June 6, 1962 - President Kennedy today ordered the release of 20 cadets from room confinement to the cheers of the entire Military Academy at West Point. Addressing the graduation exercises, the President said that, as Commander in Chief, he was directing the Superintendent of West Point and the Secretary of the Army to release the men. The happiest of the lot was one cadet who had just been confined to his room for eight months for having been caught off the post in Bermuda shorts and T-shirt. He compounded his offense by taking too long to get back to quarters. The President drew a laugh by adding: “My own confinement goes for another two and a half years, and I may ask for it to be extended instead of remitted.”
Comments