President John F. Kennedy San Diego visit 1963

President John F. Kennedy was in San Diego on June 6, 1963. From original script: State and government officials were waiting at the airport. He was here to speak to the graduation class at San Diego State College. Before that important event, Mr. Kennedy rode in a parade down El Cajon Boulevard which was lined with people from Park Boulevard to the campus of State College. Children carried signs welcoming the President. The crowd stood six deep in some locations—waving, whistling, yelling as the President rode by flashing the now familiar boyish grin. Unfortunately, many film reels are missing but was digitized many years ago. The quality isn’t as good as this newly digitized film. We hope to uncover the reels and get it digitized again in the future. On June 7, Kennedy visited the Kitty Hawk. On his way to the Oriskany, the President observed amphibious exercises in the ocean off the Silver Strand from his hovering helicopter. At the Oriskany, he looked over some classified anti-aircraft systems…then to the supercarrier Kitty Hawk where he watched guided missile cruisers and frigates firing Terrier and Tartar surface to air missiles with the cruiser Columbus in command center. In air-to-air warfare exercises he’ll see Crusader jets firing Sidewinder missiles and Phantom Two fighters firing Sparrow missiles at drone aircraft. Altogether, 25 ships and thousands of men are taking part in the demonstration. After a night aboard the Kitty Hawk, he’ll fly tomorrow to China Lake in the Mojave Desert for a weapons show.