"THAT MEETING SHOULD BE PREPARED AT A LOWER LEVEL"

JFK ASKED IF WILL HAVE 'HEART TO HEART' TALK WITH STROM THURMOND

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On February 14, 1961, President John F. Kennedy answered a reporter's humorous question with an equally humorous response at his news conference held at the State Department auditorium.

Mr. President:*

"This being Valentine's Day, sir, do you think it might be a good idea if you would call Senator (Strom) Thurmond* of South Carolina down to the White House for a heart to heart talk about (laughter) the whole disagreement over the censorship of military speeches and what he calls your defeatist foreign policy?"

The President:

"Well, I think that that meeting should be probably prepared at a lower level, then we could have a... (more laughter)"

JFK+50 NOTE

Senator Thurmond did not support JFK as the Democratic nominee for POTUS in 1960 & in 1962 he called for U.S. invasion of Cuba.  Today's posting originally appeared on this blog on Feb 14, 2011 & as you can see below, it remains the most popular post among our visitors.

*James Strom Thurmond, Sr. (1902-2003) was born in Edgefield, SC & graduated Clemson University (BS).  JST served in the US Army in WWI (Battle of Normandy) & as governor of SC 1947-1951.  He was US Senator (D-SC) 1954-2003.  JST was a 3rd party candidate for the States Rights Party in 1948 carrying 4 states (39 electoral votes).

SOURCE

"JFK Answers Valentine's Day Question," JFK+50, February 14, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

Senator J. Strom Thurmond

(D-South Carolina)

August 8, 1961

Photo by Warren K. Leffler

US News & World Report

Library of Congress

"WE MUST SUCCEED NEXT SUMMER & NEXT NOVEMBER"

SENATOR KENNEDY KICKS OFF PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Nashua, New Hampshire (JFK+50) On January 25, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) opened his presidential campaign here in Nashua*.  

The Senator first attended a reception at Nashua City Hotel then spoke in a snowstorm on the steps of Nashua City Hall.

JFK said...

"We start here in New Hampshire today.  I believe we must succeed next summer and next November."

The Senator wore a dark blue pinstripe suit, navy blue polka dot tie, pin stripe shirt and "the friendly Kennedy grin."

JFK+50 NOTE

Nashua, said to be "the best place to live in America" by Money Magazine, is located only 35 miles north of Brookline, Massachusetts where JFK was born.

In 1965, a bust of JFK was erected at Nashua City Hall sculpted by Evangelos William Frudakis. (see below)

SOURCES

"Fifty Years Ago Nashua Greeted JFK," by Stacy Milbouer,  The Nashua Telegraph, January 25, 2010, www.nashuatelegraph.com,

"Kennedy Presidential Campaign Began In Nashua, New Hampshire 55 Years Ago," JFK+50, January 25, 2015, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

"In Nashua, Remembering The Day JFK Launched His Campaign," by Michael Brindly, November 22, 2015, www.nhpr.org/

JFK Bust

by Evangelos William Frudakis

Photo MarkBuckawicki (2015)

CCO 1.0 UPD

"ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY"

JFK INAUGURATED 65 YEARS AGO, YOUNGEST ELECTED POTUS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Sixty-five years ago today, January 20, 1961, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated 35th President of the United States at the East Front of the Capitol Building here in Washington, D.C.

JFK's 14 minute Inaugural Address, according to the JFK Library, is "widely viewed as one of the most enduring inaugural messages in U.S. history."

Written by President Kennedy with assistance from his close advisor and speech-writer, Theodore Sorenson*, "the speech defined what it means to be an American and awakened the highest aspirations of citizenship for decades to come."

The most memorable line from the address (which appears on JFK+50's every post) is...

"My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

Sixty million Americans (I was one of them) watched the ceremonies on black and white television sets.

*Theodore Chaikin Sorenson (1928-2010) was born in Lincoln, Nebraska & earned his B.A. at the University of Nebraska & was 1st in his class at the University of Nebraska School of Law.  TCS was JFK's aide & speech writer 1953-1963.

SOURCES

"Sixtieth Anniversary of JFK's Inaugural Address," JFK+50, January 20, 2021, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/

"Sixty Years Ago President Kennedy asked us...," January 20, 2021, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Boston, www.jfklibrary.org/

JFK Delivering Inaugural Address

January 20 1961

Photo by CWO Donald Mingfield USA

JFK Presidential Library

"THIS IS A SAD TIME FOR ALL PEOPLE"

BODY OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY LIES IN EAST ROOM AS LBJ RUNS THE GOVERNMENT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On Saturday, November 23, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson ran the government of the United States "from his old Vice-Presidential office across from the White House."

The body of his predecessor, John F. Kennedy, lay in repose in the East Room of the Executive Mansion.

Mr. Kennedy, the youngest elected POTUS, was felled by assassin's bullets yesterday afternoon in Dallas, Texas as he rode in an open car through the city streets.

LBJ was sworn-in as president on Air Force One at Love Field in Dallas.  After arriving at Andrews AFB, he said...

"This is a sad time for all people.  I know the world shares the sorrow that Mrs. Kennedy and her family bear.  I will do my best.  I ask for your help, and God's."

SOURCE

"President Johnson Takes Over, Kennedy Lies in White House," by Garnett D. Horner, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 23, 1963, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

LBJ Takes Oath of Office

Air Force One

Dallas, Texas

Nov 22 1963

jfk library

www.picryl.com/

"OH, NO!"

PRESIDENT KENNEDY SHOT TO DEATH BY HIDDEN ASSASSIN WITH HIGH POWERED RIFLE

Dallas, Texas (JFK+50) On November 22, 1963, Associated Press reports that "the 36th President of the United States was shot to death today by a hidden assassin with a high powered rifle."

John F. Kennedy, 46 years old, lived "almost 30 minutes after a sniper cut him down in his limousine left downtown Dallas."

The President was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. Central time at Parkland Memorial Hospital.  Texas Governor John B. Connally, who was riding in the Presidential car, was critically wounded.

Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy, riding beside her husband, cried out...

"Oh, no!"

Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was riding in another car was not injured.  He left Parkland Hospital with his wife, Lady Bird, a half-hour after President Kennedy was pronounced dead.

JFK+50 NOTE

President Kennedy was the 34th man to occupy the office of the Presidency but because Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms, he is classified as both the 22nd & 24th POTUS.  Thus, JFK was the 35th POTUS.  

The Key West Citizens' report in this regard is in error.  LBJ became the 36th POTUS upon JFK's death & was sworn-in about 2 hours later.

SOURCE

"President Dead," The Key West Citizen, Key West, Florida, November 22, 1963, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"Kennedy Dead"

The Detroit News

November 22 1963

www.flickr.com/

"IN THIS DARK HOUR OF HISTORY, GOD SAVE THE STATE"

PRESIDENT KENNEDY ASSASSINATED IN DALLAS, TEXAS GOVERNOR CONNALLY WOUNDED

Dallas, Texas  (JFK+50) On November 22, 1963, The Evening Star reports "two priests stepped out of Parkland Hospital's emergency ward today and said President (John F.) Kennedy died of his bullet wounds...at 1 p.m. (C.S.T.)"

The youngest elected POTUS, now 46, and Texas governor John B. Connally were shot as they rode in an open car through the streets of downtown Dallas.  Eyewitnesses reported they heard three shots after the motorcade turned onto Elm Street heading toward a triple underpass.

The President and Governor were taken immediately via the expressway to Parkland Memorial Hospital.  Mr. Kennedy suffered a fatal wound to the head while Mr. Connally, shot through the chest, was taken from ER to "the general operating room." 

The Star reports Mal Couch, a television cameraman, said "three rifle shots were fired from the fifth floor balcony of the Texas Book Depository**."

In a prayer on the floor of the United States Senate, Chaplain Frederick Brown Harris** said...

"Our Father, this tragic news has stunned our hearts.  In this dark hour of history, God save the State, Amen."

JFK+50 COMMENT

I was 15 years old on this day sitting in my 5th period World Geography class at Young High School here in Knoxville, TN when our principal announced that the President had been shot.  He put the radio coverage on the school intercom and when the announcement of JFK's death came, the principal asked faculty & students to stand at attention as the school band played "Taps" & our U.S. flag outside was lowered to half-staff.  It remains one of the saddest days of my life. 

In my opinion, our country has never been the same.  As Clint Hill, the secret service agent who came closest to saving the President's life, said in the recent National Geographic series "JFK:  One Day In America," our Nation "lost its innocence" on November 22, 1963.

*Texas School Book Depository, located at 411 Elm Street at the corner of Houston & Elm Streets in Dallas, Texas, is a 7 story brick structure built in 1895.  The building, which served as a storehouse for schoolbooks in 1963, did not & does not have balconies & the shots were later determined to have come from the sixth floor.

**Frederick Brown Harris (1883-1970) was born in Worcester, England & came to the U.S. as a boy.  FBH was raised in New Jersey &studied at Dickinson College & Drew Theological Seminary. He was ordained as a Methodist minister in 1909 & served as chaplain of the U.S. Senate for 24 years.

SOURCES

"Kennedy Killed, Connally Wounded," The Knoxville News-Sentinel (Final Edition), Knoxville, Tennessee, November 22, 1963.

"President Is Killed By Sniper In Texas," The Evening Star (Final Edition), Washington, D.C., November 22, 1963, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Kennedy After Being Shot^

Dallas, Texas

November 22 1963

Clarin Newspaper

www.wikimedia.org/ 

^This is one of the black & white photos on the front page of The Evening Star's Final Edition of Nov 22 1963.  The caption reads "President Kennedy lies slumped in the back seat of a limousine after being shot by an assassin in Dallas today.  Mrs. Kennedy (arrow) leans over her dying husband as an unidentified man (Clint Hill) stands on the car's bumper.  AP wirephoto."

JFK+50 COMMENT

The Final Edition of The Evening Star dated Nov 22 1963 includes 76 pages but only Page One has information on the assassination of JFK which occurred at 1:30 p.m. Washington time.  My Dad, who worked late hours at the USPS, brought home the Final Edition of The Knoxville News-Sentinel which has in big black letters

 

 "KENNEDY KILLED, CONNALLY WOUNDED".

A MAN WHO HAD NOT CAMPAIGNED IN ANY OF THE PRIMARIES

BEFORE JFK DEBATED NIXON, HE TOOK ON LYNDON

Los Angeles (JFK+50) On July 12, 1960, two candidates for the Democratic nomination for POTUS, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas squared off against each other in a nationally televised debate.

The hour-long debate was conducted without a moderator before the combined delegations of Massachusetts and Texas at the Biltmore Hotel ballroom.  It began at 5 p.m. local time.

Senator Johnson had challenged Senator Kennedy to the debate, held the day before the balloting, after JFK had offered to meet with any delegation that invited him.  LBJ introduced JFK who gave an opening statement lasting 10 minutes. Kennedy acknowledged that many of the Texas delegates, who outnumbered the Massachusetts delegates by a large margin, would not support his civil rights proposals.

Johnson followed with a 20 minute opening statement in which he pointed to his efforts on the floor of the United States Senate "while some men who would be president" were absent.  He, of course, was making reference to JFK being out campaigning in the primaries instead of taking care of his Senate responsibilities.

JFK closed the debate by complimenting LBJ on his work in the Senate and saying that he supported the Texas senator's decision not to enter the primaries.  JFK also expressed his hope that LBJ would continue in his role as majority leader.

After JFK won the nomination, he selected LBJ as his running mate.  A man who had not campaigned in any of the 16 primaries.

 SOURCES

"Kennedy-Johnson Debate," Our Campaigns, www.ourcampaigns.com/

"The Great Debate, JFK's legacy:  The party's over," by Kathryn Cramer Brownell and Bruce J. Schulman, November 22, 2013, www.blogs.reuters.com/

LBJ at Biltmore Hotel

 July 10, 1960

Library of Congress Photo

JFK AT MADAME TUSSAUDS

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2370

JFK GAZES OUT THE WINDOW OF MADAME TUSSAUDS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) We are here in the Nation's Capital once again visiting with our daughter, Jennifer.  She lives in the downtown area and as we were taking a stroll last night we passed Madame Tussauds* of Washington, D.C.

Who should we see standing erect and proud in the window of Madame Tussaud's but the 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

Madame Tussauds is a "uniquely interactive and immersive experience that allows visitors to take a journey through American history."

In addition to JFK, visitors can gaze upon wax figures of the other 43 POTUS including Donald Trump.  Other figures include Frederick Douglass in his library and George Washington crossing the Delaware.

Each wax figure takes four months to complete at a cost of $300,000.

*Marie Grosholtz Tussaud (1761-1850) was born in Strasbourg, France.  She created her first wax sculpture (Voltaire) in 1777.  She married Francois Tussaud in 1795 & they opened a wax museum on Baker Street in London in 1795.

Madame Tussauds is located at 1001 F Street, NW. Washington, D.C. 20004.
The museum is open 10-6 M-T & 10-8 F-S-S.  MTS is operated by Merlin Entertainment of UK.  They have a 5 story facility on 42nd St near Times Square in NYC.  That location boasts 200 wax figures.

SOURCES

"Madame Tussauds, Washington, D.C.," www.washington.org/

"Madame Tussauds," www.madametussauds.com/

JFK Wax Figure
Madame Tussauds
Washington, D.C.
July 13, 2017
Photo by John White

John White
Madame Tussauds
Washington, D.C.
July 13, 2017
Photo by Beverli White