Soviet Citizens Mourn Kennedy Death
Moscow in English to Eastern North America 2330 GMT 24 November 1963--L
(Excerpts) The Soviet people grieve with the United States
over the assassination of President John Kennedy. It is the main topic of
discussion everywhere. The ordinary citizen is expressing his sympathy--each in
his own way. One young man was heard by a Radio Moscow reporter saying that he
wanted to find a good portrait of John Kennedy to put on his wall. Special grief
is felt by Soviet people who visited the United States, who have often received
Americans at their homes here in Moscow and have made friends with them
Here is a statement recorded for Radio Moscow by popular
young poet Andrey Voznesenskiy: (Voice recording and translation) "I am
astounded by what has happened. It is terrible when bullets begin to replace
political arguments. John Kennedy has done much good for his country. I was
there right after his election and I saw how the faces of the American people
lit up when they spoke of him. Mr. Kennedy had just assumed office then, but the
American people were already sure that he would do a lot for them. They were
right, because he worked so that his people could live at peace without the
menace of death in a thermonuclear war. With John Kennedy gone no words can
console those who loved him--his family, Jacqueline, and his children. We
understand what they feel. I send my condolences to the United States, to its
people--the good and honorable ones--in this mournful tragic hour of theirs."
That was a statement by poet Andrey Voznesenskiy.
And here is a comment by Prof. Viktor Zhdanov, honorary
member of the U.S. Society of Preventive Medicine: (read by announcer) I grieve
profoundly over the vile assassination of such a wonderful man and important
statesmen as President Kennedy. I have very good friends among U.S. specialists.
We have achieved much in joint work, but it looks as if we will have to work
much longer and harder before we can rid the world of hate and of malice from
which John Fitzgerald Kennedy perished. You have been listening to statements by
Soviet cultural leaders on the death of President Kennedy.