"I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth."
65 years ago today President John F. Kennedy addressed a joint session of Congress. Among his "Urgent National Needs"— achievement in space.
With the Space Race in full swing, he said, "while we cannot guarantee that we shall one day be first, we can guarantee that any failure to make this effort will make us last."
ALT Black and white photograph taken on May 24, 1961 of President John F. Kennedy speaking in front of a joint session of Congress.