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50 Years After Inaugural, JFK's Archive Goes Online

Includes a handwritten draft of his 'Ask not' speech

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 13, 2011 9:07 AM CST

(Newser) – It's been a half-century since John F Kennedy admonished his fellow citizens to ask not what their country could do for them, and his presidential archive is going online today, just ahead of the anniversary, reports the Boston Globe. The $10 million project took four years to complete, but Camelot has gone digital—from key foreign policy speeches to intimate family photos and podcasts describing how Jackie Kennedy entertained at the White House.

In all, the archive contains 200,000 pages, 1,500 photos, 1,250 audio and video files, and 17 1/2 hours of phone conversations. Among the gems: A rough draft, in Kennedy's handwriting, of his aforementioned inaugural address. Click for the JFK Library and Museum.

A visitor at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum looks at the top hat and gloves Kennedy had made for his inauguration 50 years ago in Boston, Monday, Jan. 3, 2011.
A visitor at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum looks at the top hat and gloves Kennedy had made for his inauguration 50 years ago in Boston, Monday, Jan. 3, 2011.   (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
In this Jan. 20, 1961, black and white file photo, President Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy leave the White House to ride to the Capitol for Kennedy's inauguration.
In this Jan. 20, 1961, black and white file photo, President Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy leave the White House to ride to the Capitol for Kennedy's inauguration.   (AP Photo/Henry Burroughs, File)
This Jan. 20, 1961 black and white file photo shows President John F. Kennedy delivering his inaugural address after taking the oath of office at Capitol Hill.
This Jan. 20, 1961 black and white file photo shows President John F. Kennedy delivering his inaugural address after taking the oath of office at Capitol Hill.   (AP Photo/File)
In this Jan. 20, 1961, file photo, John F. Kennedy takes his oath as president from Chief Justice Earl Warren in Washington.
In this Jan. 20, 1961, file photo, John F. Kennedy takes his oath as president from Chief Justice Earl Warren in Washington.   (AP Photo, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
passinthru
Jan 14, 2011 3:56 AM CST
the mafia did it. end of story.
Ucantusethatname
Jan 13, 2011 1:36 PM CST
How about releasing FBI and CIA files about the assignation. Will the federal government forever deny us the truth?
stevsie
Jan 13, 2011 10:11 AM CST
... yet his murderers still roam free and Oswald is still the falsely accused patsy.
 

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