Forty Years Ago
In the Fall of 1963, I was in third grade. On that Friday afternoon, my class first heard the principal's announcement that President Kennedy had been shot. Being in Catholic school, we immediately began saying Hail Marys. Shortly after, the announcement that the President had died, more prayers and my teacher''s statement that we would see this event in our history books.

President John F. Kennedy's Administration made history with the Cuban Missile Crisis, the partial nuclear test ban treaty, the Peace Corps, civil rights and, of course, the reach for the Moon.

Like any historical figure, Kennedy was a complex person in turbulent times. We later learned of the extent of his medical problems and of his moral weakness in terms of extramarital affairs. And of course there is the ongoing controversy surrounding the government's handling of the investigation of his assassination.

Kennedy's call for the lunar landing inspired a generation. It is also seen in hindsight to have created habits in the government's implementation of a centralized space program that sparked innovation in the early years but hindered entrepreneurship in later decades. The current reassessment of our purpose and policy in space will hopefully renew the inspiration while encouraging more innovation and entrepreneurship.

President Kennedy followed his 1961 address to Congress calling for the Moon goal with what might be considered his 'philosophical keynote' speech on space in Houston in September 1962. The text and streaming audio file are available at this link.