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Special Exhibits from UNICEF Archives
 US President Lyndon
Johnson declares October 31st, 'National UNICEF Day' in perpetuity
The horrors of World War II were still a part of the fabric of
American life in 1949. When the children of Reverend Allison of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania showed concern for Europe's children
still suffering in the wake of the war, he devised a unique way for
them to get involved. On Halloween night the three Allison children went door-to-door to collect money for their peers in
post-World War II Europe. They raised a total of $17 and donated it
all to UNICEF. Reverend Allison also ensured that other Presbyterian
Sunday schools also participated.
Inspired by their innovative and philanthropic spirit, the campaign
that came to be known as �Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF� was launched
nationwide.
US President Lyndon Johnson highly approved of the campaign, and on
March 17, 1965, in a statement to the U.S. Committee for UNICEF,
said: "In keeping with our traditional spirit of good will and
generosity, each American can help UNICEF to continue its work by
participating in the trick-or-treat program at Halloween and in the
greeting card campaign. Mrs. Johnson and I hope that our fellow
citizens this year will once again join in bringing the opportunity
for a better life to more of the world's children."
The following year President Johnson of the USA declared Halloween,
31 October, to be 'National UNICEF Day� in perpetuity
in the United States.
The request to President Johnson was first put forth by the Honorable
Robert W. Kastenmeier of Wisconsin, of the House of Representatives
on Monday, March 7, 1966. His speech was reprinted in the
Congressional Record, "UNICEF
and the 1965 Nobel Peace Prize: Request to the President To
Designate October 31 as National UNICEF Day".
Two days later, on March 9, 1966, The Honorable Joseph D. Tydings of
Maryland, in the Senate introduced
Joint Resolution 144
authorizing and requesting the President to designate October 31 as
National UNICEF Day.
(click picture for
display size of first page of Speech)
Requesting
the President of the United States to declare National UNICEF Day
"I now introduce a resolution to authorize and request
the President of the United States to issue annually a
proclamation designating October 31 as National UNICEF Day.
I invite my colleagues to join with me in supporting this
resolution. What greater promise of world peace can we in
this Congress encourage than to give our blessing to this
constructive program of children-to-children cooperation?
May I say also that I agree wholeheartedly with our
President when he says that there is no nobler work for
peace."
From the Speech of the
Honorable Robert W. Kastenmeier of Wisconsin
House
of Representatives, United States Congress
Monday,
March 7, 1966. |
(click picture for
display size of Speech)
Congressionl Record of the Joint Resolution 144
authorizing and requesting President Johnson to designate
October 31 as National UNICEF Day.
"Whereas
the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is dedicated to
improving the lives of children and youth in the world's
developing countries through assistance to governments to
help eliminate hunger, disease, and ignorance; and
Whereas the accomplishments of UNICEF have been recognized
by the high honor of the award of the 1965 Nobel Peace
Prize; and
Whereas the peace of the world in the future depends on
ncreasing the opportunities for development of today's
children; and
Whereas UNICEF's programs in behalf of children and youth
are dependent for financial support upon the voluntary
contributions
of governments and private citizens;
and
Whereas the children of the United States are making ail
important contribution to UNICEF through the trick-or-treat
campaign on Halloween:
Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That the President of the United States is
authorized and requested to issue annually a proclamation
designating October 31 as National UNICEF Day, inviting the
Governors and mayors of State and local governments of the
United States to issue similar proclamations, and urging all
Americans, both adults and children, in their traditional
spirit of good will, to continue and to strengthen their
support of UNICEF, not only as individuals but also through
their schools, their churches, and other community
organizations." |
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