John F. Kennedy: Western New York Visits
Title
John F. Kennedy: Western New York Visits
Creator
Description
John F. Kennedy: Western New York Visits
During his campaign for president of the United States, Senator John F. Kennedy made a stop in North Tonawanda on September 28, 1960. WBEN-TV recorded his speech, which is now part of the JFK Library in Boston. During his address, Kennedy said, "The Soviet system and our system are on trial. The question will be, which system has the longest staying power," Speaking in North Tonawanda, he said the American people have the "power, the will, the determination and the conviction" to come out ahead.
On October 14, 1962, as US president, Kennedy addressed a crowd of thousands in Buffalo's Niagara Square. It was the day Buffalo's Polish community honors the memory of General Kazimierz Pulaski, a Polish hero of the American Revolution. Kennedy said that Poland, dominated by the Soviet Union at the time, must be strengthened, but that the country "has always remained free in the hearts of the Polish people." He added that the United States must "never recognize Soviet domination of East Europe as permanent."
It was on this day in Buffalo, according to Joe Rej, the president of the General Pulaski Association of Western New York, that Kennedy learned of the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. The Soviets had been building nuclear missile sites, capable of striking the United States.
The news broke two days later on October 16, 1962. Kennedy initiated a blockade of Cuba. During the tense thirteen day crisis which put the world at risk of a nuclear war, an agreement was finally reached. The Soviets dismantled their missiles in Cuba. The United States removed its missiles from Turkey.
During his campaign for president of the United States, Senator John F. Kennedy made a stop in North Tonawanda on September 28, 1960. WBEN-TV recorded his speech, which is now part of the JFK Library in Boston. During his address, Kennedy said, "The Soviet system and our system are on trial. The question will be, which system has the longest staying power," Speaking in North Tonawanda, he said the American people have the "power, the will, the determination and the conviction" to come out ahead.
On October 14, 1962, as US president, Kennedy addressed a crowd of thousands in Buffalo's Niagara Square. It was the day Buffalo's Polish community honors the memory of General Kazimierz Pulaski, a Polish hero of the American Revolution. Kennedy said that Poland, dominated by the Soviet Union at the time, must be strengthened, but that the country "has always remained free in the hearts of the Polish people." He added that the United States must "never recognize Soviet domination of East Europe as permanent."
It was on this day in Buffalo, according to Joe Rej, the president of the General Pulaski Association of Western New York, that Kennedy learned of the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. The Soviets had been building nuclear missile sites, capable of striking the United States.
The news broke two days later on October 16, 1962. Kennedy initiated a blockade of Cuba. During the tense thirteen day crisis which put the world at risk of a nuclear war, an agreement was finally reached. The Soviets dismantled their missiles in Cuba. The United States removed its missiles from Turkey.
Date
1960-09-28
1962-10-14
Publisher
Buffalo & Erie County Public Library (publisher of digital)
WIVB (Television Station : Buffalo, N.Y.)
Rights
Copyright held by WIVB-TV. Access to this digital version provided by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Videos or images in this collection are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of WIVB-TV and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Users of this website are free to utilize material from this collection for non-commercial and educational purposes.
Type
Moving Image
Format
video/mp4
Language
Collection
Citation
WBEN-TV, JFK Library, “John F. Kennedy: Western New York Visits,” B&ECPL Digital Collections, accessed December 5, 2025, https://digital.buffalolib.org/document/17427.