Aug. 12, 1962 - President Kennedy extended his congratulations to the Soviet Union today for its latest achievements in space. In a statement issued by the White House this afternoon, the President said: “I congratulate the Soviet Union on this exceptional technical feat and salute the courage of her two new astronauts. The American people, I know, wish them a safe return.” The astronauts are Maj. Andrian G. Nikolayev and Lieut. Col. Pavel R. Popovich.
