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

I'D RATHER DIE THAN BE ON CRUTCHES

JFK RESUMED SENATE DUTIES AFTER MONTHS OF RECUPERATION FROM BACK SURGERY 60 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Sixty years ago today, May 23, 1955,  Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts resumed his duties in the United States Senate after spending six months of recuperation from major back surgery at the Palm Beach home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.

The Senator arrived here in Washington by plane with his wife, Jacqueline, and his sister, Jean.  When Mr. Kennedy arrived at his office, he found on his desk a card which read..."Welcome home!"  It was signed... "Dick Nixon"

According to Chris Matthews, JFK "found himself staring into the face of mortal danger" in the spring of 1954 when X-rays revealed his fifth lumbar vertebra had collapsed.  By late summer his weight dropped forty pounds and his back pain was so severe he could not bear to get up out of his Senate seat between votes.

Some of JFK's doctors advised against surgery, but he was not about to follow that advice saying...."I'd rather die than be on crutches the rest of my life."

The back surgery was done at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York on October 21, 1954.  It took over three hours and a metal plate was implanted in the spine, but JFK developed a urinary tract infection and went into a coma. Doctors said he most likely would die.

Miraculously, Senator Kennedy rallied, but he was, according to Ken O'Donnell, "at the lowest point of anytime I'd know him in his career..."

But then JFK was flown to Palm Beach and his war buddy Red Fay came down to lift his spirits along with brother-in-law Peter Lawford.  JFK also began work on Profiles In Courage.

After returning to New York for a second surgery, and "with the help of physical therapy, a corset and a rocking chair," JFK was well on his way to resuming his Senate duties as well as a future run for the presidency.

SOURCE

"Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero," by Chris Matthews, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2011.

JFK at the 1956 Democratic Convention

OL' BLUE EYES DIED 15 YEARS AGO TODAY

May 14, 2013

"OL' BLUE EYES" DIED 15 YEARS AGO TODAY

Los Angeles, California (JFK+50) Singer-actor-Hollywood icon Francis Albert Sinatra* died here in Los Angeles 15 years ago today, May 14, 1998, at the age of 82.

Frank Sinatra, a superstar of popular music, died of a heart attack.

"Sinatra was the 1st modern popular superstar (who) transformed pop singing by infusing lyrics with an intimate point of view that conveyed a steady current of eroticism."

Stephen Holden

                          Frank Sinatra
                 at the Girl's Town Ball
                  Florida, May 12, 1960
                           NARA  Photo


*Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) was born in Hoboken, NJ.  He was expelled from high school as a freshman, and later joined the Hoboken Four.  In 1939 he released his 1st single, "From the Bottom of My Heart."

Sinatra joined the Tommy Dorsey Band and had more than 40 songs in one year.  By 1941, he was a star particularly among the "bobby soxers" or teenage girls of the 40s.


Sinatra was a big supporter of JFK's candidacy for President in 1960. 

Ol' Blue Eyes, as he was nicknamed, recorded a campaign record based on his big hit "High Hopes." The record was titled "High Hopes with Jack Kennedy."

Sinatra's Campaign Record for JFK**

**I have a copy of this 45 rpm record of which only 2000 of were produced.  

Sinatra also starred in a performance for JFK's INAUGURAL GALA in Washington, D.C.

Another Kennedy connection came from the fact that Sinatra's "Rat Pack" included JFK's brother-in-law Peter Lawford.

Ironically, Sinatra supported Ronald Reagan's conservative Presidential candidacy in 1980 and hosted a performance for his inauguration as well.

  Reagan Presents the Medal of Freedom
          to Francis Albert Sinatra 

                      You Tube Video

JOHNNY, I HARDLY KNEW YE XVII

July 30, 2012

"JOHNNY, I HARDLY KNEW YE" XVII

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we continue our report of Chapter 12 of the book by Kenneth P. O'Donnell & David F. Powers with Joe McCarthy.  It is published by Little, Brown & Company.

The title of Chapter 12 is "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye"


Kenneth O'Donnell says that after Patrick's death, JFK sent Jackie on a Mediterranean cruise while he made a tour of 11 Western states promoting conservation.  


Kenny points out that 8 of the 11 states he had lost in 1960.


On September 24, 1963, the day he left Washington, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was approved by the U.S. Senate.


The Western tour ended with a stay at Bing Crosby's estate in Palm Springs.


Kenny explains how this turn of events upset Frank Sinatra because he had been planning to entertain JFK at his home.


Kenny tells us the Secret Service chose Crosby's home because of security issues, but Peter Lawford* 'was hysterical' when he learned of the change.


Lawford called Kenny & said: 'Don't you realize Bing Crosby is a Republican?'


Kenny answered: 'I don't care if he's a Red Chinaman--the Secret Service likes his place better than Sinatra's place & that's it.'


On October 7, 1963, JFK signed the formal ratification of the NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY in the TREATY ROOM at the White House.


Kenny tells us that this ceremony gave President Kennedy the deepest personal satisfaction in his time as President of the United States.


*Peter Lawford (1923-1984) was born in London where his family had connections to the British aristocracy.  He started acting in movies when he was 7 & won acclaim in 1944 for his role in 'The White Cliffs of Dover'.


He appeared with Frank Sinatra in the musical 'It Happened on Broadway'  in 1947.


In 1954, Peter Lawford married Patricia Kennedy, JFK's sister & in 1960 when JFK ran for President, Frank Sinatra dubbed him "the brother-in-Lawford."

                              Peter Lawford
                      Royal Wedding (1951)

PETER LAWFORD

On November 19, 1961, President Kennedy attended Mass at Good Shepard Church with David Powers.  Afterward, they went to the home of Peter Lawford in Santa Monica, California for lunch.


Lawford was JFK's brother-in-law who had married JFK's sister, Patricia, in 1954.  Frank Sinatra often called Peter the "brother-in-Lawford". 


Actress Angie Dickinson also attended this luncheon.