Gifts from African Leaders

President Kennedy was a strong supporter of African nationalism and independence on both moral and strategic grounds. Within the context of the Cold War, he believed that the newly independent African nations could have an impact on the struggle between the western democracies and the Soviet bloc. He also believed that the African movements for independence were inspired by universal aspirations for freedom and democracy. "If we extend the hand of friendship," JFK said, "then the course of African revolution...will be towards democracy and freedom and not towards communism."

Many of the leaders from these newly formed African nations visited the White House. This is a collection of the gifts they presented to President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy.