"HE ENTERTAINED PRESIDENT TEDDY ROOSEVELT IN 1904"

PABLO CASALS PERFORMS AT WHITE HOUSE...AGAIN

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 13, 1961, Pablo Casals*, the most celebrated cellist of the 20th century, performed at the White House for President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy as well as notable American composers Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copeland.

This was not the first time Mr. Casals had performed at the Executive Mansion.  He was there in 1904 to entertain President Theodore Roosevelt.

*Pablo Casals (1876-1973) ,born in El Vendrell, Spain, is regarded as one of the greatest cellists of all time.  PC was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963.  Conferred by JFK it was presented by LBJ.

 

 

Pablo Casals

Carnegie Hall

Bain News Service Photo  (1917)

Library of Congress

"HE FELT MUSIC HAD TO CONTRIBUTE TO FREEDOM & PEACE"

PABLO CASALS PERFORMS AT THE WHITE HOUSE 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On the evening of November 13, 1961, the most celebrated cellist of the 20th century, Pablo Casals*, performed for President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy along with an audience which included a group of noted American composers.

Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copeland were among the notables who attended the concert.  The performance was recorded and released as an album.

Mr. Casals, who last played at the White House in 1904 for President Theodore Roosevelt, accepted JFK's invitation despite his self-imposed boycott of performing in countries which had recognized the government of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.

Martita Casals**, Pablo's wife, later said that her husband accepted JFK's invitation because of Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy's support for the arts and because "he felt that music had to contribute to freedom and to peace."

She described the evening as "magical" and said that when it was over, Mrs. Kennedy followed them all the way out to their car.

*Pablo Casals (1876-1973) was born in El Vendrell, Catalonia, Spain.  His father was a parish organist and choirmaster.  He was taught flute, organ, piano and violin.    PC studied music in Barcelona where he graduated from Escola Municipal de Musica in 1896.  He made his debut at Carnegie Hall on March 9, 1904.

**Martita and Pablo married when she was 20. He was 81.  The story goes that he did not tell his doctor of his intentions until after the engagement.  The doctor said to him: "You'd better think carefully before you do this...this could be fatal."  Pablo replied "Well, you know, if she dies, she dies!"

SOURCE

 "The Kennedys' Camelot Culture", AARP, Feb. 23, 2011

Pablo Casals Performs

November 13, 1961

Photo by Cecil Stoughton

JFK Library Photo

A MAGICAL EVENING AT THE WHITE HOUSE

PABLO CASALS PERFORMS FOR THE KENNEDYS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The most celebrated cellist of the 20th century, Pablo Casals*, performed at the White House 56 years ago this evening, November 13, 1961, for President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy.

Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copeland were among the notables who attended the concert.  The performance was recorded and released as an album.

Mr. Casals, who last played at the White House in 1904 for President Theodore Roosevelt, accepted JFK's invitation despite his self-imposed boycott of performing in countries which had recognized the government of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.  

Martita Casals**, Pablo's wife, later said that her husband accepted JFK's invitation because of Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy's support for the arts and because "he felt that music had to contribute to freedom and to peace."

She described the evening as "magical" and said that when it was over, Mrs. Kennedy followed them all the way out to their car.


*Pablo Casals (1876-1973) was born in El Vendrell, Catalonia, Spain.  His father was a parish organist and choirmaster.  Pablo was taught flute, organ, piano and violin.  

He studied music in Barcelona where he graduated from Escola Municipal de Musica in 1896.  He made his debut at Carnegie Hall on March 9, 1904.

**Martita and Pablo married when she was 20. He was 81.  The story goes that he did not tell his doctor of his intentions until after the engagement.  The doctor said to him: "You'd better think carefully before you do this...this could be fatal."  Pablo said nothing for a few moments, reflecting on the doctor's words & then said: "Well, you know, if she dies, she dies!"

SOURCE

 "The Kennedys' Camelot Culture", AARP, Feb. 23, 2011.

Pablo Casals Performs

November 13, 1961

Photo by Cecil Stoughton

JFK Library Photo

LARGEST ROOM IN THE WHITE HOUSE

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2250

A TOUR OF THE EAST ROOM

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) JFK+50 will be taking the next few blog posts to discuss the rooms we will be touring in our self-guided tour of the White House next week.

Today we will take a look at the EAST ROOM*.  Originally designated as the Public Audience Chamber, the East Room came to be known as the Banquet Room.  The largest room in the executive mansion, the East Room has been used for award ceremonies, concerts, dances, funerals, press conferences and weddings.

The East Room remained unfinished until 1826.  Abigail Adams, the first First Lady to live in the White House, hung her laundry out to dry here.  In 1818, President James Monroe bought 24 chairs for the East Room from William King, a Georgetown cabinet maker.

After the Civil War, the Grants redecorated the East Room in what was described as "steamboat palace" decor.   Today the elegant room retains the late 18th century classic style which was established in the 1902 restoration.

There are some very historical objects in this room.  First is the Landsdowne portrait of George Washington, the work of Gilbert Stuart in 1794, that was saved from capture by Dolley Madison.  There is also a portrait of Martha Washington by Eliphalet Andrews hanging nearby.  There are two of President Monroe's candelabras on the mantle in the room.

The East Room is furnished with a Steinway grand piano with gilted American Eagle supports given to the White House in 1938.   Jacqueline Kennedy made only one change to the East Room and that was the installation of new draperies.  It was here that the famed Spanish cellist Pablo Casals entertained President and Mrs. Kennedy.

Sadly, the East Room has seen the lying in repose of seven Presidents:  William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley, Warren G. Harding, FDR & JFK.  Of the 8 POTUS who have died in office, only James A. Garfield did not lie in repose in this room.

*The East Room is 80 by 37 feet.  TR's daughter Alice was married here while some of his other children used the room as a roller skate ring.  Recently the room has been used for presidential press conferences with the President entering from the Cross Hall & the podium situated just inside the entrance.

SOURCES

"East Room," The White House Museum, www.whitehousemuseum.org/

"The White House, An Historic Guide," White House Historical Association, Washington, D.C., 1962.

The East Room

May 8, 1963

Photo by Robert Knudsen

JFK Library & Museum Image

Honor Guard Places JFK's Casket in East Room

November 23, 1963

Office of Naval Aide to the President

Photo by Robert Knudsen

PABLO CASALS PLAYS AT THE WHITE HOUSE

November 13, 1961


PABLO CASALS PLAYS AT THE WHITE HOUSE

                    Pablo Casals Performs
          in the White House East Room
                       November 13, 1961
                Photo by Cecil Stoughton
                      JFK Library Photo


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) The most celebrated cellist of the 20th century, Pablo Casals, performed this evening for President & Mrs. John F. Kennedy, along with an audience which included a group of noted American composers.


Leonard Bernstein & Aaron Copeland attended the concert.


Mr. Casals, who last played at the White House in 1904 for President Theodore Roosevelt, accepted JFK's invitation despite his self-imposed boycott of performing in countries which had recognized the government of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.*


*Casals was a supporter of the Spanish Republican Government.


Pablo Casals was born in El Vendrell, Catalonia, Spain in 1876.


He gave a solo recital in Barcelona at the age of 14 & graduated from Escola Municipal de Musica in 1896.


Casals played at Carnegie Hall on March 9, 1904.**

Pablo Casals in his younger days


**Martita Casals, his 2nd wife, later said that her husband accepted JFK's invitation because of Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy's support for the arts & because "he felt that music had to contribute to freedom (&) to peace."


She described the evening as "magical" & said that when it was over, Mrs. Kennedy followed them all the way out to their car.

Pablo Casals Kisses 1st Lady's Hand
               November 13, 1961
         Photo by Robert Knudsen
              White House Photo


Martita & Pablo married when she was 20 & he was 81.  


The story goes that he did not tell his doctor of his intentions until after the engagement.  The doctor said to him: "You'd better think carefully before you do this...this could be fatal."


Pablo said nothing for a few moments, reflecting on the doctor's words.


Then he said: "Well, you know, if she dies, she dies!"***


***Source, "The Kennedys' Camelot Culture", AARP, Feb. 23, 2011.


November 13, 1961


JFK PRESENTED TORAH AT THE WHITE HOUSE


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, presented President Kennedy with a Torah today at the White House.


JFK accepted the gift & said that the presence of the union's Board of Trustees at the ceremony "symbolizes the happy relations which exist between all religious groups, & must continue to exist in this country if we are to be worthy of our heritage."

                            Torah
      Photo by Willy Horsch (2007)


November 13, 1982


VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL DEDICATED

           Vietnam Veterans Memorial
                    Washington, D.C.
           Photo by John White (2003)


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Following a march by thousands of Vietnam War veterans, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated today here in Washington, D.C.


The Memorial features a V-shaped black-granite wall inscribed with the names of 57,939 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war.


The names are listed chronologically by date of death.  The names were inscribed on the stones in Memphis, Tennessee.

             Vietnam Veterans Memorial
                        Washington, D.C.
             Photo by John White (2003)


Maya Lin, a 21 year old student at the Yale School of Architecture, designed the memorial.


Lin, born in Ohio, is the daughter of Chinese immigrants.*

                              Maya Lin
          Photo by Sharon Styer (2007)


Maya Lin was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2005 as well as the National Women's Hall of Fame.  


In 2009, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Obama.


In 1984, a statue of "Three Soldiers" was added to the memorial site. 

             Three Soldiers Monument
          Photo by John White (2003)


In 1993 a Womens Memorial was also added.

          Vietnam Women's Memorial
          Photo by John White (2003)


UNITED STATES VIETNAM WAR CASUALTIES BY YEAR


1956-1964:     401
1965                1863
1966                6143
1967              11153
1968              16592
1969              11616
1970                 6081
1971                 2357
1972                   641
1973                   168
1974-1998     1178


UNITED STATES VIETNAM WAR CASUALTIES BY BRANCH OF SERVICE


US ARMY       38209
USMC              14838
US NAVY          2555
USAF                  2584
USCG                         7
Civilian                   19

          "We Shall Remember Them"
          Vietnam Veterans Memorial
          Photo by John White (2003)