Nov. 21, 1963 - President Kennedy mixed a strong defense of his space program with some old-fashioned, earthbound politics today as he opened a two-day tour of Texas. In this space-conscious state, he pledged in a speech at Brooks Air Force Base in San Antonio that the conquest of that “new frontier” would go ahead. The President was welcomed by large crowds lining the streets of San Antonio and Houston as he, Mrs. Kennedy, Governor John Connally, and Mrs. Connally drove past in an open car. His San Antonio motorcade took him from the city’s International Airport to the new Aero-Space Medical Health Center at the nearby air base. After he helped dedicate a new $6 million facility there, he flew to Houston for a dinner honoring Rep. Albert Thomas, one of the most influential men in Congress. The San Antonio and Houston appearances were the main events of the President’s tour today, which will continue tomorrow with a breakfast speech in Fort Worth, a luncheon address in Dallas, and a party fundraising dinner in Austin. Tomorrow night, Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy will be guests of Vice President and Mrs. Johnson at their LBJ ranch near Johnson City, about 90 miles from Austin. It will be Mr. Kennedy’s second visit, but Mrs. Kennedy’s first to the ranch. As President-elect, Mr. Kennedy visited Mr. Johnson there and shot a deer on a hunting trip. The Presidential party will return to Washington Saturday.
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