52. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy) to the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Brubeck)0
Washington, August 15,
1962.
Will you please have the following message sent in the fastest way possible, and notify my office of the approximate time of delivery.
“Dear Mr. Chairman:
I send to you and to the Soviet people the heartiest congratulations of the people and government of the United States in the outstanding joint flights of Major Nikolayev and Colonel Popovich. This new accomplishment is an important forward step in the great human adventure of the peaceful exploration of space. America’s astronauts join with me in sending our salute to Major Nikolayev and Colonel Popovich.
John F. Kennedy”
McGeorge
Bundy
- Source: Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66 D 204. No classification marking. Another copy is in the Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, USSR, Khrushchev Correspondence. Also printed in Claflin, The President Wants To Know, p. 192.↩