Peace on Earth

John Kennedy wore a blue pinstripe suit and a cheery look as he walked to the press-conference microphones. Before the questioning began, he had several announcements to make. For one thing, he and his wife thought it was awfully nice of France to let the U.S. have a look at Mona Lisa (see PEOPLE). Unimpressed, reporters doodled on their note pads. The President kept them doodling by turning to a "more physical side" and coming out strong for togetherness in athletics. He sounded urgent in his warning that rival U.S. amateur organizations must stop bickering or there may be no U.S. Olympic team in 1964.

Surprised? When the questions began, Kennedy was asked about the flap over Adlai Stevenson's position in the Cuban crisis decisions. The President pleasantly dodged: "I would not attempt to describe, verify, or in any way discuss the position that any member of the National Security Council has taken." Pushed for comment on the responsibility of the Saturday Evening Post article that claimed Stevenson wanted "a Munich," the President scattered more peace on earth: "I would not attempt to characterize writers of this article or any other." Only once did Kennedy show any sign of irritation. When pressed for his feelings about the Stevenson controversy, and about the press accounts that claimed that he and/or his aides were out to hatchet Adlai, the President snapped: "The fact of the matter is that Governor Stevenson renders very distinguished service. I am surprised that anyone would possibly think that it would be in the interest of the country, the Administration, or the White House that any lessening of his influence would be provided." As for presidential pen pals who just might have "surprised" him by printing such thoughts in the Post, Kennedy was kind: "I am going to keep my old friends. But I am responsible for many things under the Constitution, but not for what they write."

Annoyed. Most of the press conference zigzagged through a mixed bag of questions and answers. Would he like a telephone or a Teletype for the communications link between the White House and the Kremlin? Probably a Teletype. Does he think it is right to spend $10 million for an aquarium in Washington when there are dependent children without adequate housing? It is nice to have both, but needy kids should have more money. Do satirical records and writings about the Kennedys bring him "annoyment or enjoyment"? The President had been waiting for that one. "Annoyment. But I thought [that record] sounded more like Teddy than it did me, so he's annoyed."

Last week the President also:

> Swore in Christian Herter. Eisenhower's Secretary of State, as chief U.S. negotiator for the new tariff program, and Francis Keppel, former dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, as U.S. Commissioner of Education.

> Completed arrangements for an unprecedented hour-long television review of his two years in office, during which reporters from three networks would quiz him about his life and achievements in the White House.

> Fired off a message to the National Conference on Air Pollution meeting in Washington, saying "We can neither condone nor tolerate" dirty air.

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