Description

Air Force One is shown landing as a reporter for TV-8 (KFMB) interviews California Governor Edmund G. Brown on why John F. Kennedy is visiting San Diego. The news program is sponsored by Douglas Service Stations. Kennedy was to inspect military installations in and around San Diego, and Brown says he convinced him to come accept an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from San Diego State College. Military officers preceding Kennedy out of the plane include the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Lionel Van Deerlin descends the ramp behind Kennedy along with several others. Brown, Senator Thomas Eagleton, and Van Deerlin ride in the back seat of a limousine with Kennedy. In following cars are members of the press. The reporter outlines the path of the motorcade down El Cajon Boulevard. Members of the Marine Corps are holding the crowds back. The Will C. Crawford High School Band plays "Hail to the Chief." The motorcade is shown driving onto the campus of San Diego State College, where Kennedy meets college president Malcolm A. Love and members of the California State University faculty, as well as officials from the California State Colleges. Pierre Salinger is visible. Kennedy is dressed in his new doctoral gown by members of the Aztec Angels, whose autograph books he signs. The college band plays as the procession moves toward the stage on Aztec Bowl. California State University Chancellor Glenn Dumke accompanies the president on his path as he puts on his mortarboard and adjusts the tassel, and the band plays "Hail to the Chief." After the hooding ceremony, Kennedy begins his commencement speech, the transcript of which is at JFK-TRANSCRIPT. (A sound tape of just the address is at JFK-C-SPEECH.) After the short speech, Kennedy is given a standing ovation. Then the footage shows the president's helicopter arriving at Pendleton Hall, and he is met at the helicopter by Marine Corps Generals Sidney S. Wade and David M. Shoup. With a 21-gun salute in the background, the president and his entourage walk through an archway. When the salute ends, the Marine Corps band plays "Hail to the Chief" as the officers and Kennedy stand at attention in smoke from the battery that conducted the salute. Kennedy makes a "cursory" inspection of the Honor Guard. Accompanying the images is commentary about the activities. Kennedy passes Marines, their wives and children, then stops and, with General Wade, tells the officer that he has a fine group of men. The Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Band plays as they move, and then as the troops pass in review, the band precedes the troops. Kennedy is introduced to the staff at the Depot. He climbs into an automobile from which he departs off-program to inspect a training weapon used by Marine recruits before the troops show off training exercises. Finally, Kennedy is shown speaking from a lectern studded with microphones, addressing the Marines, speaking of their honored history, and thanking them for their service. The tape ends with Kennedy's helicopter taking off to the tune of "Hail to the Chief."