Clinton, Kennedys Open JFK Museum

BOSTON--President Clinton joined the Kennedy family in Boston yesterday for the dedication of a new museum at the Kennedy Library which commemorates the continuing legacy of President John F. Kennedy '40.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, John F. Kennedy, Jr., Caroline B. Kennedy, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 (D-Mass.) all greeted Clinton at the event.

Governor William F. Weld '66, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine also attended the function.

NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw was master of ceremonies, and the Harvard University Band played for the president and guests.

Sen. Kennedy welcomed the president and said, "Your generous presence means a lot to the Kennedy family."

"Of all he did, my brother would take the most pride in the teens he inspired, especially the young man from Hope," he said.

Clinton, a Yale Law School alumnus, was greeted by the Harvard University Band's rendition of a medley of Yale fight songs. He remarked that while President Kennedy had received an honorary degree from Yale, "Harvard has higher standards."

"They haven't offered me a degree yet," Clinton said.

Clinton ascribed his dedication to publicservice to the Kennedy legacy. "[PresidentKennedy] inspired millions of us to take a verypersonal stake in our country's future and infreedom everywhere....He dared Americans to joinwith him on what he called the new frontier,"Clinton said.

Clinton drew parallels between the isolationistperiod after World War I, when President Kennedygrew up, and the debate over the North AmericanFree Trade Agreement.

"The 21st can be our century if we approach itwith the determination, wisdom and sheerconfidence which John F. Kennedy brought to thiscountry in 1960," he said.

The museum was remodeled because the originaldepended on a visitor's personal memories ofKennedy's 1,000 days in office. The museum is nowa "living tribute...[it is] intended to be a placewhere people can learn about the administrationand come away with the feeling that they can makethe world a better place," said Caroline B.Kennedy, president of the John F. Kennedy LibraryFoundation.

The museum attempts to recreate the experienceof Kennedy's presidential nomination, campaign andadministration. President Kennedy is heardthroughout the new museum in three theaters and 20video presentations. Twenty-five new exhibitsdetail the sights and sounds of the early 1960s.

Harvard band members were excited about playingat the ceremony. "It was quite an honor forHarvard to be so prominent in the celebration,"Rob K. Uyeyama '91 said

Clinton ascribed his dedication to publicservice to the Kennedy legacy. "[PresidentKennedy] inspired millions of us to take a verypersonal stake in our country's future and infreedom everywhere....He dared Americans to joinwith him on what he called the new frontier,"Clinton said.

Clinton drew parallels between the isolationistperiod after World War I, when President Kennedygrew up, and the debate over the North AmericanFree Trade Agreement.

"The 21st can be our century if we approach itwith the determination, wisdom and sheerconfidence which John F. Kennedy brought to thiscountry in 1960," he said.

The museum was remodeled because the originaldepended on a visitor's personal memories ofKennedy's 1,000 days in office. The museum is nowa "living tribute...[it is] intended to be a placewhere people can learn about the administrationand come away with the feeling that they can makethe world a better place," said Caroline B.Kennedy, president of the John F. Kennedy LibraryFoundation.

The museum attempts to recreate the experienceof Kennedy's presidential nomination, campaign andadministration. President Kennedy is heardthroughout the new museum in three theaters and 20video presentations. Twenty-five new exhibitsdetail the sights and sounds of the early 1960s.

Harvard band members were excited about playingat the ceremony. "It was quite an honor forHarvard to be so prominent in the celebration,"Rob K. Uyeyama '91 said