January 8, 1963 - President John F. Kennedy remarks at the National Gallery of Art

The President spoke before an invited audience in the West Statuary Hall at 9:30 p.m. In his opening words he referred to Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Andre Malraux, French Minister of Cultural Affairs, and Madame Malraux.
''Mr. Secretary, Mr. Minister, Madame, ladies and gentlemen:

I would like to repeat Mr. Malraux's last words which paid, I think, our country a singular compliment. He said, "There has been talk of the risks this painting took by leaving the Louvre. They are real, though exaggerated. But the risk taken by the boys who landed one day at Arromanches, to say nothing of those who preceded them 25 years before, were much more certain. To the humblest among them who may be listening to me now, I want to say without raising my voice that the masterpiece to which you are paying historic homage this evening, Mr. president, is a painting which he has saved." Mr. Minister, we are grateful to you. ''

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