"EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES"

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.

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.

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

SINATRA PRESENTS AN INAUGURAL GALA

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1833

SINATRA PRESENTS JFK'S INAUGURAL GALA AT THE NATIONAL ARMORY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago this evening, Frank Sinatra presented the Inaugural Gala for President-elect John F. Kennedy at the National Armory* here in the Nation's Capital.

Mr. Sinatra described his assignment to produce the Gala as the "most exciting...of his life."  Actor Peter Lawford assisted "Old Blue Eyes" in the production.

Carl Anthony says that the 1961 Inaugural Gala...

"featured not only a wide variety of types of entertainment but performers more diverse than ever before."

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" and Mahalia Jackson, sang the National Anthem.

Jacqueline Kennedy wore Oleg Cassini's "ivory double-faced silk satin" gown with cockade trim.  The dress established Mrs. Kennedy's style on the eve of becoming First Lady.

The cockade expressed pride in her French ancestry and love of history. During the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington's soldiers wore black cockades and French General the Marquis de Lafayette wore a black and white cockade.

The Inaugural Gala's cast included...

Laurence Olivier, Ethel Merman, Bette Davis, Frederic March, Sidney Poitier,
Anthony Quinn, Janet Leigh, Tony Curtis, Gene Kelly, Nat King Cole,
Jimmy Durante, Harry Belafonte and  Milton Berle.

After the show, the President-elect said...

"I am proud to be a Democrat because...the...party has been identified with excellence, and we saw excellence tonight."

*United States Army National Guard Armory, located at 2001 E. Capitol Street adjacent to RFK Memorial Stadium, is a 10,000 seat arena which opened in 1941 & has been the site of inaugural balls from Truman to Obama.
The Armory was designed by Nathan C. Wyeth.

D.C. Armory

Photo by AgnosticPreachersKid

at English Wikipedia (2008)

SOURCES

"The Inaugural Gala That Was," CarlAnthonyonline.com, January 18, 2013.


www.sinatra.com

President and Mrs. Kennedy

Presidential Inaugural Ball

January 20, 1961

Photo by Abbie Rowe

National Park Service Image

INAUGURAL GALA

January 19, 1961


Ike meets with JFK in the oval office.  Ike tells him that Laos is "the key to...Southeast Asia" &  military action may be required.


In April 1961, JFK sends a carrier task force to the Gulf of Siam but otherwise decides not to intervene.  

January 19, 1961


An Inaugural Gala is held at the National Armory in Washington, D.C.  Jacqueline Kennedy wears an "ivory double-faced silk satin" gown with cockade trim.  The dress establishes Mrs. Kennedy's style on the eve of becoming First Lady.


The cockade expresses pride in her French ancestry & love of history.  During the revolution, Washington's soldiers wore black cockades & French General Lafayette wore a black & white cockade.

                     Courtesy of JFK Library, Boston


January 19, 1764


The British Parliament expels John Wilkes for challenging the integrity of King George III in his newspaper, The North Briton.  Wilkes flees to France but returns in 1768.


Wilkes opposes the Townshend Acts which taxes British imports to the American colonies.  Although re-elected to Parliament, he is refused his seat. In the colonies, patriots cry out "Wilkes & Liberty!"

January 19,1807


Robert E. Lee is born in Westmoreland County, Virginia.  He will take command of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War in 1861.  Even though his side loses the war, Lee is considered the greatest general of the conflict.

January 19, 1809


Edgar Allan Poe is born in Boston, Massachusetts.  He moves to Philadelphia in 1838 where he writes horror stories including "The Fall of the House of Usher" & "The Tell-Tale Heart" as well as the mystery "The Murders in the Rue Morgue". In 1844, Poe moves to New York City where he writes "The Raven".  He dies in 1849 at the age of 40.

January 19, 1915


The 1st air raid in world history is carried out on Great Britain when bombs are dropped from German zeppelins.  The attacks are on the towns of Great Yarmouth & King's Lynn.

January 19, 1966


Indira Gandhi becomes Prime Minister of India & the 1st woman to head the government.  She is the daughter of Jawaharial Nehru, the 1st Prime Minister of the Independent Republic of India.

 JFK welcomes Prime Minister Nehru to the US


In 1971, Indira Gandhi orders the invasion of Pakistan in support of the creation of Bangladesh.  On October 31, 1984 she is assassinated by members of her own bodyguard.

    Indira Gandhi visits Williamsburg, Virginia