11/19/2009 Saturday marks 50 years since JFK visited Carroll
Art Neu (left) and John Steffes view mementos of John F. Kennedy’s appearance in Carroll on Nov. 21, 1959, including photos, newspaper articles and a Carroll Colonels hat. Neu and Steffes will share historical perspective at a program Saturday commemorating the 50th anniversary of JFK’s visit. Kennedy’s speech to the Carroll Chamber of Commerce will be recreated at the event, which starts at 10 a.m. in the Holy Spirit School gym. — Photo by Jeff Storjohann
Kennedy’s speech to be recreated
Carroll will observe the 50th anniversary of JFK's visit Saturday with a brief program starting at 10 a.m. in the Holy Spirit School gym.
The public is invited to the free event, and refreshments will be served, said organizer John Steffes.
Steffes, a Kuemper history teacher, will share historical accounts of Kennedy's appearance and speech.
Art Neu, a Carroll attorney whose father was mayor and welcomed Kennedy to Carroll, will also share historical perspective.
Local actor Tim Tracy will impersonate JFK and recite the speech he delivered 50 years ago.
"We also welcome anyone who was there at the Kennedy speech," said Steffes. "I'm sure there are still people in Carroll who went to see him. We'd love to hear their memories."
When he came to Carroll 50 years ago Saturday, John F. Kennedy was already a national figure - World War II hero, three-term congressman and two-term senator from Massachusetts who'd had a failed attempt at the vice presidential nomination three years earlier, not to mention being from one of the nation's pre-eminent families.
Carroll must have made an impression on the future president. After all, he was tickled to learn his mother, Rose, had spoken here two years earlier, plus we made him don a goofy hat and red bowtie.
Then 42, Kennedy, who was weighing a presidential run in 1960, addressed the Carroll Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 21, 1959.
Carroll was certainly excited to host the dashing Democrat. A Page 1 story in The Times Herald more than six months before the appearance announced that Kennedy had accepted the Chamber's invitation through Iowa Gov. Herschel Loveless.
"By that time he may be in the midst of his presidential campaign." the April 3, 1959, article read.
Rose would prove to outdraw Kennedy. Over 2,000 heard the stories she told the second annual Sioux City Diocesan Council of Catholic Women in the Kuemper High gymnasium in October 1957 about being the wife of U.S. ambassador to Great Britain Joseph Kennedy.
A mere 600 would attend JFK's Cold War speech in the nearby Sts. Peter and Paul School gym.
While announcing Kennedy's visit, Chamber executive secretary Charles Knoblauch said the topic of Kennedy's talk wasn't known but that it would probably be nonpolitical.
Kennedy and Loveless attended the Iowa-Notre Dame football game at Iowa City the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 21, 1959. Kennedy later kidded in Carroll that he cheered for Iowa but prayed for Notre Dame. The Irish won 20-19.
After landing in Loveless' plane at Carroll Airport, Kennedy - whose delegation included staff member Ted Sorenson as well as Loveless, Democrat congressman Merlin Coad of Boone and their wives - was taken to The Villa for a reception at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Booth.
Coffee and cocktails were served at the 90-minute event attended by 30 Carroll dignitaries and wives.
"The coffee table was appointed in crystal and lavender, with lavender asters and candles," The Times Herald social page reported.
Fifteen minutes later, Kennedy was at Sts. Peter and Paul for the 1959-60 annual banquet of the Chamber.
All 550 of the $5 tickets for the event were sold, with Chamber members getting priority for seating.
JFK's oration wasn't necessarily apolitical.
He opened by saying his mother had been "warmly welcomed" in Carroll and how he was "happy to be following in her footsteps" but spoke mainly of world peace being "prevalent and paramount to all mankind" and "the only supreme, overriding issue facing the American public today."
"Whether we call that issue by the name of national security or foreign policy or the quest for peace, the fact remains that in the nuclear age, no other public matter touches all of our lives so directly and so decisively. The future of our world depends on the struggle for peace," he related.
Kennedy noted how Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's visit to the Roswell Garst farm at Coon Rapids two months earlier was hailed as a sign of peace. But he viewed Khrushchev's U.S. tour as "cause for redoubled efforts, not relaxation."
"It justifies more, not less, sacrifice to protect and extend the world's frontiers of freedom. We should not shrink from our responsibility to defend freedom," he said.
Khrushchev, Kennedy said, was an articulate and tough-minded spokesman for the communist system he truly believed would eventually conquer the world.
"I think it is important that we realize what we are up against," said Kennedy. "... Mr. Khrushchev was shown our nation, our might, our strength and our determination. He did not tremble. So we cannot afford to relax.
"... I think it is important also that Mr. Khrushchev recognize what he is up against - so that he does not miscalculate our determination or underestimate our resources."
Neither the U.S. nor Soviet Union want an arms race or a nuclear war "that would not leave one Rome intact but two Carthages destroyed," Kennedy said.
"Both nations seek to advance their own economies and scientific achievements, and would benefit by a much greater exchange and pooling of goods, ideas and personnel between our two nations.
"These are the real areas of potential agreement with the Russians. Because these are the real interests we share in common. We should embrace the opportunity we have before us as Americans, and know that we each play a role in the success of freedom, liberty, and peace around the globe."
Unintentionally foreshadowing his inaugural address of 14 months later, when he would say "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country," Kennedy said Americans needed to ask themselves what they were willing to sacrifice for freedom and security.
"I am confident the American people would pay any price and bear any burden in the quest for peace," he said. "... I leave you all optimistic that our efforts towards a safe and free world will succeed if we all work together.
"It has been my privilege to address an issue so close to the hearts of Americans to you this evening. May God bless us all in our quest for peace."
The Chamber decided against conducting its annual business meeting.
Kennedy and Gov. Loveless were inducted into the Carroll Colonels, the Chamber's goodwill organization. Kennedy, always conscious of his hair, reluctantly put on the group's pith helmet and red bowtie and posed for photographs.
Loveless presented Kennedy with a certificate from the Iowa Association for the Blind in recognition of his service in that field.
Kennedy also spent some time meeting banquet goers.
Two days later the Monday, Nov. 23, edition of The Times Herald ran two Page 1 stories of JFK's appearance - one reporting on the banquet, the other on the senator's talk.
In his "Publisher's Journal" column on Page 3, publisher James W. Wilson described Kennedy's speech as "interesting" and "probably appropriate for a Chamber of Commerce gathering"
Wilson agreed with Kennedy regarding the need for vigilance on communism but said the U.S. had plenty of domestic dangers, such as a steel workers' strike and a potential railroad workers' strike.
"If the capitalistic system is to continue, something must be done about labor and management disagreements, which are permitted to continue until the economy of our country is threatened," Wilson wrote.
"... It could be that we might fall from internal trouble as Khrushchev has so often predicted would be the case that would permit communism to overtake capitalism."
Wilson said Kennedy's speech would have been more interesting had he discussed labor-management difficulties but added "the indirect or soft sell that he used here was acceptable to his audience. After all, that, no doubt, was his intention."
Other news from the weekend Kennedy visited Carroll (taken from The Times Herald archives):
• The weather was cloudy and cold, with highs in the 40s and occasional snow flurries.
• A copy of The Times Herald, which was published Monday through Saturday, cost 7 cents; carrier delivery was 35 cents per week.
• St. Anthony Hospital had 12 admissions and 23 dismissals that weekend.
• Clayton Strohm, longtime owner of Strohm's general store in downtown Carroll, died at 74.
• Northwestern Bell was offering residential teen lines to Carroll customers for $4.50 per month.
• A Coronado Deluxe Automatic Washer cost $179 at Gambles.
• The classified ads listed just four Carroll houses for sale, two for rent and two apartments for rent.
• There were separate classifieds for male and female help wanted. One company advertised it needed "two good married men" for sales routes.
• Several farmers were selling live geese in the "Good Things to Eat" classifieds.
• Market prices were $1.97 per bushel for soybeans while corn went for 98 cents.
• Carroll grocers were advertising special prices on foods for the upcoming Thanksgiving meal. Only Safeway led with a deal on turkey, 39 cents per pound, "from the nation's finest flocks, dressed by the latest scientific methods." Turkeys and home-dressed capons and ducks were going for the same price over at Brenny's Market.
• Swede's Café in Glidden was taking reservations for Thanksgiving dinner, with turkey, chicken, ham and pie on the menu.
• With 388 cases sold by 18 Brownie and intermediate troops, the annual Carroll Girl Scout nut sale was declared "a big success."
• C.D. Andrews, owner of Andrews Roofing and Sheet Metal of Carroll, was elected vice president of the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association.
• "Should a Woman Drink?" was the subject of the Walther League meeting attended by 18 at the home of Deanna Grundmeier.
• Carroll County opened a new 150-foot-long concrete and steel bridge across the Brushy Creek southeast of Dedham. The $30,000 structure was built by William Axman of Dedham.
• The professional directory published in The Times Herald included chiropodist W.L. Ward; dentists M.J. Hall and N.D. Schulz; livestock auctioneer Al Boss; optometrists O.M. O'Connor, John Martin and H.K. Richardson; physicians and surgeons R.J. Ferlic and R.B. Morrison; chiropractors R.A. Hesse and J.D. Donovan; and attorneys Ralph Crane, and Meyers & Tan Creti; and Carroll Medical Center physicians Paul Pascoe, J.V. Sullivan, A. Reas Anneberg, Walter Anneberg, Paul Anneberg, J.R. Martin, James Tierney and Joe McKibben.
• Fort Dodge Laboratories was offering $2 per healthy three- to nine-month old kitten delivered to its farm.
• Marty Mission, "the Indian boys from South Dakota," defeated the Breda Bobcats 67-39 in high school basketball.
• At Ellerbroek's of Carroll, fall and winter dresses were selling for $5 and "car coats" cost $12 to $19.
• Playing at the Carroll Theatre were "The Best of Everything" starring Hope Lange and Stephen Boyd; and "Yellowstone Kelly" starring Clint Walker and Edward Byrnes.
• Skippy Anderson and his Orchestra were performing at the Starline Ballroom on U.S. 30 East.
• Two youths were being held for the grand jury on suspicion of stealing shotguns, rifles, ammunition, power saws, chainsaws and tools from the Coast-to-Coast store.
• Appearing on the comics page were "Sweetie Pie," "Out Our Way," "Our Boarding House With Major Hoople," "Tizzy," "Bugs Bunny," Priscilla's Pop," "Alley Oop," "Morty Meekle," "Freckles and His Friends," "The Story of Martha Wayne," "Captain Easy," "Side Glances," "Carnival" and "Boots and Her Buddies."
• The Associated Press reported that President Dwight D. Eisenhower was certain to extend a U.S. ban on nuclear weapons testing.
The text of Kennedy's speech to the Carroll Chamber of Commerce
Good evening.
I would like to thank you all for your hospitality and warm reception. I am delighted to be among you all. There are two reasons I came to Carroll -- your Governor Lovelace's invitation on behalf of the Carroll Chamber, and my dear mother was warmly welcomed here two years ago when she gave a speech across the street at the high school addressed to a gathering of Catholic women. And so I am happy to be following in her footsteps here in Carroll.
I have been fortunate enough to have a tour of your state and local community. In fact, the governor and I even had the pleasure of attending the Iowa-Notre Dame football game earlier this afternoon. I can honestly say that I cheered for Iowa ... but I prayed for Notre Dame.
Tonight, I would like to address the issue that is the most prevalent and paramount to all mankind. In the long history of the world, this issue remains the goal and responsibility of every citizen. Peace.
Peace in the world is the only supreme, overriding issue facing the American public today. Whether we call that issue by the name of national security or foreign policy or the quest for peace, the fact remains that in the nuclear age, no other public matter touches all of our lives so directly and so decisively. The future of our world depends on the struggle for peace.
Only two months ago, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev visited the United States and even right here in Carroll County at Coon Rapids. Some have hailed his visit as a sign of peace to come, the end of the cold war, the relaxation of tensions. But a more careful reflection on Mr. Khrushchev's visit, it seems to me, is cause for redoubled efforts, not relaxation. It justifies more, not less, sacrifice to protect and extend the world's frontiers of freedom. We should not shrink from our responsibility to defend freedom.
Mr. Khrushchev is a tough-minded, articulate, hard-reasoning spokesman for a system in which he is thoroughly versed and in which he thoroughly believes. He is not the prisoner of any ancient dogma or limited vision. He does not engage in idle boasts. He means it when he talks of the inevitable triumph of the Communist system, of their eventual superiority in production, education, scientific achievement and world influence.
I think it is important that we realize what we are up against. I think it is important also that Mr. Khrushchev recognize what he is up against -- so that he does not miscalculate our determination or underestimate our resources.
A confrontation of adversaries gives each a picture of the other. Following the Boston Massacre, Samuel Adams confronted the British colonial governor in his office with a warning of revolution. In his diary, Adams wrote, "It was then I fancied that I saw his knees tremble."
But Mr. Khrushchev was shown our nation, our might, our strength and our determination. He did not tremble. So we cannot afford to relax. We are not fighting an enemy altogether unlike ourselves. The people of the Soviet Union and the United States do share common interests. We would both want to be free of the crushing burden of the arms race. We would prefer to use our resources to develop our own nations in raising our standards of living, improving education, health care and housing.
Neither the United States nor the Soviet Union wants a nuclear war. Neither wants to set the fire that may extinguish civilization as we know it before its own flames are finally extinguished -- the war that would not leave one Rome intact but two Carthages destroyed.
Neither the United States nor the Soviet Union wants nuclear weapons. Neither Americans nor Russians want to breathe radioactive air. On both sides of the Iron Curtain, in every continent, we all breathe the same atmosphere -- and we do not want it polluted by an excess of nuclear tests.
Both nations seek to advance their own economies and scientific achievements -- and would benefit by a much greater exchange and pooling of goods, ideas and personnel between our two nations.
These are the real areas of potential agreement with the Russians. Because these are the real interests we share in common. We should embrace the opportunity we have before us as Americans, and know that we each play a role in the success of freedom, liberty, and peace around the globe.
During times of peril we must each ask ourselves, "What are we willing to sacrifice for our fellow human beings' freedom and security?" I am confident the American people would pay any price and bear any burden in the quest for peace.
Remember, we do not stand alone but together against tyranny and oppression. It is not only for ourselves that we seek peace, but for all humanity -- the steps we take toward peace today will determine the future our children and our children's children live in.
I leave you all optimistic that our efforts towards a safe and free world will succeed if we all work together. It has been my privilege to address an issue so close to the hearts of Americans to you this evening.
