Sunday, September 29, 1946
Anniversary
JFK was in Wallingford, Connecticut where he spoke after dinner on the third day of ceremonies celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the founding of Choate Hall. The dinner was held in the Choate dining hall and speakers that evening included the heads of Derfield, Milton, Hotchkiss, Andover and many other New England prep schools. Interestingly, Jack was chosen to speak last before the headmaster made concluding remarks. Not yet elected to Congress, he urged reform in the school…
“I believe in the future, if Choate is really to survive, the men who teach at Choate must instill in its students an active interest in our politics and the national life around use…If we do not take an interest in our political life we can easily lose at home what so many young men have so bloodily won abroad.”
[136, p. 112]