State Historical Society of Iowa

"Excerpt from Kennedy's Address Before a Joint Session of Congress," 25 May 1961

Courtesy of NASA, "Excerpt from Kennedy's Address Before a Joint Session of Congress," 25 May 1961

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Description

This excerpt of President John F. Kennedy delivering a Special Message to Congress on Urgent National Needs in the House of Representatives chamber, United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. This is not Kennedy's full address. In this excerpt the President argues for support for the nation's space program. While listing national goals, the President states, "First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth." Prior to this action the US had lost the initial portion of the Space Race to the Soviet's with their successful launch of Sputnik and had suffered a further setback when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to orbit the Earth on April 12, 1961.

Source Dependent Questions

  • Why did President Kennedy feel it was imperative to put a "man on the moon by the end of the decade?" What evidence did he provide for this claim?
  • Consider Einsenhower's farewell address. Would actions in the Space Race be part of the "military industrial complex"? Why or why not? Does Eisenshower's speech corroborate Kennedy's claim the United States had "never marshaled the resources necessary" to take a leading role in space exploration?
  • How was this request for more funding made by Kennedy similar or different to his requests for increased military funding?
  • Were technological advancements like the space race more effective than the arms race in winning a war of ideals? Why or why not?

Citation Information

Kennedy, John. "Excerpt from an Address Before a Joint Session of Congress", 25 May 1961. Courtesy of NASA Courtesy of Library of Congress