On June 6, 1963, President John F. Kennedy delivered San Diego State College's commencement address before approximately 30,000 people at the Aztec Bowl. He was awarded an honorary doctor of law degree during the commencement exercise at San Diego State University. It was the first honorary doctoral degree awarded by any California State University campus. Following a letter to President Kennedy in which Associated Students President Bob Weir asked him to consider giving the 1963 commencement address, California Governor Edmund Brown extended a formal invitation to the President on April 18, 1963. On May 16, a letter from Kennedy's aide Ken O'Donnell addressed to President Malcolm Love was received confirming that Kennedy would be honored to accept the honorary degree. In his commencement address he said, "As a nation, we have no deeper concern, no older commitment and no higher interest than a strong, sound and free system of education for all. In fulfilling this obligation to ourselves and our children, we provide for the future of our nation-and for the future of freedom." Though we didn't finish in time to celebrate SDSU Month in March, we're still happy to announce a new online feature which captures an audio recording of that historic day with a selection of photographs and Daily Aztec articles documenting Kennedy's visit. (Please note: QuickTime is required to view; wait just a moment for entire feature to load before viewing.) Take a look, and perhaps revisit your own memories of Kennedy's San Diego visit!
