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Fifty years ago, on 22 November 1963, President John F. Kennedy of the United States was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. The tragic death of such a renowned and popular leader greatly shocked and saddened not just America, but the entire world. As the news of Kennedy’s death spread across the globe, NATO immediately shared its grief with the United States at the profound loss of an eminent leader who had pledged his full support to NATO’s vision of building and defending a community of free nations.

The NATO Archives joins the world in commemorating this historic moment by presenting a selection of declassified and publicly disclosed documents that revisit NATO's response to the tragedy. NATO Secretary General Dirk U. Stikker immediately sent individual telegrams of condolence (PDF/181Kb) to both newly sworn-in President Lyndon B. Johnson and Jacqueline Kennedy once the news reached NATO HQ in Paris.

Two days later on 25 November 1963, the North Atlantic Council met in an extraordinary session (PDF/423Kb)  to honour and pay tribute to the memory of President Kennedy. Finally, at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council on 16 December 1963 (PDF/3,316Kb), US Secretary of State Dean Rusk took the opportunity during his inauguration as President of the North Atlantic Council to give thanks and appreciation to NATO on behalf of the American people for their presence and comfort during this period of national sorrow.

As these documents attest, the tributes reaffirm the vision of NATO that President Kennedy so eloquently described in his inaugural address as an Alliance that enjoyed and maintained "the loyalty of faithful friends".