JFK APPROVES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 3 SISTERS BRIDGE; NOT HAPPY WITH CONCESSIONS AT DC STADIUM
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 12, 1963, President John F. Kennedy "approved an Advance Committee's recommendations on (the) general location and design for a Georgetown-Rosslyn bridge and interstate freeway through northwest Washington."
In a letter to District of Columbia Commissioner Walter N. Tobriner*, the President indicated his acceptance of the recommendations "should assure that the entire District highway program can now move forward."
The location of the proposed bridge is across the Potomac River between Roosevelt Island and Key Bridge.
*Walter Nathan Tobriner (1902-1979) was born in Washington, D.C., educated at Harvard & Princeton, & served as U.S. ambassador to Jamaica 1967-1969.
WNT, having spoken with President Kennedy on several occasions, gave an oral interview at the JFK Library in 1964 in which he was asked to "recount instances in which (he) talked with" JFK.
WNT recalled speaking with the President at National Airport after JFK had attended the opening baseball game at District (of Columbia) Stadium^. JFK said...
"the hot dogs were cold...the Coca-Cola had too much ice...and the level of service wasn't up to what might be expected."
^District of Columbia Stadium, a.k.a. RFK Stadium, (1961-2019).
JFK+50 NOTE
Three Sisters/Georegtown Bridge was never completed. The proposed 8-lane freeway bridge was started in 1969 but was stopped due to "fierce local opposition, court battles and storm damage."
The final blow was when Hurricane Agnes flooded the Potomac in June 1972 & caused a steel frame on the construction site to be washed away. The contract was cancelled in August 1972.
SOURCES
"Kennedy Backs Georgetown Bridge Plans," by Lee Flor, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 12, 1963, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"Three Sisters Bridge Across the Potomac Was Never Built," Ghosts of D.C., April 13, 2015, www.ghostsofdc.org/
"Walter N. Tobriner recorded interview," by Charles T. Morrissey, July 6, 1964, page 1, John F. Kennedy Library Oral History Program
