A BUSY DAY FOR THE PRESIDENT-ELECT
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 19, 1961, President-elect John F. Kennedy put in a very busy day and night. Mr. Kennedy met with President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his cabinet officers at the White House. In the evening hours, he and Mrs. Kennedy attended a reception for Eleanor Roosevelt and then a pre-inaugural concert performed at Convention Hall.
SOURCES
"The Inaugural Gala That Was," CarlAnthonyonline.com, January 18, 2013.
"Thursday, January 19, 1961." Daily JFK: The Life of John F. Kennedy, www.dailyjfk.com/
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 19, 1961, President-elect John F. Kennedy put in a very busy day and night. Mr. Kennedy met with President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his cabinet officers at the White House. In the evening hours, he and Mrs. Kennedy attended a reception for Eleanor Roosevelt and then a pre-inaugural concert performed at Convention Hall.
The Kennedys then motored to the National Armory to attend the Inaugural Gala organized and produced by Peter Lawford and Frank Sinatra who described his role as "the most exciting assignment of my life."
The Gala, which was delayed in starting because of a snowstorm that hit the Nation's Capitol that day, included the music of Leonard Bernstein's Orchestra. The President-elect and Vice-President-elect entered the Armory to the strains of "Anchors Aweigh."
Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson sang the National Anthem and Broadway star Ethel Merman* sang "Everything's Coming Up Roses"**.
After the Gala, Mrs. Kennedy retired for the night while the President-elect continued on to attend a party given by his father at Paul Young's Restaurant. Reportedly, he didn't return to the N-Street apartment until dawn.
*Ethel Merman (1908-1984) was born in New York City and rose to stardom on the Broadway stage. She performed in musicals including Gypsy, Girl Crazy, & Anything Goes. "There's No Business Like Show Business" from Annie Get Your Gun became her signature song. EM is known as the First Lady of the Musical Comedy Stage.
**Everything's Coming Up Roses was from the 1959 Broadway musical "Gypsy: A Musical Fable" with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim & music by Jule Styne. The instrumental version became the theme song for Jack Parr's The Tonight Show.
Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson sang the National Anthem and Broadway star Ethel Merman* sang "Everything's Coming Up Roses"**.
After the Gala, Mrs. Kennedy retired for the night while the President-elect continued on to attend a party given by his father at Paul Young's Restaurant. Reportedly, he didn't return to the N-Street apartment until dawn.
**Everything's Coming Up Roses was from the 1959 Broadway musical "Gypsy: A Musical Fable" with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim & music by Jule Styne. The instrumental version became the theme song for Jack Parr's The Tonight Show.
SOURCES
"The Inaugural Gala That Was," CarlAnthonyonline.com, January 18, 2013.
"Thursday, January 19, 1961." Daily JFK: The Life of John F. Kennedy, www.dailyjfk.com/
Ethel Merman
Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall
October 5, 1960
