CITIZEN-TIMES REPORTS JFK'S PLANE UNABLE TO LAND IN ASHEVILLE
Asheville, North Carolina (JFK+50) On Sunday, September 18, 1960, The Asheville Citizen-Times ran a front page story titled "Kennedy Flies Over, Unable to Land."
Senator John F. Kennedy, Democratic nominee for POTUS, was scheduled to appear at McCormick Field* here in Asheville just after Noon on Saturday, September 17th.
4000 supporters were anxiously awaiting the Senator's arrival when they were informed by Asheville attorney Herschel Hawkins that JFK's plane was unable to land due to heavy cloud cover.
Just after 2:30 p.m.,however, Senator Kennedy's voice boomed over the loudspeakers. He was speaking on the telephone from Charlotte.
JFK said...
"I am particularly sorry not to have a chance to visit your part of North Carolina, and I do hope...we will have a chance to come back again. This part of North Carolina (is) becoming one of the most productive and fastest growing parts of the South."
The Senator added...
"It (will) be difficult to win this election without the support of North Carolina."
*McCormick Field is a baseball stadium located at 30 Buchanan Place, Asheville, NC. It is home to the Asheville Tourists minor league baseball team.
SOURCES
"Campaign trail history: JFK literally phoned in an Asheville rally," by Dillon Davis, The Citizen-Times, May 14, 2019, www.citizen-times.com/
"Kennedy Flies Over, Unable To Land," Asheville Citizen-Times, Sunday, September 18, 1960.
"Remarks Via Telephone, Asheville, North Carolina, 17 September 1960, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.
