PABLO CASALS PLAYS AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Pablo Casals Performs
in the White House East Room
November 13, 1961
Photo by Cecil Stoughton
JFK Library Photo
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The most celebrated cellist of the 20th century, Pablo Casals, performed this evening for President & Mrs. John F. Kennedy, along with an audience which included a group of noted American composers.
Leonard Bernstein & Aaron Copeland attended the concert.
Mr. Casals, who last played at the White House in 1904 for President Theodore Roosevelt, accepted JFK's invitation despite his self-imposed boycott of performing in countries which had recognized the government of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.*
*Casals was a supporter of the Spanish Republican Government.
Pablo Casals was born in El Vendrell, Catalonia, Spain in 1876.
He gave a solo recital in Barcelona at the age of 14 & graduated from Escola Municipal de Musica in 1896.
Casals played at Carnegie Hall on March 9, 1904.**
Pablo Casals in his younger days
**Martita Casals, his 2nd wife, later said that her husband accepted JFK's invitation because of Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy's support for the arts & because "he felt that music had to contribute to freedom (&) to peace."
She described the evening as "magical" & said that when it was over, Mrs. Kennedy followed them all the way out to their car.
Pablo Casals Kisses 1st Lady's Hand
November 13, 1961
Photo by Robert Knudsen
White House Photo
Martita & Pablo married when she was 20 & he was 81.
The story goes that he did not tell his doctor of his intentions until after the engagement. The doctor said to him: "You'd better think carefully before you do this...this could be fatal."
Pablo said nothing for a few moments, reflecting on the doctor's words.
Then he said: "Well, you know, if she dies, she dies!"***
***Source, "The Kennedys' Camelot Culture", AARP, Feb. 23, 2011.
November 13, 1961
JFK PRESENTED TORAH AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, presented President Kennedy with a Torah today at the White House.
JFK accepted the gift & said that the presence of the union's Board of Trustees at the ceremony "symbolizes the happy relations which exist between all religious groups, & must continue to exist in this country if we are to be worthy of our heritage."
Torah
Photo by Willy Horsch (2007)
November 13, 1982
VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL DEDICATED
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White (2003)
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Following a march by thousands of Vietnam War veterans, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated today here in Washington, D.C.
The Memorial features a V-shaped black-granite wall inscribed with the names of 57,939 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war.
The names are listed chronologically by date of death. The names were inscribed on the stones in Memphis, Tennessee.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Washington, D.C.
Photo by John White (2003)
Maya Lin, a 21 year old student at the Yale School of Architecture, designed the memorial.
Lin, born in Ohio, is the daughter of Chinese immigrants.*
Maya Lin
Photo by Sharon Styer (2007)
Maya Lin was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2005 as well as the National Women's Hall of Fame.
In 2009, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Obama.
In 1984, a statue of "Three Soldiers" was added to the memorial site.
Three Soldiers Monument
Photo by John White (2003)
In 1993 a Womens Memorial was also added.
Vietnam Women's Memorial
Photo by John White (2003)
UNITED STATES VIETNAM WAR CASUALTIES BY YEAR
1956-1964: 401
1965 1863
1966 6143
1967 11153
1968 16592
1969 11616
1970 6081
1971 2357
1972 641
1973 168
1974-1998 1178
UNITED STATES VIETNAM WAR CASUALTIES BY BRANCH OF SERVICE
US ARMY 38209
USMC 14838
US NAVY 2555
USAF 2584
USCG 7
Civilian 19
"We Shall Remember Them"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Photo by John White (2003)