Sound recording
White House Audio Collection
JFKWHA-029-002
Sound recording of President John F. Kennedy’s address at the 39th annual convention of the National Association of Broadcasters held at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. In his remarks President Kennedy congratulates Commander Alan Shepard on the successful completion of the Mercury-Redstone 3 test flight (also known as the Freedom 7), during which Shepard became the first American to make a suborbital flight in space. The President also discusses the importance of free communication and an informed citizenry to a democratic society.