JUNE 5, 2012
THE BIG ONE III
Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we continue our report of Chapter 8 of the book by Kenneth P. O'Donnell & David F. Powers with Joe McCarthy. It is published by Little, Brown & Company.
The title of Chapter 8 is THE BIG ONE.
Kenneth O'Donnell tells a funny story about how JFK got dressed for the appearance before the Houston ministers in a dark blue suit, blue shirt & blue & white striped tie but only had a pair of brown shoes.
Apparently Dave Powers, who was responsible for the shoes, was no where to be found.
But when JFK went to get on the elevator there was Dave holding the door open for him.
Jack asked Dave if something was amiss in his wardrobe. Dave looked him up & down & said:
"Are those brown shoes?"
JFK replied:
"Yes, those are brown shoes.....with a dark blue suit. Thanks very much, Dave."
Mr. Powers assured the Senator that he need not worry because no one would see his shoes on TV, & then added for good measure.....
"You know that most of the men in this country wear brown shoes. Do you realize that tonight, by wearing these shoes, you'll be sewing up the brown-shoe voters?"
Kenny says that JFK "broke up laughing."*
*When I met Dave Powers in 1986 at the JFK Library, I knew instantly why President Kennedy liked him so much. He had the wonderful gift of humor, as did JFK.
Kenneth O'Donnell tells a funny story about how JFK got dressed for the appearance before the Houston ministers in a dark blue suit, blue shirt & blue & white striped tie but only had a pair of brown shoes.
Apparently Dave Powers, who was responsible for the shoes, was no where to be found.
But when JFK went to get on the elevator there was Dave holding the door open for him.
Jack asked Dave if something was amiss in his wardrobe. Dave looked him up & down & said:
"Are those brown shoes?"
JFK replied:
"Yes, those are brown shoes.....with a dark blue suit. Thanks very much, Dave."
Mr. Powers assured the Senator that he need not worry because no one would see his shoes on TV, & then added for good measure.....
"You know that most of the men in this country wear brown shoes. Do you realize that tonight, by wearing these shoes, you'll be sewing up the brown-shoe voters?"
Kenny says that JFK "broke up laughing."*
*When I met Dave Powers in 1986 at the JFK Library, I knew instantly why President Kennedy liked him so much. He had the wonderful gift of humor, as did JFK.
