Tuesday, January 24, 1961
Food
Following the first executive order of his presidency dealing with domestic povery and hunger, JFK issued Executive Order No. that amended two previous Eisenhower executive orders, including the 1954 Agricultural Trade Development Assistance Act (P.L.480). This action renamed the United States international food aid program and established the position of a Director of the newly named Food-for-Peace program.
Kennedy commented,
“Food is strength, and food is peace, and food is freedom, and food is a helping hand to people around the world whose goodwill and friendship we want.”
At around 4 PM, JFK met with the first Food For Peace director George McGovern in the Oval Office.
Around 5 PM, Kennedy received word that within 12 hours the Russians were freeing American pilots Capt. Freeman B. Olmstead and Capt. John R. McKKone after months in custody.
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