DR. BUD ASSISTS IN RESEARCHING LINCOLN FUNERAL FOR JFK'S
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 23, 1963, the body of the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, arrived at the White House. The flag-draped coffin, borne by an honor guard representing the major branches of the military, was placed in the East Room where President Abraham Lincoln's coffin rested almost a century before.
Following the First Lady's request, the East Room was decorated in black crepe and her husband's coffin was put on the same catafalque used for President Lincoln in 1865.
Dr. James "Bud" Robertson, Jr.* assisted Director of the Library of Congress David Mearns in researching the Lincoln funeral on which JFK's would be patterned. Dr. Bud was appointed by the late president in 1961 to be executive director of the United States Civil War Commission.
Sadly, Bud Robertson passed away on November 2, 2019 at the age of 89. He made his last appearance at the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable on April 10, 2018.
One of Dr. Bud's most memorable quotes is...
"History is the greatest teacher you will ever have."
*James Irvin "Bud" Robertson, Jr. (1930-2019) graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 1955 & received his MS & PhD at Emory University. Dr. Bud was a long-time history professor at Virginia Tech where he specialized in Civil War studies. He authored 18 books and was a popular speaker on Civil War topics.
Dr. Bud Robertson, Jr. & John White
Knoxville Civil War Roundtable
April 10, 2018
