Palais Chaillot, Paris
June 2, 1961
1:15 p.m.
Mr. Secretary of State, Ambassador Alphand, Ambassador Sonnet, Ambassador Gavin, M. Redmond, ladies and gentlemen:
I do not think it altogether inappropriate to introduce myself to this audience. I am the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris, and I have enjoyed it.
I am also happy to have an opportunity to express publicly my appreciation to President and Mrs. de Gaulle for the hospitality and kindness which they have shown to us since our visit to Paris. I must say also, as I said to the General, that my most vivid impression during my visit here was not even the extraordinary spectacle which we all witnessed last night, which reminded us of the long reach into history which this country possesses, but rather was the signs of vigor and vitality and force possessed by the French people themselves. I do not say that riding in a car through rainy streets is the best method of making a determination of national character, but I have ridden through many streets and I must say it is a most effective method of determining the quality of the people, and I think any American who shares the experiences which we have had during the past two days in the sunshine on occasion, in the rain more often, would come away from this country with a feeling of confidence and hope.
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