JOHN F. KENNEDY SWORN-IN AS MEMBER OF CONGRESS
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 3, 1947, John F. Kennedy was sworn in as a freshman member of the 80th Congress of the United States* at the United States Capitol. JFK, just 29 years old, represented the 11th District of Massachusetts.
JFK won election on November 5, 1946 with 71.9% of the vote and filled the seat previously held by Boston mayor James M. Curley.
Lance Morrow writes that when John F. Kennedy came to Washington in January 1947, he "took little interest" in his work as a congressman. Morrow quotes Mary Davis**, Mr. Kennedy's secretary, as saying that the young man "did not know the first thing about what he was doing."
The young congressman, however, quickly learned on the job. In an oral interview for the JFK Library, Mary Davis says that "he concentrated on being a good member of Congress" and "was a good representative (who) voted exactly the way" his constituents would have voted.
She said the Congressman didn't spend much time in the office and very rarely ever wanted to sign his letters. JFK, Mary says, "had a remarkable brain" and "wrote 99% of his own speeches."
*80th Congress (Jan 3, 1947-Jan 3, 1949) was dubbed as "the do-nothing congress" by President Harry S Truman because it opposed his 'Fair Deal' legislation. It was controlled by the Republican Party. Richard Nixon was also a freshman member of the 80th Congress.
**Mary Wright Davis (1918-?) started working on the Hill in 1939 & was on the staff of NY Congressman James Fitzpatrick for 6 years. She is described as an efficient, organized multi-tasker who could do the work of a dozen staff members. She was with JFK from 1946-1953, but did not choose to work on his Senate staff.
SOURCES
"Oral History Interview with Mary Davis," April 21, 1976, Washington, D.C. by E. William Johnson for the JFK Library.
"The Best Years of Their Lives: Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon in 1948," by Lance Morrow, Basic Books, New York, 2005.
New Representatives
of the 80th Congress
JFK (back row, 3rd from left)
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On January 3, 1947, John F. Kennedy was sworn in as a freshman member of the 80th Congress of the United States* at the United States Capitol. JFK, just 29 years old, represented the 11th District of Massachusetts.
JFK won election on November 5, 1946 with 71.9% of the vote and filled the seat previously held by Boston mayor James M. Curley.
Lance Morrow writes that when John F. Kennedy came to Washington in January 1947, he "took little interest" in his work as a congressman. Morrow quotes Mary Davis**, Mr. Kennedy's secretary, as saying that the young man "did not know the first thing about what he was doing."
The young congressman, however, quickly learned on the job. In an oral interview for the JFK Library, Mary Davis says that "he concentrated on being a good member of Congress" and "was a good representative (who) voted exactly the way" his constituents would have voted.
She said the Congressman didn't spend much time in the office and very rarely ever wanted to sign his letters. JFK, Mary says, "had a remarkable brain" and "wrote 99% of his own speeches."
*80th Congress (Jan 3, 1947-Jan 3, 1949) was dubbed as "the do-nothing congress" by President Harry S Truman because it opposed his 'Fair Deal' legislation. It was controlled by the Republican Party. Richard Nixon was also a freshman member of the 80th Congress.
**Mary Wright Davis (1918-?) started working on the Hill in 1939 & was on the staff of NY Congressman James Fitzpatrick for 6 years. She is described as an efficient, organized multi-tasker who could do the work of a dozen staff members. She was with JFK from 1946-1953, but did not choose to work on his Senate staff.
SOURCES
"Oral History Interview with Mary Davis," April 21, 1976, Washington, D.C. by E. William Johnson for the JFK Library.
"The Best Years of Their Lives: Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon in 1948," by Lance Morrow, Basic Books, New York, 2005.
New Representatives
of the 80th Congress
JFK (back row, 3rd from left)
