good-bye. thank you very much. >> presidential messages around the holidays tend to focus on universal themes of the time. war, national security, peace, and prosperity, but occasionally, it's the way the message is delivered that makes news. >> with the weight of 8,800 pounds, the atlas is by far the biggest satellite, more than double the mass of russia's sputnik iii. but impressive as is the feat of the atlas itself and the awesome accuracy of its guidance system, all else is overshadowed by the amazing communication system it carried aloft. ♪♪ >> the atlas can receive messages from earth, record them, and rebroadcast them on a command signal from the ground. said the president, through the marvels of scientific advance, my voice is coming to you from a satellite circling in outer space. >> this is the president of the united states speaking. >> ike's granddaughter, susan