"ALL BECAUSE SNEAK THIEVES HAVE BEEN ABOUT"

SYNTHETIC GEMS WILL BE THE RAGE IN PALM BEACH

Palm Beach, Florida (JFK+50) On December 29, 1925, Associated Press reports "synthetic gems will be the rage" among Palm Beach socialites this winter "all because sneak thieves" have been about in the resort.

A dozen of the "wealthiest and most prominent social leaders" have stored their genuine diamonds and pearls in banks for safekeeping.

JFK+50 NOTE

The Kennedy family is associated with Palm Beach because of the estate belonging to JFK's father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.  Joe didn't purchase the Palm Beach estate until 1933.  By that time, the local socialites might have gone back to the real gems. 

The estate is located at 1095 N. Ocean Blvd.  JFK used it as his "winter" White House.  The property sold in 2020 for a cool $70 million.

SOURCE

"Palm Beach Wears Synthetic Jewels To Thwart Thieves," The Evening Star, December 29, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Cubic zirconia

photo by James St. John

www.flickr.com/

"LITTLE WHITE CHURCH WITH GREEN SHUTTERS & SHINGLED ROOF"

PRESIDENT HARDING ATTENDS CHURCH IN PALM BEACH

Palm Beach, Florida (JFK+50) On Sunday, March 11, 1923, President Warren G. Harding attended services at the Royal Poinciana Chapel*, "a little white church with green shutters and shingled roof" here in Palm Beach.  It was the first Sunday of the President's Florida vacation. 

While Ms. Harding did not attend services, Mr. Harding was accompanied by Charles G. Dawes**, former Budget Director and Brig. General Charles E. Sawyer. 

After church, the President rejoined the First Lady aboard the houseboat Pioneer which headed south toward Ft. Lauderdale where the President is scheduled to enjoy a game of golf tomorrow. 

*Royal Poinciana Chapel is located at 60 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach, Fl.  The chapel was completed in 1898 with 400 seats funded by Henry Flagler who wanted a church to serve the guests at his hotel.  Five principles established for RPC were non-denominational, freest pulpit in America, finest preaching, best music & debt free.

**Charles Gates Dawes (1865-1951) was born in Marietta, Ohio & graduated Marietta College, AB & University of Cincinnati Law School LLB, CGD was appointed 1st director of the Bureau of the Budget by WGH & serviced as VPOUS under Coolidge & US ambassador to UK 1929-1931.  CGD was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

SOURCE

"President Attends Church In Florida," The Birmingham Age-Herald, Birmingham, Alabama, March 12, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Royal Poinciana Chapel Garden & Kapok Tree

Photo by Kim Seng (2012)

www.Flickr.com/

CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

"VACATION AT THE SUMMER WHITE HOUSE"

FIRST FAMILY SPENDS EASTER SUNDAY AT PALM BEACH

Palm Beach, Florida (JFK+50) On April 2, 1961, the First Family celebrated Easter Sunday at the "Summer White House" here in Palm Beach.

The Kennedy estate was purchased by the President's father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., in 1933.

Following mass at St. Edward's Church, Mr. Kennedy played golf at Seminole Country Club*. 

*Seminole Country Club, located in Juno Beach, was designed by Donald Ross in 1929.  SCC ranks as one of the top 100 golf courses in the U.S. President Eisenhower was an honorary member & others POTUS who played it often included JFK & Gerald Ford. 

 

 

Former Kennedy Home

Palm Beach, Florida 

TRIGGERED BY A BLOOD CLOT IN THE BRAIN

JOE KENNEDY'S STROKE LEAVES HIM PERMANENTLY PARALYZED 

Palm Beach, Florida (JFK+50) On December 19, 1961, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., father of President John F. Kennedy, suffered a massive stroke here in Palm Beach.  The 73 year old former ambassador to the Court of St. James was rushed to St. Mary's Hospital where the stroke was diagnosed.

David Nasaw writes in "The Patriarch,"

"Joseph P. Kennedy had suffered an 'intracranial thrombosis,' a blood clot in the artery in the brain, which had triggered a massive stroke.  The clot was inoperable."

The stroke left Joe Sr. paralyzed on the right side of his body and  limited his speech to the single long, drawn out word "Nooooooooo."

Nasaw tells us that JPK was discharged from the hospital on January 8, 1962..."with no improvement in his paralysis" or ability to speak.  Despite being unable to talk, however, Joe Sr. "appeared to understand everything that was said to him (and) everything he heard or saw."

SOURCES

"Ambassador In Spite of Himself." by Thomas Mallen, December 31, 2000

"New York times On the Web"

"Joseph P. Kennedy: A Portrait of the Founder," by Richard J. Whalan, Fortune Classics, 1963.

"The Patriarch:  The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy," by David Nasaw, The Penguin Press, New York, 2012.

JFK at St. Mary's Hospital

Palm Beach, Florida

December 1961

PALM BEACH

November 25, 1961


 JFK enjoyed the Thanksgiving Holiday at Hyannis Port with his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.. This would be the last Thanksgiving Joe Kennedy was healthy. 


In December, Joe Sr. suffered a stroke which left him partially paralyzed & unable to walk, talk or care for himself.


Joe Kennedy, Sr. was in intensive care at St. Mary's Hospital in Palm Beach, Florida. 


Some years ago, I had an intern who lived in Morristown, TN. A neighbor of hers was visiting St. Mary's when JFK's father was there. 


When JFK emerged from the hospital, she asked if she could make a photograph. The President consented and she made his picture. 


That evening she realized she had forgotten to put film in the camera. So the next day she was back at the hospital once again as was the President. Once again, she asked if she could take his photograph explaining that she did not have film in the camera the day before. JFK graciously took the time to let her try it again.


My intern was able to get a copy of the photograph for me. JFK is standing alone in front of his white Lincoln convertible with its top down. He is dressed casually and the photograph is in color. JFK is smiling, of course, and what is notable to me about the photo is it looks just like any color photo that you would have made of a family member back in 1961. It does not have that "professional" look and that's what makes it unique.


How many Presidents, or for that matter, "important" people, would take their time to let a total stranger make his photograph, not just once, but twice? I think it shows how caring a person JFK was.


I am reading now in "The Kennedy Detail" how secret service agents experienced the same concern from the man they were guarding. 


In Palm Beach, he would go out to the agents standing in the sun on the beach & give some of his short sleeve shirts to them because he thought they looked uncomfortable.


 As he was heading out of his Georgetown home on his way to the 1961 Inaugural, he asked a secret service agent to step inside for a few minutes to warm up.