On September 27, 1963 President John F. Kennedy visited Tacoma and gave a speech on education and conservation at a joint convocation held by Presidents R. Franklin Thompson of the University of Puget Sound and Robert Nortvedt of Pacific Lutheran University. Speaking to a crowd of 20,000 that included students, faculty, and politicians, President Kennedy stated, “Those of you now in school must prepare for leadership. You must make sure the United States maintains its responsibilities. We all want to see this country continue to grow.”
Among those at the event was The Trail’s editor, who went on to become mayor of 
Tacoma, Bill Baarsma. Our Summer Research Fellow interviewed Bill this summer about President Kennedy’s visit and the recording is in the Archives & Special Collections.
To see more of President Kennedy’s visit to Tacoma, visit:
The Trail’s coverage of Kennedy in Tacoma
Photographs of Kennedy in A Sound Past
Kennedy’s speech from the JFK Presidential Library and Museum
Press copy of Kennedy’s speech from the JFK Presidential Library and Museum
A story from The News Tribune: The day President Kennedy came to Tacoma
Pacific Lutheran University’s Guide to President Kennedy’s visit