of statehood, so that I am not prepared to say today that we should extend that particular privilege to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has seemed well satisfied with the present arrangement which gives them a very advantageous position for their own economic and political development.
QUESTION: In connection with the test ban talks, sir, your science advisors have said that the main issue now is the number of on-site inspections. Do you see any room for compromise between the three Mr. Khrushchev offered and the 8 to 10 that you feel is adequate?
THE PRESIDENT: I think that Mr. Foster is conducting the negotiations, and would be able to conduct them better, probably, if he developed the American position as time goes on, rather than attempting to develop it here at this time, when the negotiations are still in process. There is not only the question of the on-site inspections, but the location and the number of automatic devices, and all of this has to be meshed in, kind of inspection, and how free the inspectors will be, and these are all questions which really ought to be negotiated at the table.
QUESTION: Could you tell us, sir, in your own mind, you must have seen some hope in the original letter.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, the fact that the principle of onsite inspection was accepted was very important, and that is the reason that we are participating in these negotiations at the top level, to see if we can make a breakthrough here, because I think a breakthrough would be most important. There was an earlier reference by Mr. Lisagor to other countries beginning to test. This might have far reaching repercussions and, therefore, we are very interested in keeping them going, to have them be successful, but I think Mr. Poster should determine the American position as time goes on.
QUESTION: Mr. President, a joint resolution has been offered in Congress to make Sir Winston Churchill an honorary citizen of the United States. I think it has been sponsored by Senators Young and Randolph, and by Mrs. Bolton. I know you took a stand on this as a Senator, but you have never been asked about this as President. What is your sentiment, your judgment about honoring the old guy this way?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, it isn't essential as far as indicating our regard for him, but I would be delighted if the Congress passed a resolution, whether it is honorary citizenship or an expression of esteem, some way or other it would be appropriate, perhaps, to remind Sir Winston Churchill of our regard for him. But it is written very large in any case. But this would be a gracious act at this time.
QUESTION: Mr. President, it has been 34 years since Houston. How do you feel about the Democrats going South again for a national convention, namely, Florida?
THE PRESIDENT: I think it would be fine, but I think it is really a question, once again, that is a negotiation which is extremely intense, being conducted by the National Committee, and involves the amount of-- the South is prosperous and perhaps they would be able to compete successfully with Chicago, Philadelphia, and some of the other areas. Geographically, I think it would be very good.
QUESTION: Mr. President, you have said that you are in favor of the two-term limit to the office of the Presidency. How do you feel about former President Eisenhower's suggestion that the terms of Congressmen also be limited?
THE PRESIDENT: It is the sort of proposal which I may advance in a post-Presidential period, but not right now.
QUESTION: Mr. President, do you have any comment you care to make on the New York and Cleveland newspaper strikes?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I wish that strike could come to an end. It doesn't come under the Taft-Hartley because it is not a national emergency, but it is a hardship on the men involved, and it affects adversely the prosperity of the city, and it affects the abilities of the people, particularly because New York is such a center. I hope it is going to be, possible to compromise it. This sort of struggle to see who can stand the pressure the longest may be of interest to one side or the other, but it is hard on those involved, and I would hope that reason would motivate both sides and that they would reach the compromise which ultimately they are going to reach anyway. So I am hopeful that the two sides will make a judgment that free collective bargaining must be responsible if it is going to be really free.
QUESTION: Mr. President, sir, this has no relation to SKYBOLT, but are we not putting too many eggs in the POLARIS basket if we are going to give POLARIS missiles to the north and south of Europe, and doesn't the land mass of Russia and the position of the seas-- doesn't that make it very hard to maneuver this POLARIS to really hit at the heartland installations in Soviet Russia?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we also, as you know, we also maintain the MINUTEMAN, which does have a wide range, and TITANS, and we still have bombers and still have planes based on Europe itself. If you look at the total arsenal, it is a very, very large one, and I think it gives very, very adequate assurances for the protection of Europe and the United States.
We don't rely only on POLARIS, even though POLARIS is a very, very good weapon.
QUESTION: Mr. President, when you were Senator, you were very active in efforts to liberalize our immigration laws. Have you any plans to advance this ambition of yours now?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes. We are going to make some proposals, in regard to redistributing particularly the unused quotas.
QUESTION: Could you expand on that at all now?
THE PRESIDENT: No. As you know, there is a total quota limitation on those permitted to come into the United States. Some of the countries do not use the quota. We have had some suggestions over a period of years as to how these unused quotas could be redistributed. That is the area we are interested in now.
QUESTION: Mr. President, on the tax bill, in your mind how much interdependence is there between the size of the revisions and the size of the reductions?
THE PRESIDENT: Could you expand that?
QUESTION: Well, Congress seems to be more interested in reducing taxes than in making reforms.
THE PRESIDENT: In reforms versus-- right. Well, as you know, our proposal was for a $13 billion cut, more or less, and a $3 billion reform. Congressman Mills has been particularly interested in the reform, not only because it secures back some of the revenue, because there are inequities in the present tax law, but also there are some reforms which will stimulate growth and steer income or investment into areas which better serve the national purpose. So I consider both very important. I think it is essential to get a bill by this year, that we begin this tax reduction this year, if we are going to maintain or develop or stimulate our economic growth.
The Congress will have to make the judgment whether both reform and revision, reduction, can be done this year. I would hope that they could be. In the final analysis, it is going to be their judgment, however.
QUESTION: Mr. President, would you accept a revision and a tax cut which did not embody these reforms, either this year or in some agreement?
THE PRESIDENT: I think it would be too early to make a judgment. I think it would be unwise to carry out our total tax reduction package which would then be $13-1/2 billion unless we picked up revenue some other place, or reduced the amount of the cuts. So my judgment is that the package is the best approach. I am hopeful that Congress will hold on to both. I will put as the first priority, however, action this year, so we will just have to wait and see whether both can be done this year.
In any case, we should be able to make progress come what may, on the first step of the three-stage reduction, and I think it is physically possible to do both the reform and the revision this year and I think that is Chairman Mills' idea, too.
QUESTION: Most of our racial dramas have been played in the deep South, but recently there was one here in the Nation's Capital, commonly referred to as the Thanksgiving Day riots in the D. C. Stadium, in which a large group of Negroes attacked a smaller group of whites.
Since you last met with us, a Citizens' Committee has investigated the matter and issued a report referring to this lawlessness and mass misbehavior and criticizing the lack of discipline in the schools, classrooms, and so-forth.
I wonder, Mr. President, as President and as First Citizen of the District of Columbia, if you could comment on the riot itself and the report; whether you think it is a fair report.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think there was a bad situation after that game. There have been riots connected with a lot of sports events, but this had a force to it which was worse than most. One of the purposes of our separate budget was to try to highlight the need for additional funds for schools, for housing, for changes in the environment, for assistance to young people who are neglected, orphans with one parent or another.
I think what we ought to do is realize that the riot of that day highlighted a very bad situation in the District of Columbia, that a good many of our young people are neglected, that they are not counseled and they are not-- the District doesn't pay as much attention to them, the funds are inadequate and Congress has probably limited the appropriations too greatly, and the Executive has not paid enough attention to it.
We have appointed Mr. Horsky, who has been acquainted with this problem for years, to work in the White House on this problem of the District of Columbia, so I am hopeful that we will, in the next 12 months, be able, together with the Congress, to do something to ease the situation in the District. It is up, of course, to the families involved and the schools involved, but I am sympathetic to both the families and the schools because they deal with a very strange situation here in the District. A good many changes have taken place, and there is social unrest, and it ought to concern us all.
I might not have agreed with all parts of the report, but if the report serves to turn the attention of the Congress and the Executive and the District and the people who live here on the problems of the District, instead of always looking at our wide boulevards, I think it would be very useful.
QUESTION: Mr. President, have you looked into reports by some Civil Service employees that they were subjected to pressure to buy $100 tickets to the gala, and what do you think of the practice?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes. I am not aware of anyone who was pressured. I haven't received any report. It would be unfortunate. I can only say anyone who bought a ticket or didn't buy a ticket are on the same basis.
QUESTION: Mr. President, in the event that Great Britain is shut out of the Common Market, how would that be likely to influence the United States' plan to associate itself with the Economic Community, and how will it in general affect American interests?
THE PRESIDENT: We don't plan to associate ourselves with the Community. We plan to negotiate with the Community in order to provide for the admission of American goods as we plan to negotiate with other countries which are not members of the Common Market.
We have strongly supported Britain's admission to the Common Market, however, because we think it helps build a united Europe, which, working in equal partnership with the United States, will provide security for Europe, for the United States, and together, Europe and the United States-- we can concern ourselves with the very pressing problems which affect so much of the world and Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
The United States concerns itself particularly, as distinguished Europeans, Dr. Adenauer, Mr. Schuman and others, in building a strong and vital--Mr. de Gasperi and others- a strong, vital and Vigorous Europe.
Now that is coming about. I would be reluctant to see Europe and the United States, now that Europe is a strong and vital force, to go in separate directions, because this battle is not yet won. In Latin America alone we face critical problems in this decade. If Latin America is unable to trade with Europe and with the Common Market, we face very, very great economic problems which we cannot solve alone in Latin America. So our invitation to Europe is to unite, to be strong, and to join with us as an equal partner in meeting the problems in other parts of the world in the same way that some years ago the United Sates helped Europe build its strength.
Now, that is our hope. That has been the object of the American policy for 15 years. That has been the object of the policy of great Europeans who helped bring about a reconciliation some years ago between France and Germany. We have seen the recent manifestation of that reconciliation.
There are problems throughout the globe that should occupy our attention, and the United States does not have the resources to meet them alone, and we hope Europe and the United States together can do it on the basis of equality. That is why we have supported the admission of Britain to the Common Market.
In the final analysis this must be a judgment of the countries in Europe, the six. What kind of a Europe do they want? Do they want one looking out or looking in? What do they see as the balance of forces in the world today?
Now Europe is relatively secure. The day may come when Europe will not need the United States and its guarantees. I don't think that day has come yet, but it may come, and we would welcome that. We have no desire to stay in Europe except to participate in the defense of Europe. Once Europe is secure and feels itself secure, then the United States has 400,000 troops there and we would, of course, want to bring them home.
We do not desire to influence or dominate. What we desire to do is to see Europe and the United States together engaged in the struggle in other parts of the world. We cannot possibly survive if Europe and the United States are rich and prosperous and isolated. We are asking that Europe together, united, join in this great effort, and I am hopeful they will, because after all that has been the object of the policy of, as I say, a great many Europeans for a great many years. Now, when success is in sight, we don't want to see this great partnership dissolve.
QUESTION: Mr. President, the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Italy have announced that some of our missile bases are being withdrawn from their countries. Since these missile bases have often been the target of Soviet wrath, is there any expectation or possibility that there might be return concessions now for those?
THE PRESIDENT: No. We are going to put POLARIS submarines in there, which are a much more modern weapon, in the Mediterranean. We feel that provides a more adequate security. The British are phasing out the THOR missile, which is a missile that came into existence after JUPITER, and in favor of the POLARIS also. So I think we are going to be in a stronger position.
QUESTION: Mr. President, the Foreign Minister of Argentina, as you know, is in the United states this week, and it seems to be one of those refreshing cases where we found a very loyal friend in a very major country down there . I wonder if there is anything you can say about that relationship in view of your discussions with the gentleman here this week?
THE PRESIDENT: The relationship has been good. As you know, the Argentine sent destroyers and air units to the assistance of the United States at the time of the quarantine, which we were very grateful for. There is an International Monetary Fund group down there in Argentina now considering the Argentine's economic problems. We are watching that very closely, and we are analyzing when that study is completed what we can most usefully do to be of assistance to the Argentine.
QUESTION: Mr. President, in your long-range defense planning, do you foresee a need for a manned strategic bomber after the current B-52's and B-47's are worn out?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, there may be-- yes, there may be a need. That plane will last through 1970. We are securing, as you know, three B-70's. We have no further plans to develop at this time, but there may be a good many struggles in the globe in the late 60's or early 70's which are not subject to solution by missiles, but which may be more limited war, and where manned bombers may be very useful.
QUESTION: Mr. President, in view of the expanded powers and functions of the Federal Government, have you thought of establishing a President's Conference of Governors to discuss your mutual plans and problems?
THE PRESIDENT: No. As you know, there is a Governors' Conference that does take resolutions, and we are in liaison with them. As a matter of fact, I met with about 12 or 13 Governors last Saturday morning. But there is not a formal conference underway. But the liaison is very immediate. As you know, the United States budget today would be balanced if it were not for the assistance that the United States Government is giving to hard-pressed States and local communities.
QUESTION: Mr. President, there have been published reports that some high-placed Republican people have been making overtures to your Secretary of Defense for him to be their 1968 candidate for President. Mr. President, if you thought that Mr. McNamara were seriously considering these overtures, would you continue him in your Cabinet?
THE PRESIDENT: I have too high regard for him to launch his candidacy right now.
QUESTION: According to unofficial estimates, the Federal Government has already spent more than $4 million on the enforcement of the desegregation orders at the University of Mississippi. To this point, do you consider that effort worth it? And would you consider it to be an effort that had failed if, for some reason, Mr. Meredith had to leave the university during this winter?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, it is not only $4 million, but, of course, two people were killed and a good many were wounded, and it has had wide repercussions and some of them have been unfortunate. However, if the United States Government had failed to exert its influence to protect Mr. Meredith, and Mr. Meredith had been denied admission bar force, or if he had suffered physical attack, that would have been far more expensive.
This country, of course, cannot survive if the United States Government and the Executive Branch does not carry out the decisions of the court. It might be a decision in this case which some people may not agree with. The next time it might be another matter, and this Government would unravel very fast.
So there is no question in my mind that the United States Executive Branch had to take the action that it did. I would be sorry if Mr. Meredith leaves. College is difficult enough under any conditions. He has been subjected to a good deal of harassment, and anyone who has gone through his experience in college would find it difficult to continue. I hope he continues. If he doesn't, that is a loss not only to Mr. Meredith, but I think the University of Mississippi.
QUESTION: Mr. President, the theory was put forward in Europe this week that France must have its own separate nuclear deterrent because the Europeans cannot be sure that the United States five or ten years from now would defend Europe with as much determination as we acted with during the Cuban crisis, whereas, the Europeans could be sure that the French would.
How do you answer such reasons?
THE PRESIDENT: Actually, Mr. Scali, wasn't it put more directly than that, that what happened at Cuba proved that the United States might not defend Europe? That is a peculiar logic. If we had not acted in Cuba, that would have proved we would defend Europe? I don't think it would.
So once you accept that as a thesis, whatever we did in Cuba can be used to prove a point. The point is that since the Soviet Union developed its own nuclear capacity there is a balance, in a sense, between these two forces, and neither will use it, and, therefore, Europe cannot rely on the United States.
Now, there may be reasons for a country to wish a nuclear force of its own, and France has put forward its reasons, but in my judgment it is inaccurate and not really in the Alliance interest to justify itself on the grounds that the United States would fail to defend Europe by whatever means are necessary.
I think the United States over the last 15 years has given--and in fact before that, the last 20 years--has given evidence that its commitments are good. Some in some parts of Europe may not believe that commitment, but I think that Chairman Khrushchev does, and I think he is right.
In addition, once you begin to say that the United States will not come to the assistance of "X", can't someone say that perhaps France will not come to the assistance of Germany, and then everyone decides they must rely on their own deterrent and pretty soon you have as many deterrents as you have countries?
I think if France wishes to develop its own deterrent, that that is its judgment. It has done so. I have never had the slightest doubt that General de Gaulle would respond to the needs of the Alliance. He responded when we were in difficulty in Cuba. I would hope that our confidence in him would be matched by his confidence in us.
THE PRESS: Thank you, Mr. President.