Often perceived as one of the more charismatic American presidents of the 20thcentury , John F. Kennedyhad piddling trouble engaging the populace with his political grandiosity . But even by those standards , Kennedy’sappearanceat Rice University in Houston , Texas , on September 12 , 1962 , became a landmark moment in the country ’s history . That was when Kennedy proclaimed it would be an American who would first set animal foot on themoon .

Kennedy made the appearance in front of a crowd of 35,000 hoi polloi that day , and his motives for doing so were not difficult to discern . Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarinmade historyon April 12 , 1961 , by becoming thefirstperson in space . In a metaphorical sense , America needed to perform a little chest - thump in what was then a fierce and tense geological period of one - upsmanship between the two countries .

The university had made Kennedy an honorary professor , which prompted the chairwoman to joke that his “ first lecturing would be very brief . ” He continued :

President John F. Kennedy urged Americans that going to the moon was within reach.

This was n’t Kennedy ’s first timemakingsuch remarks . He had previously voiced the persuasion to a joint school term of Congress in 1961 . But this one was intended to rouse citizen . By delivering a stirring lecture , Kennedy was capable to summon up public support for aspaceprogram that would cost a tremendous amount of money . With that support , the U.S. government was willing to commit a astonishing $ 25 billion to the distance program , or roughly $ 100 billion in today ’s dollars .

Thanks to the attempt ofNASAand the Internet Explorer willing to risk their lives in pursuit of a dream beyond our atmosphere , Kennedy ’s ambition was realized on July 20 , 1969 , whenNeil Armstrongbecame thefirst person to walk on the moon . It was , and remains , something far more than a lunar experience . By calling on the country to lick a massive logistical challenge and leave the confines of the planet , Kennedy was also urging the human airstream to stargaze bigger .

Thepodiumin place for the speech is now on exhibit at Space Center Houston .