July 16, 1963 - President Kennedy told graduates of the NATO defense school today that the North American Treaty Organization must be maintained in defense of freedom. “If we harness our power on both sides of the Atlantic to defend freedom around the globe,” Mr. Kennedy said, “we shall deserve well of history.” The President spoke informally to 72 graduates of the school, which is operated in Paris to train military and civilian personnel. The graduating class is now touring defense installations in the U.S. and Canada. The commandant of the college, Gen. Umberto de Martino of the Italian Army, speaking in reply to Mr. Kennedy, paraphrased the President’s inaugural address. He said: “Let us not ask what NATO can do for us. Ask what we can do for NATO.” Mr. Kennedy grinned and told the general: “You’ve got a political career ahead of you.”
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