“There have always been those on the fringes of our society who have sought to escape their own responsibility by finding a simple solution, an appealing slogan or a convenient scapegoat.”—JFK, November 1961 (1)
“….At times these fanatics have achieved a temporary success among those who lack the will or the wisdom to face unpleasant facts or unsolved problems. But in time the basic good sense and stability of the great American consensus has always prevailed….” —JFK, November 1961 (2)
“….The discordant voices of extremism are once again heard in the land….They look suspiciously at their neighbors and their leaders. They call for ‘a man on horseback’ because they do not trust the people….” — JFK, November 1961 (3)
“….They find treason in our churches, in our highest court, in our treatment of water. They equate the Democratic Party with the welfare state, the welfare state with socialism, socialism with communism….”—JFK, November 1961 (4)
“….They object quite rightly to politics intruding on the military--but they are very anxious for the military to engage in their kind of politics….”—JFK, November 1961 (5)
“….Let us not heed these counsels of fear and suspicion…Let us…devote less energy to organizing armed bands of civilian guerrillas that are more likely to supply local vigilantes than national vigilance….”— JFK, November 1961 (6)
“….Above all, let us remember, however serious the outlook, however harsh the task, the one great irreversible trend in the history of the world is on the side of liberty--and we, for all time to come, are on the same side.”—JFK, November 1961 (7)

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More from @BeschlossDC

27 Sep
General Edwin Walker oversaw integration of Little Rock High School this week 1957. Later rebuked for ordering his troops to read rightist pamphlets, he quit Army, denounced civil rights efforts as "pro-Kennedy, pro-Communist” and was model for coup leader in “Seven Days in May”:
In 1962, ousted General Edwin Walker was arrested at University of Mississippi for trying to provoke riots against admisision of Black student James Meredith — later told friends he was repenting for having helped Army to integrate Little Rock High School this week 1957:
In 1962, ex-General Edwin Walker ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Texas on anti-JFK, anti-civil rights, pro-John Birch platform:
Read 4 tweets
25 Sep
LBJ welcomes Danny Kaye, Judy Garland, Carol Burnett and Richard Adler to his Vice Presidential office (with bathroom visible), November 1962: #JFKL Image
Danny Kaye enjoys a sit in JFK’s rocking chair with Presidential portrait in Oval Office, November 1962 (with Kennedy’s military aide General Chester Clifton as minder): Image
Judy Garland enjoys a smoke while leaning against Resolute desk, while JFK and Dave Powers shoot the breeze with Danny Kaye, November 1962. From White House, JFK sometimes called Garland in L.A. and asked her to sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” to him over telephone: #JFKL Image
Read 5 tweets
21 Sep
JFK spoke at United Nations sixty years ago this week, three years after Alfred Hitchcock defied UN rules to covertly film important scenes for “North by Northwest” there: Image
Cary Grant and the ill-fated “Lester Townsend” in scene shot in studio for “North by Northwest” (1959) but intended to be at United Nations Visitors’ Lounge: Image
Cary Grant in “North by Northwest” (1959) with Ed Platt, who later played “the Chief” in “Get Smart!" Image
Read 6 tweets
21 Sep
Quiz question: which past HBO drama series does this suburban image, taken in autumn in northern New Jersey, resemble?
Additional clue for quiz question about past HBO series: ex-President Nixon kept his office in this New Jersey building, but Dr. Melfi did not.
Ex-President Nixon’s second to last house, Saddle River, New Jersey:
Read 8 tweets
15 Sep
Sixty years ago, Newsweek warns of “Thunder on the Right," led by Major General Edwin Walker (who in 1963 was evidently shot at by Lee Harvey Oswald, who called himself “Hunter of Fascists," while at home in Dallas):
At Love Field in Dallas, right-wing General Edwin Walker, who ran for Governor of Texas, 1962—although real life, it looks like a scene from a Frankenheimer movie:
The guy behind General Walker at Love Field in 1962 looks like the right-wing Senator Johnny Iselin character in Frankenheimer’s “Manchurian Candidate” (1962):
Read 5 tweets
12 Sep
Billboard #1 sixty years ago today was “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore” by the Highwaymen. Any small children with that first name, then or later, may have heard more of that song than they may have wanted.
According to Social Security Administration, Michael was the most popular name given to American boys almost every year from 1954 through 1998.
Michael Learned played Olivia on “The Waltons” (1972-1981):
Read 4 tweets

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