JACK WEDS JACKIE IN NEWPORT
Newport, Rhode Island (JFK+50) Senator John F. Kennedy & Jacqueline Lee Bouvier exchanged wedding vows today at St. Mary's Catholic Church here in Newport.
750 guests crowded into the church where Richard Cushing, the Archbishop of Boston, conducted the ceremony.
The bride was accompanied down the aisle by her step-father, Hugh D. Auchincloss.
The bride wore an ivory silk gown made by African-American designer Ann Lowe. The gown required 50 yards of material & 2 months to produce.
Jacqueline also wore a choker of pearls & a diamond bracelet that was a gift from the groom.
The bride's bouquet was of pink & white spray orchids & gardenias.
2000 people crowded the street outside the church before, during & after the ceremony.
Jackie's sister, Lee Canfield, was the matron of honor while her half-sister, Nina Auchincloss, was maid of honor.
Robert F. Kennedy, the groom's brother, was best man.
Ushers included brother Ted & brother-in-laws Sargent Shriver & Michael Canfield as well as close friends Lem Billings, Red Fay, Torbert McDonald, Senator George Smathers & Charles Bartlett.
After the wedding ceremony, 1300 guests gathered at Hammersmith Farm overlooking Naragansett Bay for a luncheon reception.
JFK & Jackie at Hammersmith Farm
Photo by Toni Frissell
Library of Congress
The newly weds danced to the Meyer Davis Orchestra playing "I Married An Angel".
They also sampled the 5 tier wedding cake which was 4 feet high.
The young couple are to honeymoon at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan & then spend 2 weeks in Acapulco.
Kennedy-Bouvier Wedding Invitation
JFK Library
September 12, 2011*
PT109 ACTOR CLIFF ROBERTSON DEAD AT 88
Stony Brook, New York (JFK+50) Cliff Robertson, the actor who was selected by JFK to play the lead role in the 1963 film "PT109", died Saturday afternoon here in Stony Brook.
Robertson was 88 years old.
The White House approved the film & President Kennedy established these 3 conditions:
1) the film must be historically accurate
2) the profits must go to the survivors of PT109 & their families
3) JFK must have final approval for the lead role
The movie was filmed in the Florida Keys & since there were no original WWII PT boats available, the producers had to convert other types of boats to resemble the PT109 & other PTs for the film.
The movie was based on the book "PT109: John F. Kennedy in World War II" by Robert J. Donovan.
*I just learned of Cliff Robertson's death this morning from a story in the Knoxville News-Sentinel by Karen Zraick of the Associated Press.
September 12, 1962
JFK SPEAKS ON "SPACE" AT RICE UNIVERSITY
JFK Library Photo
Library of Congress
Houston, Texas (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy addressed 50,000 people at Rice University stadium here in Houston today.
The President spoke on the topic of space exploration.
JFK said:
"We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, & new rights to be won & they must be won & used for the progress of all people."
He reminded his audience:
"We choose to go to the moon in this decade & do the other things. Not because they are easy, but because they are hard."
Later, President Kennedy spoke at the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation at Lambert Field.
September 12, 1961
JFK BIRTHPLACE GETS A NEW PLAQUE
Brookline, Massachusetts (JFK+50) The birthplace of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy received today a commemorative plaque from the town of Brookline.
The plaque, bearing a likeness of JFK, reads:
"Birthplace of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th President of the United States. Born on May 29, 1917 on this site. 83 Beals Street. Brookline, Massachusetts.
September 12, 1960
JFK SPEAKS TO PROTESTANT MINISTERS
Houston, Texas (JFK+50) In an attempt to answer some of the questions regarding his attitudes toward government & religion, Senator John F. Kennedy addressed today the Greater Houston Ministerial Association.
The event took place at the Rice Hotel.
Senator Kennedy said:
"I believe in an America where the separation of church & state are absolute."
JFK said that if he becomes President of the United States, he will base his decisions on "what my conscience tells me to be the national interest & without regard to outside religious pressures."
