TLS as president signed “John Kennedy,” one page, 6.75 x 9, White House letterhead, February 7, 1963. Letter to Maryland Congressman Edward Garmatz, in full: “Please accept my warmest congratulations on your birthday. I hope that this will be a happy and memorable occasion and that the years to come will bring you continued health and happiness.” In fine condition, with uniform overall toning, and a stain to the lower right edge.
On the same day that President Kennedy offered these thoughtful birthday wishes, he also held a President’s News Conference in the State Department Auditorium, fielding a variety of pressing topics related to the Soviet Union and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
When asked if he thought ‘that the Cuban threat, militarily, has increased, decreased, or stayed on status quo since the removal of the offensive weapons?’ JFK responded: ‘Well, there has been, since the removal of the offensive weapons, a reduction of 4,500 people, we estimate. So to that degree, the threat has diminished. And, of course, it is substantially different from the kind of threat we faced in October when there were offensive missile planes present. There still is a body of Soviet military equipment and technicians which I think is of serious concern to this government and the Hemisphere. But there has not been an addition since the removal of the weapons; there has not been an addition, and there has been the subtraction of that number of personnel.’
On what he proposes to do about ‘the continued presence in Cuba of the Soviet military personnel’: ‘Well, as you know, we have been carrying out a good many policies in the last four months, since October. We were able to effect the withdrawal of the missiles. We were able to effect the withdrawal of the planes. There has been a reduction of 4,500 in the number of personnel. That was done by the United States being willing to move through a very dangerous period and the loss of an American soldier. The continued presence of Soviet military personnel is of concern to us. I think the actions the United States has taken over the last four months indicate that we do not view the threat lightly.’
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