THE PRESIDENT S NEWS CONFERENCE OF NOVEMBER 20, 1962

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00049R000701750029-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 13, 2006
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: November 20, 1962
• Content Type: MISC

[513] Nov. ig Public Papers of the Presidents
in Brazil, that one of the proposals that was
made was a much greater flow back and
forth between the intellectual, artistic, and
cultural life, which is a sign of the vitality
of a society, between North and South
America.
I think that too often we are, in a sense, as
General de Gaulle has said, the daughter of
Europe, and our view. on these matters
which affect the life of the spirit really, looks
more to Europe and not enough to the south.
And it seems to me also true that Latin
America looks to Europe for its inspiration
in these areas and not to North America.
This side of our national life, I think, has
bee too little known outside of our country.
But I think in music, architecture, art, writ-
ing, all the rest, we've had a good deal of life
and vitality in this country in recent years,
and this is also true of Latin America.
So I'm glad now, instead of our all loo - ng
to the East, which we must on many/occa-
sions, that we now look north and a look
south. And we hope from this cu ent back
and forth there will be greater sti ation.
We don't want to see the ar ' c and in.
tellectual life used as a weapo n a cold war
struggle, but we do feel th It's an essential
part of the whole democr c spirit.
So, I'm very glad to ve you here as sym-
bols and also as ac0e participants in this
necessarily mus e a free man.
So we wel me you here to the White
House. T nk you.
NOTE: The resident spoke in the Rose Garden at the
White H se.
The ymposium brought together Latin American
and orth American artists, musicians, architects,
etc for the purpose of exchanging ideas on the arts
d belles-lettres and of discussing better ways to
coordinate cultural activities in the Americas. The
Symposium was held at Nassau under the auspices
of Show Magazine, whose editor, Robert Wool, con-
ceived the idea and developed it to its actuality. It
is intended to be an annual affair.
The Latin American members, to whom the Pres-
ident spoke, came to Washington after the Nassau
meeting for the opening of an exhibit of modern
Latin American art at the Pan American Union.
514 Message to Ms/Niels Bohr Upon the Death of Her Husband.
November :2X, 1962
I AM deeply sadden by the news of the
death of Dr. Bohr The scientists of the
United States, a /d indeed all Americans,
who knew hi and his accomplishments,
have held hi the highest respect for more
than two nerations. His great achieve-
ments in a quantum theory of the atom
have be basic to modern advances in physi-
cal science. The scientific inspiration he
brought in his many visits to this country,
and especially his great services at Los
Alamos during the war, leave us forever in
his debt.
Please accept my condolences and deepest
sympathy.
JoHN F. KENNEDY
[Mrs. Niels Bohr, Copenhagen, Denmark]
515 The President's News Conference of
November 20, 1962
THE PRESIDENT. I have several statements.
[I.] I have today been informed by
Chairman Khrushchev that all of the IL-28
bombers now in Cuba will be withdrawn in
3o days. He also agrees that these planes can
be observed and counted as they leave. In-
asmuch as this goes a long way towards
reducing the danger which faced this hemi-
sphere 4 weeks ago, I have this afternoon
instructed the Secretary of Defense to lift our
naval quarantine.
In view of this action, I want to take this
830
opportunity to bring
up to date on the Cue
the progress made th
understandings bet\v
Khrushchev and m-%
letters of October 2-
Khrushchev, it will
remove from Cuba a
pable of offensive u
introduction of sucl
and to permit appr,
obser.:ation and sun
carrying out and coy
mitments. We on o
these adequate array
had been establisher
naval quarantine ar-
an invasion of Cuba.
The evidence to
known offensive r_:
been dismantled.
associated equipm,-
Soviet ships.. And
these departing sh:-
number of missile:
Union as having
which closely corre-
mation, has now be
the Soviet Govern
nuclear weapons h
Cuba and no offe?
introduced.
Nevertheless, i,r
standing of Octo
to be carried out.
has not yet permi
verify whether al.
been removed, a
have yet been e
introduction of o:
Cuba.
Consequently,
is to continue tc
sive weapons, thi
but to pursue its
military aetivitie
of our continues'
our identification
of Soviet ground
Approved For Release 2006/05/25 : CIA-RDP84B00049R000701750029-6
 :er stimulation.
artistic and in-
in in a cold war
it's an essential
spirit.
u here as sym-
:_ipants in this
:se the artist
in.
to the White
Latin American
icians, architects,
ideas on the arts
better ways to
Americas. The
.der the auspices
;obert Wool, con-
its actuality. It
whom the Pres-
after the Nassau
chibit of modern
::erican Union.
usband.
this country,
vices at Los
us forever in
es and deepest
KENNEDY
:)mark]
way towards
:ed this hemi-
his afternoon
'nse to lift our
John F. Kennedy, 1962 Nov. 20 [515]
opportunity to bring the American people though we are informed that these and other
up to date on the Cuban crisis and to review Soviet units were associated with the pro-
the progress made thus far in fulfilling the tection of offensive weapons systems, and
understandings between Soviet Chairman will also be withdrawn in due course.
Khrushchev and myself as set forth in our I repeat, we would like nothing better
letters of October 27 and 28. Chairman than adequate international arrangements
Khrushchev, it will be recalled, agreed to for the task of inspection and verification in
remove from Cuba all weapons systems ca- j Cuba, and we are prepared to continue our
pable of offensive use, to halt the further efforts to achieve such arrangements. Until
introduction of such weapons into Cuba, that is done, difficult problems remain. As
and to permit appropriate United Nations for our part, if al ~e w~n,s
observation and supervision to insure the are r ~ f~nm Cuba and kept o` a .a the
carrying out and continuation of these com- hemisphere i the future, undeate
mitments. We on our part agreed that once verification and safeguards, and if Cuba is
these adequate arrangements for verification not use for the export of au?ressiveSom-
had been established we would remove ourl mini Durposes, there will be peace in the
naval quarantine and give assurances against' Caribbean. And as I said in September, "we
an invasion of Cuba. shall neither initiate nor permit aggression P!!,
The evidence to date indicates that all in this hemisphere."
known offensive missile sites in Cuba have We will not, of course, abandon the politi-
been dismantled. The missiles and their cal, economic, and other efforts of this hemi-
associated equipment have been loaded on sphere to halt subversion from Cuba nor our
Soviet ships. And our inspection at sea of purpose and hope that the Cuban people
these departing ships has confirmed that the shall some day be truly free. But these
number of missiles reported by the Soviet policies are very different from any intent to
Union as having been brought into Cuba, launch a military invasion of the island.
which closely corresponded to our own infor- In short, the record of recent weeks shows
mation, has now been removed. In addition, real progress and we are hopeful that further
the Soviet Government has stated that all progress can be made. - The completion of
nuclear weapons have been withdrawn from the commitment on both sides and the
Cuba and no offensive weapons will be re- achievement of a peaceful solution to the
introduced. Cuban crisis might well open the door to the
N eev-rtheless, important parts of the under- solution of other outstanding problems.
standing of October 27th and 28th remain May I add this final thought in this week
to be carried out. The Cuban Government of Thanksgiving: there is much for which
has not yet permitted the United Nations to we can be grateful as we look back to where
verify whether all offensive weapons have we stood only 4 weeks ago-the unity of this
been removed, and no lasting safeguards hemisphere, the support of our allies, and the
have yet been established against the future calm determination of the American people.
introduction of offensive weapons back into I These qualities may be tested many more
Cuba. times in this decade, but we have increased
Consequently, if the Western Hemisphere reason to be confident that those qualities
is to continue to be protected against offen- will continue to serve the cause of freedom
sive weapons, this Government has no choice with distinction in the Years to come.
but to pursue its own means of checking on [2.] Secondly, I would also like to an-
military activities in Cuba. The importance nounce that I have today signed an Execu-
of our continued vigilance is underlined by tive order' directing Federal departments
id
ifi
our
ent
cation in recent days of a number
of Soviet ground combat units in Cuba, al- I~
'Executive Order i to63 (27 F.R. 11527),
831