50 years later - remembering JFK

[Adak]

Fifty years after his assassination, we forget how JFK worried over the economy at that time.

From the JFK Library:
http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in...and-Taxes.aspx

The president finally decided that only a bold domestic program, including tax cuts, would restore his political momentum. Declaring that the absence of recession is not tantamount to economic growth, the president proposed in 1963 to cut income taxes from a range of 20-91% to 14-65% He also proposed a cut in the corporate tax rate from 52% to 47%. Ironically, economic growth expanded in 1963, and Republicans and conservative Democrats in Congress insisted that reducing taxes without corresponding spending cuts was unacceptable. Kennedy disagreed, arguing that “a rising tide lifts all boats” and that strong economic growth would not continue without lower taxes.

The battle over the tax cut and the deficit continued unabated through 1963. The House Ways and Means Committee voted a tax bill out of committee in August and the grateful president reiterated that lowering taxes was the surest path to full employment and lower deficits. Polls showed that over 60% of Americans favored the tax cuts. But, even with the public support of key business leaders like Henry Ford II and David Rockefeller, the Congressional log jam remained unbroken. JFK became increasingly convinced that domestic issues, the economy and civil rights, rather than foreign policy, would prove to be decisive in his 1964 reelection campaign.

JFK made a lot of voice recordings of telephone conversations. Hedgecock played a funny one on his radio show today. The baby Patrick was due, and the Kennedy's were at an Air Force base, with no suitable maternity area set up - in the process of setting one up, someone spent $5,000 on furniture.

Jack was incensed, called an Air Force General, and told him to pack that stuff up tomorrow, and return it and get our money back! He further threatened through a cuss word or two, to have the Air Force person who did it, shipped to Alaska! (Oh! Send them to Adak Island, and they will repent!!)

Pretty funny, hearing Jack so wound up over $5,000 being spent. It's not like Jackie wanted to deliver Patrick, while lying on the floor! (Unfortunately, baby Patrick was stillborn).

He also played the tape of JFK conferring with Republican and former General and President, Dwight Eisenhower, about the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Americans, working together, understanding that taxes must be kept reasonably low to stimulate the economy. JFK's handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Where did these kinds of Democrats go, I wonder? Today we spend 1,000 times that much, and never bat an eye about it.

On the day of he was shot, we were brought in from our P.E. class, into an empty classroom, and somberly given the news. We were asked to say a silent prayer for JFK, his family, our leaders, and the country.

Such a sad day.

[orthodoc]

Today's Democratic President has succeeded (where, honestly, Hillary Clinton should have succeeded) in offering a new paradigm for health care to the country. It's imperfect, but given the machinations of politics here, nothing else could be expected. Nevertheless, important goals have been addressed: insurance companies can no longer refuse coverage to those with 'pre-existing conditions' (almost all of us); they can't charge premiums that effectively deny us insurance; and those with catastrophic health issues can't be summarily dropped.

I think JFK would approve.

[Adak]

Originally Posted by orthodoc

Today's Democratic President has succeeded (where, honestly, Hillary Clinton should have succeeded) in offering a new paradigm for health care to the country. It's imperfect, but given the machinations of politics here, nothing else could be expected. Nevertheless, important goals have been addressed: insurance companies can no longer refuse coverage to those with 'pre-existing conditions' (almost all of us); they can't charge premiums that effectively deny us insurance; and those with catastrophic health issues can't be summarily dropped.

I think JFK would approve.

I agree, on all counts. We didn't need to go with Obamacare, but we were long overdue to get health care legislation so everyone could be covered.

[lumberjim]

I heard Tom Brokaw say that his assassination was a bigger deal than the towers being hit.

I can't imagine. But I was unborn when jfk died.

[lumberjim]

Ironic or intentional?

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

Ironic or intentional?

or Palinic ?

[tw]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

I heard Tom Brokaw say that his assassination was a bigger deal than the towers being hit.

I can clearly confirm that. I don't know how traumatic Pearl Harbor was. I am told Kennedy's assassination was bigger by people who lived through both.

But appreciate what had happened. Khrushchev had taken his shoe off and pounded it on the podium in the UN proclaiming "We will bury you." A threat that truly scared many if not most. The cold war put Berlin on the front line. Cuban missile crisis was when we expected death as quite likely. We literally stopped all commercial airline traffic for three days to test this entire nation's air defense system. It emphasized a threat we all faced since America had never been threatened like this. Joint Chiefs were hyping myths about a bomber gap; then a missile gap - hyping more fears. The Joint Chiefs were literally trying to create a war. Situations had become so traumatic that the gnarly Charles de Gaulle told Kennedy that he had no idea what Khrushchev was up to, but France would stand 100% with the US. Knowing de Gaulle demonstrates how dangerous this world had become.

Meanwhile George Wallace stood in the doorway (with Forrest Gump next to him) proclaiming unrestrained racism. So violent that a crowd of heavily armed racists surrounded almost 100 less armed US Marshalls to almost overrun and kill them.

Meanwhile, major treaties and solutions were also created including the Test Ban Treaty and even something quite radical for the time - the Hot Line.

It is not just what Kennedy did. Also was the confidence he inspired in a world that was literally falling apart. What we later learned was the Joint Chiefs literally wanted to end the world in a nuclear war. They believed that would be good. And they were not alone. The US still was dominated by McCarthy types who literally thought hate was a good thing; and should be promoted by military confrontations. Fortunately Kennedy and McNamara restrained them.

That confidence was not limited to Americans. It created a new confidence even in Japan and Germany. Enough cannot be said of Kennedy's speech in West Berlin - "Ich bin ein Berliner". I still remember and feel the spirit that was so obvious in TV news. A speech so inspirational that even Hitler would have envied it

The economy was making a major comeback with GDP growth as much as 7%. Europe and Japan were still rebuilding from WWII and making major progress. The US had started a major rebuilding program that included an interstate highway system, the Verrazano Bridge and World Trade Center. Color television and network TV was just becoming possible; doing then what the internet has done today. Even nuclear power plants and ships were appearing as part of a space age future. We were learning that satellite communication and a man to the moon was actually possible. Even the miracle of Telstar was demonstrated live and nation wide. Factors irrelevant to Kennedy, but were associated with this leader who inspired and appeared to create a prosperous future.

The White House literally was Camelot. Anyone who was important was brought to or desired to be in the White House - in events never before seen for their glamour and elegance. Jackie literally refurbished that house (and fashion) by what she did (and dressed). So much so that Kennedy called himself only an escort for Jackie Kennedy in Paris. The Peace Corp and a nationwide recommitment to physical fitness were only some of the new attitudes of that time.

With Kennedy's death, a belief or feelings that this all would end was stunning. After all, it is the only time you actually saw Walter Cronkite cry.

Decades later, Clint Hill (Secret Service agent to Jackie Kennedy) still was emotional (almost to tears) over Kennedy's death - still blaming himself even though he could not have done something.

When Kennedy died, people were literally walking in the streets of Tokyo and Santiago crying. His funeral was attended by a stunning list of the world’s topmost leaders. It was conducted with the respect and honor never before seen in any funeral. Even the gnarly Charles de Gaulle personally walked then entire procession. What other leader could have inspired so much love throughout the world that people in so many nations literally cried in the street.

So yes, the Kennedy assassination was that traumatic. Not only because of who Kennedy and his administration was. He literally hired ‘rock stars’ from both parties in an administration that was regarded as a 'brain trust' unmatched by any other. It included Lodge, McNamara, Dulles, Rusk, Stevenson, and even McAurthur, Eisenhower and Truman as personal advisors. The world was facing challenges that threatened to be more destructive than WWII or any other. And at the same time was introduced into a new world order defined by miracle technologies never before seen. And never thought possible from nations that grew up in world wide depressions and world wide wars. Nobody even thought a man to the moon was possible when Kennedy even defined it accurately with a time line (and BTW, it was accomplished under budget). Center stage of all this was a world leader who inspired like none has even done since.

Then it all ended with three bullets from a loser. It literally was the end as found in the story line of a top Broadway play at that time – Camelot. And then we got race riots in most major cities and Vietnam. That only further glazed the legend destroyed by a loser in Dallas.

Kennedy’s death was tragic. And then the world appeared to degenerate more. The so many who really loved this country hoped to rekindle that spirit in Robert Kennedy. I also remember that death. We literally thought we had lost our future – further entrenching the Kennedy legend and that irrefutable feeling of loss. It only got worse after Dallas. Tears captured by a famous song, played by rock and roll stations, that said,

Has anybody here seen my old friend John? Can you tell me where he has gone? He freed a lot of people. But it seems, the good, they die young. I just looked away . . . and he was gone!
Has anybody here seen my old friend Martin? Can you tell me …

It appeared those who hate continued to destroy our future. Meaning what was and what could have been never was as great as the promise in those years that preceded Dallas.

[lumberjim]

So, if you had a time machine and you could either kill a 20 yr old Adolf Hitler OR save John Kennedy ...which would you choose?

[tw]

Originally Posted by lumberjim

So, if you had a time machine and you could either kill a 20 yr old Adolf Hitler OR save John Kennedy ...which would you choose?

Neither. I don't believe in the impossible (a time machine). And I see no purpose in reliving the past. Best thing anyone of us can do is learn from our history.

[lumberjim]

Gun to your head

[orthodoc]

I'd put the gun to 20 year old Adolf Hitler's head and pull the trigger.

Unless I were somehow suddenly consumed with remorse and doubt, a la Linda Hamilton in the Terminator movies.

[lumberjim]

Yeah, Cuz if you save jfk, who's to say he doesn't get whacked the next week. .. or turn out to be a commie.

[sexobon]

Not to mention that Reagan might have ended up on the half dollar.

[tw]

Originally Posted by sexobon

Not to mention that Reagan might have ended up on the half dollar.

The Kennedy half dollar that was then worth 50 cents has now fallen to become 7 cents - in 1963 dollars.

Could be worse. George Washington that was worth a dollar in 1900 has now fallen to only 4 cents. We value our past presidents how much?

Getting rid of Lincoln should have been over a decade ago. Even Jefferson has little value.