America’s youthful President, John F. Kennedy, was in the midst of an official visit to Ottawa on this date in 1961. He held talks with Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, planted a ceremonial tree at Rideau Hall and hosted a dinner at the U.S. Embassy that included – much to Diefenbaker’s chagrin – Opposition leader Lester B. Pearson. But the highlight of his visit was his address to Canada’s Parliament. In delivering his speech, JFK used phrases that have followed him through history.
“Geography has made us neighbours,” Kennedy said. “History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies. Those whom nature hath so joined together, let no man put asunder. What unites us is far greater than what divides us.”
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.
Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.