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FORMER US PRESIDENT John F Kennedy’s letter reassuring a young girl that Santa was safe during the Cold War is being featured this month in Boston.
The JFK Presidential Library and Museum is displaying a copy of the letter along with other Christmas-themed artefacts in its lobby.
Kennedy’s 1961 letter was addressed to an eight-year-old girl, who wrote to the president about her concerns that the Russians would kill Santa if they tested a nuclear bomb at the North Pole.
Kennedy said Santa had told him recently that he was fine and was planning to deliver presents at Christmas as usual.
In the throes of the Cold War, the Soviet Union was planning to test a massive nuclear bomb in the Arctic Circle.
But in a letter to the then president, a young Michigan girl was very concerned about the North Pole’s most famous resident.
“Please stop the Russians from bombing the North Pole,” Michelle Rochon, of Marine City, pleaded, according to news reports at the time. “Because they will kill Santa Claus.”
Kennedy’s brief, but reassuring response to the youngster is part of a trove of Christmas-themed archival materials being featured this month at the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.
“You must not worry about Santa Claus,” the president wrote on October 28 1961. “I talked with him yesterday and he is fine. He will be making his rounds again this Christmas.”
Kennedy also told Michelle that he shared her concern about the Soviet Union’s test, “not only for the North Pole but for countries throughout the world; not only for Santa Claus but for people throughout the world”.
Photos of the Kennedys celebrating Christmas in the White House and copies of the family’s Christmas cards are among the other keepsakes being highlighted in a seasonal display in the library’s lobby.
Michelle, whose surname is now Phillips, told The Boston Globe in 2014 that she never thought the letter would resonate the way it did back then, when it turned her into something of a national sensation.
“I was just worried about Santa Claus,” she told the newspaper.
The Soviets, meanwhile, made good on their threat to bomb the North Pole.
Two days after Kennedy wrote his letter, they dropped the “King of Bombs”, as it was dubbed in Russian.
Reportedly 1,570 times more powerful than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined, it shattered windows as far away as Norway and Finland.
It is still considered the most powerful man-made explosive ever detonated.
Kennedy and other world leaders were quick to denounce the bomb test, The Washington Post reported.
None of the official statements, however, addressed Santa’s fate. Considering his successful round-the-world trip just last night, we’re sure he was fine.
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Nearly 60 years later and the Russians are at it again; pity we dont have a Kennedy in the Oval office.
@LynchTrea: Puppet as Commander in Chief
@LynchTrea: sadly I think they are both at it again. Trump and Putin testing weapons that were banned by a treaty that Trump abandoned.
@LynchTrea: The US has been worse than anything Russia has done…
Really.I never knew about the trial bombing at north pole area. Must have had a destranomic effect on atmosphere and ice cap and wildlife etc?
@John Kenny: nor did I. First thing I will do when I have the energy to get off this couch is read up about it
@Ger: The Tsar bomb. Happy Christmas.
@LynchTrea: The Tsar Bomba.
@Marcus Dowling: was the largest bomb ever detonated in history also
The Tsar Bomba was detonated near the Arctic Circle circa 1961. Largest ever detonation. Apparently it was 50 megatonnes. Or 50 million tonnes of TNT. Inital bomb design was for 100 megatonnes. Outrageous and an over the top display by the Russians.
@Finn Faulkner: Where is the logic in having the means of such massive destruction? The experience of Hiroshima and Nagasaki has shown that even thinking of using this weapon on human beings is impossible to countenance except in our greatest nightmares and proliferation of these weapons increases the probability of their use intentionally or accidentally at some stage in the future. Chernobyl although the result of an accident will be uninhabitable for a thousand years by humans.
@Bryen O Murchu: Its all about who has the biggest stick.
Thats what she said…..
if they explode a few more we won’t have to worry about the Polar Cap melting due to global warming. The appalling nightmare scenario of blocks of Radioactive Icebergs sailing south into warmer waters in Southern Atlantic in which to melt is enough to take everyone’s mind off Brexit.
The only conclusion that can be made from this article is more to do with the extent of the propaganda the Americans were churning out.
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: Only for Hollywood and their TV programs???
have your say