April 26, 2012
"JOHNNY WE HARDLY KNEW YE": Memories of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, The End of the Beginning I
Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we begin our report on Chapter 1 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 1 is "The End of the Beginning".
Ken O'Donnell & Dave Powers begin Chapter 1 with a reflection on JFK's last full day on earth. It was November 21, 1963, when the President was leaving for Texas.
JFK was "looking forward eagerly to his best years."
Ken & Dave write that "everything seemed right for him, and for all of us."
Ken says that JFK felt great as he left for Texas. He said, "My back feels better than it's felt in years."
Mr. O'Donnell writes that he was shocked when he learned Mrs. Kennedy would be going with JFK to Texas.
Kenny expresses the view that the 1st family's trip to Texas in November 1963 was all about getting votes & raising money for the upcoming re-election bid in 1964.
*Ken O'Donnell was JFK's Appointments Secretary, but also political right hand.
**Dave Powers was JFK's Presidential Assistant & close personal friend.
***Joe McCarthy was a freelance writer whose articles appeared in Life & other popular magazines.
