July 15, 1963 - President Julius Nyerere of Tanganyika arrived in Washington today for a two-day official visit and pointed to the Declaration of Independence as a beacon in the worldwide struggles against racism. “No individual can be neutral on this issue,” Mr. Nyerere said in a speech at the National Press Club. He added: “We have taken our stand on what is one of the most inspiring documents of all time.” He paraphrased the Declaration of Independence: “All men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.” Earlier, President Kennedy welcomed Mr. Nyerere at a White House ceremony. The President said: “We feel that it is most opportune that you should visit the United States in the summer of 1963, when so much is changing in your country and in Africa and when so much is changing here.” Mr. Kennedy said he hoped progress would “mark the year 1963 in every field throughout the world.” Mr. Nyerere praised the Peace Corps as “splendid” and hailed President Kennedy as “a very wise statesman.”
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