A collection of items from President John F. Kennedy's March 18-20, 1963 trip to San Jose, Costa Rica. Lot includes the typewritten program for Kennedy's three days in Costa Rica, including his meetings with such figures as the Presidents of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador; a San Jose White House Telephone Directory; a luncheon menu from Tuesday, March 19th, 1963, in honor of the Presidents of Central America and Panama; a card written in Spanish, stamped and signed by members of the Ministry of Public Security, indicating Lt. Hirschy as a member of the presidential party; a U.S. Cooperative Exchange card and Chancery Pass, both issued to Hirschy; and a typewritten note with corrections alerting President Kennedy to the fact that the President of Honduras has arrived for their 11 am meeting, and giving him advice on how to cut his meeting with the President of Guatemala short if he so desired. Lt. Hirschy was the Supply and Logistics Officer for the Military Aides to the President, he was also reponsible for taking care of the President's needs on overseas trips, such as this one.

Also included in this lot are two never-before published 8 x 10'' color photographs, both from Kennedy's welcome ceremony upon arriving in Costa Rica. They are both dated and have notes written on the back in blue pen ink by Lt. Hirschy. One depicts the crowd outside of the American Embassy Residence, where Kennedy was staying, note reads, "San Jose, Costa Rica 3/18/63 members of the American Community waiting outside the Ambassadors Residence for President Kennedy to speak to them. Our flags on the pole." The second photograph depicts Kennedy giving a speech from the porch of the Embassy residence, note reads, "3/18/63 President John F. Kennedy speaking to the American community at the Ambassadors Residence in San Jose, Costa Rica. People to the right are / Ambassador Duke, Chief of Protocol / CAPT TT Shepard, Jr, Naval Aide / To the left / Ambassador to Costa Rica Raymond Telles / we put our seal on podium".

All objects are in good condition, with the exception of very slight yellowing of the president's program. The program is typewritten double-sided on two sheets of paper stapled together, each sheet measuring 10.5 x 8''. The three cards issued to Hirschy are all approximately 2.5 x 4'', the note to Kennedy regarding the President of Honduras measures 3 x 5'', the menu, on cardstock, 6.5 x 4.25'', and the directory 6.5 x 4.25'' and 6.5 x 8.5'' opened.

Kennedy's Presidents' Meeting in Costa Rica was the first time an American president had travelled to Central America and met with all of its leaders. He discussed the process of economically uniting the various Central American states, as well as the necessity of stopping the flow of "agents, money, arms, and propaganda" from Cuba to their countries.

These items come directly from the Hirschy family. Lieutenant Hirschy was Supply and Logistics Officer for the Military Aides to the President and Officer-in-Charge of the Navy Mess in the White House during both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. His duties also included taking care of the President’s needs on overseas trips, aboard the presidential yachts and at Camp David. Lt. Hirschy served in the White House from May 1, 1961 through May 31, 1965.