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December 21st, 1961
On this day in 1961, Vice President Johnson attended Nita Louise Kellam’s wedding in Austin.
December 21st, 1963
On this day in 1963, President Johnson wrote a memorandum establishing the Committee on the Economic Impact of Defense and Disarmament.
The Committee will be responsible for the review and coordination of activities in the various departments and agencies designed to improve our understanding of the economic impact of defense expenditures and of changes either in the composition or in the total level of such expenditures.
Federal outlays for defense are of such magnitude that they inevitably have major economic significance. In certain regions of the Nation and in certain communities they provide a significant share of total employment and income. It is therefore important that we improve our knowledge of the economic impacts of such spending, so that appropriate actions can be taken—in cooperation with State and local governments, private industry and labor—to minimize potential disturbances which may arise from changes in the level and pattern of defense outlays.
December 21st, 1966
On this day in 1966, President Johnson had a telephone conversation with Secretary of State Dean Rusk. The conversation occurred when the President was at the LBJ Ranch.
LBJ complained to Rusk about the Democratic Governors with whom he had met that day; the Governors had had concerns about the poverty program, patronage, and civil rights. Rusk reported on questions he had received at a press conference.
December 21st, 1968
On this day in 1968, President Johnson wrote a message to the Apollo 8 Astronauts at the beginning of their flight to the moon.
CONGRATULATIONS on the magnificent beginning of the Apollo 8 adventure. The visions of the past are coming closer and closer to becoming the amazing achievements of the present.
I am confident that the world’s finest equipment will strive to match the courage of our astronauts. If it does that, a successful mission is assured. Prudence is a handmaiden of courage, however, so we must give top priority to astronaut safety as decisions are made each step of the way.
The message was addressed to Col. Frank Borman, USAF; Capt. James A. Lovell, Jr., USN; and Maj. William A. Anders, USAF, the Apollo 8 astronauts, who were beginning the 6-day space flight which would take them into lunar orbit.