Superman’s Mission for President Kennedy: Let’s Move!
http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2014/04/17/superman’s-mission-president-kennedy-let’s-move
Just over four years ago,
First Lady Michelle Obama started Let’s Move! to help address rising childhood
obesity rates in the U.S.
But the First Lady wasn’t the first person in the White House to focus on the
health of our nation’s kids.
Back in 1956, President Dwight
D. Eisenhower was inspired by an international study that found American
children to be less fit than children in other countries, and so he launched
the President’s Council on Youth Fitness, or Executive Order 10673. When
President Kennedy took office in 1961, he recommitted his Administration to the
effort and launched an official U.S. Physical Fitness Program encouraging
nationwide participation. In a video address to the American people, President
Kennedy said:
I hope all of you will join
in a great national effort to build a strong and better America,
through physical effort and through the contributions we can make by the drive
and force we bring into our daily lives.
Now here’s where Superman
comes in.
In 1963, the Kennedy
Administration collaborated with DC Comics and legendary comic book artist Al
Plastino (who had been drawing the red-caped, super-strong comic book hero for
almost 20 years) to create a Superman story that would inspire the nation to be
physically active and eat healthier. The comic book, “Superman’s Mission for President
Kennedy,” was put on hold after President Kennedy’s death, but later published
as a tribute to the late President.
Over 50 years later, the rare
Superman comic is making a comeback. After Al Plastino passed away in December
2013, DC Comics donated the never-before-displayed original artwork for the
story to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. You can check out
the special exhibit through September 1, 2014 and learn more about it here.
Let’s Move! is excited to
bring you a selection of the drawings right here. In the comic President
Kennedy says, "We must show our youngsters that everyone has to keep fit –
not just sports heroes! Once we lose our physical alertness, our mental
awareness will vanish as well!” We couldn't agree more!