President Kennedy's welcoming remark while receiving Emperor Haile Selassie in October 1963

Blogger's Note: The following is a reprint from last year's edition of our publication Ethiopian Calendar with primary source materials 2004 E.C. (2012/'13). This year's edition is on sale now and it contains more rarely seen documents, speeches and narratives related to Ethiopian history. Those interested in getting this year's edition, please contact us by e-mail at genaledc@gmail.com; lesyaan@yahoo.com or by phone: 202-277-2098 

John F. Kennedy, 35^th President of the United States of America (1961-1963)

Remarks of Welcome at Union Station to Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia. October 1, 1963

Ladies and gentlemen:

I know I speak on behalf of all of my fellow Americans in welcoming His Imperial Majesty back to the United States.

In welcoming His Majesty, we honor not only a distinguished leader of his country and a distinguished world figure, but we also welcome a man whose place in history is already assured. His memorable and distinctive appearance before the League of Nations in the mid-thirties which so stirred the conscience of the world was supported prior to that by action, and has been supported in its high hopes, by the consistent support which His Imperial Majesty has given to those efforts since the end of the Second War to associate free nations together in common enterprises, support to the effort in Korea, his support of the most recent effort in the Congo, the strong support he has given to the United Nations and, perhaps most celebrated of all, his leadership in building a community of free and independent states in Africa.

Since His Majesty visited the United States nearly a decade ago, we have seen one of the most extraordinary revolutions in history, and that has been the appearance on the world scene of 29 independent countries in the short space of less than 10 years including over 150 million people.

The conference recently held in His Majesty's capital served, I think, to bring together in a great, cooperative movement the people of most of these countries. And the success of that conference was due in no small part to the leadership of our distinguished guest.

Therefore, for what he has done in his own country, his efforts to move his country forward and provide a better life for its people and his efforts throughout the world, which stretch back over 30 or 40 years--for all of this, Your Majesty, we take the greatest pride in welcoming you here. You do us honor, and I can assure you that there is no guest that we will receive in this country that will give a greater sense of livelier pride and satisfaction to the American people than your presence here today.
Your Majesty, you are most welcome.