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One of three helicopters delivering Kennedy and his military escorts preparing to land.


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The three helicopters landed on Memorial Field at about 11:30.  One of the helicopters carried the presidential seal for use on the convocation and groundbreaking podiums and a chair for Kennedy’s use at the convocation.


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College President Calvin Plimpton ’39, U.S. President John F. Kennedy, and J. Alfred Guest ’33, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, at the Presidential Convocation and Groundbreaking for the Robert Frost Library, October 26, 1963.


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Student and faculty supporters of Kennedy’s Civil Rights program made their beliefs known at a silent vigil in front of Kirby Theatre.


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Photograph by Don Witkowski, 1963

This was such a significant event that the media had rooms at its disposal. Almost 130 members of the media were involved in the coverage, including about 40 members of the White House Press staff, in addition to 70 technicians.  The press room was equipped with typewriters, 15 long distance telephones, 4 pay telephones, 2 campus telephones, and 8 Western Union teletype machines.


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Peter Schrag ’53, Secretary of the College and Director of Publications -- in the center, wearing glasses -- orchestrated the complicated media accommodations for coverage of the event.

The Convocation Ceremony