September 6

My experience in government is that when things are non-controversial and beautifully coordinated, there is not much going on.

John F. Kennedy, 35th Presiedent, 1961-1963 The President's News Conference June 28, 1961 17.] Q. Mr. President, there's been some criticism of our handling of inter-American affairs- THE PRESIDENT. "Well, we have in the White House a number of people who have responsibilities in various areas... Secondly, we are particularly interested in Latin America. My experience in government is that when things are non-controversial, beautifully coordinated, and all the rest it may be that there isn't much going on. ... Now we haven't done so much in Latin America in the last decade. It has not been a matter of great priority. We are attempting to do something about it... The whole refinancing of the Brazil debt, which could have been a most serious crisis in that very vital country, was handled in cooperation between the Treasury, the White House, the State Department, the Export-Import Bank, Food for Peace and ICA. We've also given particular attention to the economic problems of Bolivia. So we are attempting to do something about Latin America and there's bound to be a ferment. If the ferment produces useful results then it will be worthwhile. But I must say I don't think--my experience is you can't get very much done if--when things are very quiet and beautifully organized, I think it's the time to be concerned, not when there is some feelings and interest and concern."...Other issues addressed in this conference were the partioning of West and East Berlin, economic competition with the Soviet Union and its leader, Kruschev, dealings with Cuba, and import/export ratios.