Exhibit Highlights Kennedy's Commencement Speech
The SDSU Library has created an online exhibit featuring audio of President John F. Kennedy's 1963 commencement address.
While commencement connotes the future, the SDSU Library Department of Special Collections and University Archives has given the campus community a reason to look back.
On June 6, 1963, President John F. Kennedy delivered San Diego State's commencement address before approximately 30,000 people at Aztec Bowl. To commemorate the occasion, Special Collections has created a new online exhibit celebrating Kennedy's acceptance of the California State University system's first honorary doctoral degree.
The online exhibit features a recently discovered audio recording of the speech and a selection of photographs and Daily Aztec articles documenting Kennedy's visit.
Highlighting education
At the time, many believed Kennedy would take the opportunity to deliver a major foreign policy address on Latin America, but instead he chose education.
"As a nation, we have no deeper concern, no older commitment and no higher interest than a strong, sound and free system of education for all,” Kennedy said that day.
“In fulfilling this obligation to ourselves and our children, we provide for the future of our nation—and for the future of freedom."
Kennedy went on to talk about the higher purpose of education, “whether we are providing an adequate education for all Americans,” and said “there is no greater asset in this country than an educated man or woman.”
Timely and still relevant today
"President Kennedy’s address is both timely and revealing as California struggles today with the importance, purpose and value of education," said Robert Ray, head of Special Collections and University Archives.
"It is also a sobering reminder that progress in history is not inevitable."
According to Ray, Special Collections and University Archives staff members Anne Bahde and Ellen Jarosz made the online feature possible.
How Kennedy came to San Diego
Associated Students President Bob Weir wrote to President Kennedy, asking him to give the 1963 commencement address. California Gov. Edmund Brown then followed with a formal invitation on April 18, 1963.
On May 16, 1963, then SDSU President Malcolm Love received a letter from Kennedy's aide Ken O'Donnell confirming that Kennedy would be honored to accept the honorary degree.
About Special Collections and University Archives
Special Collections and University Archives houses rare, fine, unique and valuable books, periodicals, manuscripts and documents which require security and care in handling. Other valuable historical items such as photographs, prints, postcards, memorabilia, scrapbooks and oral histories are also held in Special Collections.
