"NEVER OLD OR POOR BUT UNDERSTANDS THE SITUATION"

JFK LAUGHS WITH THE RICH, COMMISERATES WITH THE POOR

New York City (JFK+50) On May 21, 1962, Mary McGrory reported in The Evening Star that "Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, (President John F. Kennedy) laughed with the rich at a...show staged in honor of his 45th birthday" and on Sunday afternoon "in the same place he commiserated with the poor at a rally in aid of medical care for the aged."

At the first event, JFK told the audience that he could retire from politics having had Marilyn Monroe sing "Happy Birthday" to him while at the second, a gray-haired lady said the President "was never old...never poor but he still understands the situation."

SOURCE

"Kennedy Rallies Rich, Poor," by Mary McGrory, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 21, 1962, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Madison Square Garden

New York City (2014)

photo by Sailko

"SAW VICTORY, DEFEAT, JOY & DEATH"

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN BIDS FAREWELL

New York City (JFK+50) On May 6, 1925, Associated Press reports that Madison Square* Garden**, after three decades of hosting big events, has "sung its swan song."

Last evening's boxing match held at the Garden will be the building's "farewell event."  In its place, a new office building is to be constructed.  A new MSG, however, will be built several blocks away.

In addition to sporting events, MSG has hosted political conventions with speakers including Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.  Unfortunately, it was also where the architect of the arena, Stanford White***, was murdered.

JFK+50 NOTE

According to Angela M.H. Schuster, Stanford White was a known "sexual predator who was murdered in public by the husband of one of his victims."  

White was shot by Harry Kendall Thaw at point blank range while attending a musical theater performance in the open air rooftop of MSG.  SW died instantly.  After the shooting, Thaw stood over White saying, "I killed him because he ruined my wife."

*Madison Square is formed by the intersections of Fifth Avenue, Broadway & 23rd Street in New York City & named in honor of President James Madison.  

**The first MSG (1879-1890) was replaced by a second (1890-1925).  In 1925, the New York Life Building was constructed at this location.  The third MSG (1925-1968) was on 8th Avenue between 49th & 50th Streets.  The fourth MSG was completed in 1969 & saw renovations in 1989-1991, 2011-2013 & 2024.

***Stanford White (1853-1906) was born in New York City & became a noted architect of the American Renaissance period.  SW was killed by Harry Kendall Thaw, a wealthy but unstable heir to a coal & railroad fortune.  HKT was found not guilty of the murder by reason of insanity & committed to a mental institution.

SOURCES

"Taps Sounds as Noted Garden Passes, Saw Victory, Defeat, Joy and Death," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 6, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

"The Notorious Life and Death of Stanford White," by Angela M. H. Schuster, Avenue, May 28, 2021, www.avenuemagazine.com/

Bird's Eye View of Madison Square Garden

by C. L. Wasson (1907)

Library of Congress

www.picryl.com/

"BRYAN ASKS ALMIGHTY TO SOLVE THEIR TROUBLES"

DEMOCRATS TURN TO PRAYER DURING BITTER FIGHT AT CONVENTION

New York City (JFK+50) In the early morning hours of June 28, 1924, a "bitter fight" took place at a meeting of the Resolutions Committee of the Democrat's national convention held at Madison Square Garden* here in New York.

The Washington Times reports the meeting became so heated that at one point William Jennings Bryan asked the members "to kneel in prayer."

The members followed the Great Commoner's request as Mr. Bryan called upon the Almighty "to solve their troubles."

*Madison Square Garden (1890-1925) the 2nd building designed by Stanford White & built for $3 million.  A 3rd building opened in 1925 & stood until 1968.

JFK+50 COMMENT

Perhaps some Democrats last evening might well have also turned to prayer during the debate between President Biden and former President Trump.  Just saying....

We had a math teacher at my high school who was known for his strange opinions, but one of them was that the minimum age requirement for POTUS should be raised from 35 to 55.  His argument was in response to marital infidelity attributed to some of our younger Presidents.

After last night, I'm thinking a change of both minimum and maximum ages as requirements to be POTUS might be in order.  At the time the Constitution was adopted, the lifespan was much lower than it is today so 35 was a reasonable minimum age.  Today, however, with lifespans averaging in the mid 70s, 35 seems far too low.  I would argue there also needs to be a maximum age a person can serve as president.  

I am 76 years old and I have personally experienced a toll on my ability to function as I used to.  I have to limit my driving to daytime and close to home.  It gets harder and harder to do the most simple things.  I can't imagine the stress that any president would have and how that stress would have to affect their performance in the job, particularly if older.

If the age requirement by constitutional amendment is changed to 55 minimum 75 maximum (at time of inauguration) then perhaps some of these "troubles" would be solved.

I do not intend to indicate favor to one candidate or the other's performance last evening, both are "old", as I am, and both have their own troubles, as I do.

 

 

Interior of Madison Square Garden

pre-1930

New York Public Library

 

"SECRET OF WHAT MAKES THE HOT DOG WILD"

NEW YORK COPS CASTING A MEAN EYE AT EVERY HOT DOG IN TOWN

New York City (JFK+50) On December 14, 1921, "the secret of what makes the hot dog* wild is out."  

New York police, working a nearly week long bicycle race at Madison Square Garden had been "unable to understand" why some hot dog salesmen "were disposing of their entire kennels at 30 cents a dog."

That is, until one officer purchased one and "punctured it."  He found it contained "pure moonshine."

The news article in the Evening Star concludes with these words...

"Now the coppers are casting a mean eye at every hot dog in town."

*Hot Dog is food consisting of grilled or steamed sausage served in the slit of a partially sliced bun.  It became a working-class street food in the U.S. selling at stands & carts.

SOURCE

"Hot Dogs Made Wild By Pure Moonshine Go Fast At 30 Cents Each," The Evening Star, December 14, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

 

New York City Frankfurter Stand^

 Broad Street

Detroit Publishing Company (1906)

Library of Congress 

 

 

JFK'S MEDICAL CARE FOR THE AGED

AMA OPPOSED JFK'S MEDICAL CARE PROPOSALS 52 YEARS AGO

New York City (JFK+50) Fifty-two years ago today, May 21, 1962, the American Medical Association, meeting at Madison Square Garden here in New York, came out in opposition to President John F. Kennedy's proposed medical care reforms.

The President spoke to a crowd of 20,000 gathered at the Garden the previous day in support of his proposed reforms.  The President's Program of Medical Care for the Aged, which would have helped senior citizens pay their hospital bills, was to be funded, in part, by employee social security deductions.

President Kennedy had attempted to address the concerns about his program. JFK said...

"We do not cover doctors' bills...we do not affect the freedom of choice.  You can go to any doctor you want (but)...we (do) talk about his hospital bill.

This bill serves the public interest.  It involves the Government because it involves the public welfare."

JFK spoke about his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. who had suffered a major stroke in December 1961...

"I visited...the hospital where doctors labor for a long time...to visit my father.  It isn't easy.  He can pay his bills but otherwise I would be and I am not as well off as he is."

The President made clear that under the system in place in 1962, many Americans would have to bear the full burden of hospital bills run up by their elderly parents by either drawing from their own savings or through borrowing money. 

Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt wrote....

"The AMA opposes this plan because everything that is different seems to these stand-pat gentlemen a step toward what they apparently dread more than anything....socialized medicine."

SOURCE

"John F. Kennedy's Address at a New York Rally in Support of the President's Program of Medical Care for the Aged, May 20, 1962," The American Presidency Project, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/

AMA's Code of Ethics

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. PRESIDENT

MARILYN MONROE SANG TO JFK 53 YEARS AGO 

New York City (JFK+50) Fifty-three years ago tonight, May 19, 1962, President John F. Kennedy celebrated his soon to be 45th Birthday by having 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' sang to him by Marilyn Monroe*at Madison Square Garden here in New York City.

Miss Monroe, dressed in a skin-tight, flesh-colored, rhinestone studded dress, sang in a sultry, sexy voice.  The show's director called the President after rehearsal for the event because he was concerned that Marilyn's style of singing would be "too steamy".  JFK told him to let her go ahead and perform it the way she wanted.

Newspaper columnist Dorothy Kilgallen supported the director's opinion as she wrote...

"It was like Marilyn...was making love to the President in direct view of 40 million Americans."

The 15,000 invited guests in attendance were left aghast by Marilyn's performance, not to mention her attire.

Miss Monroe also sang "Thanks for the Memories" but with the lyrics changed for the birthday celebration.

"Thanks, Mr. President
  For all the things you've done
  The battles that you won
  The way you deal with US Steel
  And our problems by the ton
  We thank you so much."

After the singing, President Kennedy came to the podium and said:

"I can now retire from politics after having had 'Happy Birthday' sang to me in such a sweet, wholesome way."

In 1999, Paul Rudnick wrote in Time magazine...

"Marilyn Monroe's tabloid appeal is infinite.  At her peak, Monroe was very much like Coca Cola or Levi's - she was something wonderfully and impressively American."

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell

Los Angeles, California (1953)

LA Times/UCLA Library Photo

                    
*Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) was born in Los Angeles.  Her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, was placed in a mental hospital while Norma Jeanne was raised by foster parents.

At the age of 19, she signed with a modeling agency and later 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures.

Having changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, the young movie actress appeared on the cover of Life magazine and starred in films such as Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Bus Stop.

MM was married and divorced 3 times.  Her 1st husband was James Dougherty (1942-46), her 2nd was NY Yankee star Joe DiMaggio (1954) and the 3rd was playwright Arthur Miller (1956-1961).

MM died at the age of 36 in her Brentwood apartment.  The death was ruled a probable suicide by the LA Coroner's office.

                           

MARILYN MONROE

 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT' 

New York City (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy celebrated his forthcoming 45th Birthday 52 years ago this evening, May 19, 1962, by having 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' sang to him by Marilyn Monroe*at Madison Square Garden here in New York City.

     Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell
       Los Angeles, California (1953)
      LA Times/UCLA Library Photo

                    Miss Marilyn Monroe
                   Publicity Photo (1946)
                       by Joseph Jasgur

Miss Monroe, dressed in a skin-tight, flesh-colored, rhinestone studded dress, sang in a sultry, sexy voice.

The show's director called the President after rehearsal for the event because he was concerned that Marilyn's style of singing would be "too steamy".  

JFK told him not to worry and to let her go ahead and perform it the way she wanted.

Apparently newspaper columnist Dorothy Kilgallen supported the director's opinion over the President's because she wrote...

"It was like Marilyn...was making love to the President in direct view of 40 million Americans."

The 15,000 invited guests in attendance at Madison Square Garden were left aghast by Marilyn's performance, not to mention her attire.

Miss Monroe also sang "Thanks for the Memories" but with the lyrics changed for the birthday celebration.

"Thanks, Mr. President
  For all the things you've done
  The battles that you won
  The way you deal with US Steel
  And our problems by the ton
  We thank you so much."

After the songs, President Kennedy came to the podium and said:

"I can now retire from politics after having had 'Happy Birthday' sang to me in such a sweet, wholesome way."

In 1999, Paul Rudnick wrote in Time magazine...

"Marilyn Monroe's tabloid appeal is infinite.  At her peak, Monroe was very much like Coca Cola or Levi's - she was something wonderfully and impressively American."
                                                                                                                      

                       Marilyn Monroe 
                      "Yank Magazine"
                         June 26, 1945
              Photo by David Conover

*Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) was born in Los Angeles.  Her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, was placed in a mental hospital while Norma Jeanne was raised by foster parents.

At the age of 19, she signed with a modeling agency and later 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures.

Having changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, the young movie actress appeared on the cover of Life magazine and starred in films such as Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Bus Stop.

MM was married and divorced 3 times.  Her 1st husband was James Dougherty (1942-46), her 2nd was NY Yankee star Joe DiMaggio (1954) and the 3rd was playwright Arthur Miller (1956-1961).

MM died at the age of 36 in her Brentwood apartment.  The death was ruled a probable suicide by the LA Coroner's office.

                           You Tube Video