Letter to the President of the Senate and to the Speaker of the House on a More Flexible Approach
to Economic Assistance for Eastern Europe. March 7, 1961

[Released March 7, 1961. Dated February 21, 1961]

Dear Mr.---------
     In the State of the Union address I asked the Congress for increased discretion to use economic tools as an aid in re-establishing our historic ties of friendship with the people of Eastern Europe.
     I urge the Congress to take early action on legislation to accomplish this purpose. Such legislation - along the lines of the amendment to the Mutual Defense Assistance Control Act of 1951 which was passed by the Senate on September 12, 1959 - accompanies this letter.

        Sincerely,

JOHN F. KENNEDY

NOTE: This is the text of identical letters addressed to the Honorable Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the Senate, and to the Honorable Sam Rayburn, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
     The draft bill, released with the President's letter, is published in the Congressional Record (vol. 107, Mar. 7, 1961, p. 3079).