END OF JFK'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1767

JFK'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN ENDS IN BOSTON

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago today, November 7, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy ended his campaign for the office of President of the United States here in Boston.  He spoke at the Boston Garden and Faneuil Hall.

The soon-to-be president-elect said...

"On (the next President's) shoulders will rest burdens heavier than (those) of any President's since...Lincoln.

War and peace, the progress of the country, the security of the people, the education of our children, jobs, the development of...resources--the symbolic feeling of a nation, the image the nation presents to the world, its' power, prestige and direction--all...will come to rest on the President of the United States."

Later, at historic Faneuil Hall*, JFK said:

"This old hall reminds us of how far we've been...& what we must do in the future.  This painting behind me is of the first Thanksgiving.  (The Plymouth Colony) had a long, hard experience.  Many...died and yet the first harvest came in and they  gave thanks.

It reminds us of what our people have been willing to do in order to build our society."

*Faneuil Hall, completed in 1742, became known as the "Cradle of Liberty" during the American Revolution as Samuel Adams and James Otis spoke here.

The hall, named for merchant Peter Faneuil, was built by John Smibert.

JFK Bumper Sticker 1960

JFK Library Image

Faneuil Hall

Boston, Massachusetts 1903

JAMES BROWN LIVE AT BOSTON GARDEN

JAMES BROWN'S CONCERT HELPS KEEP PEACE IN BOSTON

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Forty-seven years ago, April 5, 1968, leaders of the city government here in Boston considered cancelling that night's scheduled James Brown* concert at the Boston Garden.

They were concerned about potential violence following a night of riots and protests in the aftermath of the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.

Councilman Tom Atkins suggested going ahead with the concert and Mayor Kevin White agreed but asked WGBH to broadcast the concert LIVE "so people could watch from the safety of their homes."

Bob Seay of WGBH-TV said...

"James Brown delivered an incredibly inspired performance.  He connected with his audience...(and) with his many fans beyond and throughout the city.

And it worked.  All in all, it was one of the most amazing nights of live TV anyone could experience."

The Boston Garden concert was dedicated to the memory of Dr. King.

*James Joseph Brown (1933-2006) became the 'Godfather of Soul.'  He was born in Barnwell, SC and grew up in Augusta, GA.  JJB first appeared at Augusta's Lenox Theater in 1944.  He learned to play piano, guitar and harmonica.

JJB joined 'The Famous Flames' and their 1956 version of 'Please, Please, Please' sold more than a million records.  The group soon became known as "James Brown and the Famous Flames."

The group's "Try Me" in 1958 became the 1st of 17 chart-topping hits and in 1962, "Night Train" was JJB's first entrance into the top 40 on Billboard.  The following year "Prisoner of Love" made the top 20.  "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" made the top 10 and won James Brown his 1st Grammy.

SOURCE

"Video:  In 1968, James Brown Saved Boston," by Bob Seay, April 4, 2011, www.wgbh.org/

James Brown

Photo by Ranko (1993)

Own Work

www.wikipedia.com

JFK ENDS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

JFK CLOSES CAMPAIGN IN BOSTON

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Fifty-four years ago today, November 7, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy ended his campaign for the office of President of the United States here in Boston.  He spoke at the Boston Garden and Faneuil Hall.

The soon-to-be president-elect said...

"On (the next President's) shoulders will rest burdens heavier than (those) of any President's since...Lincoln.

War and peace, the progress of the country, the security of the people, the education of our children, jobs, the development of...resources--the symbolic feeling of a nation, the image the nation presents to the world, its' power, prestige and direction--all...will come to rest on the President of the United States."

JFK Bumper Sticker 1960

JFK Library Image

Later, at historic Faneuil Hall*, JFK said:

"This old hall reminds us of how far we've been...& what we must do in the future.  This painting behind me is of the first Thanksgiving.  (The Plymouth Colony) had a long, hard experience.  Many...died and yet the first harvest came in and they  gave thanks.

It reminds us of what our people have been willing to do in order to build our society."

*Faneuil Hall, completed in 1742, became known as the "Cradle of Liberty" during the American Revolution as Samuel Adams and James Otis spoke here.
The hall, named for merchant Peter Faneuil, was built by John Smibert.

Faneuil Hall

Boston, Massachusetts 1903

KNOXVILLE NEWS-SENTINEL EDITORIAL QUOTES JFK

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) On the day after Barack Obama was re-elected two years ago today, November 7, 2012, a Knoxville News-Sentinel editorial said...

"Obama now must stop campaigning and start leading." 

The editorial also called on Mr. Obama to stand up to the "biggest challenge (which) lies ahead...to work together (with Republicans) to resolve the most vexing of the nation's ills."

The News-Sentinel, which made no endorsement in the Presidential campaign, also indicated the Congress of the United States bears a responsibility to work with the President...

"Congress owes the country's citizens answers, not finger-pointing or paralyzing partisanship.  As President John F. Kennedy once said...
'Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.'"

Obviously by the results of Tuesday's mid-term elections, a majority of the voters held the President accountable for not meeting the challenge the News-Sentinel described.

**The Knoxville News-Sentinel's Editorial Board includes Patrick Birmingham, Publisher, Jack McElroy, Editor & Scott Barker, Editorial Page Editor.

SOURCE

The Knoxville News Sentinel, November 7, 2012, Opinion Section, page 2B.

JAMES BROWN CONCERT QUIETS BOSTON 50 YEARS AGO

April 5, 2013

JAMES BROWN CONCERT QUIETS BOSTON IN AFTERMATH OF KING ASSASSINATION 45 YEARS AGO TONIGHT

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) James Brown*, the godfather of soul music, appeared in a live televised concert here in Boston 45 years ago tonight, April 5, 1968.

*James Brown (1933-2006) was born in Barnwell, South Carolina & grew up in poverty in nearby Elko.  He began his musical career in 1945 & later performed with "The Famous Flames."

On October 24, 1962, Brown's "Live at the Apollo" album sold a million copies.  His 1st Top 10 single record, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" won him a Grammy.

The Apollo Pays Tribute to James Brown
               Photo by Benjamen Walker
                     from New York, USA.

The previously scheduled concert was held despite a night of violence in the city following the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.

Boston's young mayor, Kevin White, thought about cancelling the Brown concert because of concerns about violence but was convinced by councilman Tom Atkins that if the concert was performed on free live television, it would help to keep people at home & off the streets.

WGBH televised the concert live from the Boston Garden**.  James Brown dedicated the performance to the memory of Dr. King.

The city of Boston "saw less crime...than would be expected on a...normal Friday in April." 

**Boston Garden opened on November 17, 1928 atop North Station.  It was the site of a speech by JFK in November 1960 & was home to the Boston Celtics professional basketball team.  BG was demolished in 1998.

SOURCE

www.history.com

                           You Tube Video