In the footsteps of the Kennedys

We have been amazed by the level of interest and awareness every American has about their politicians. Small children can tell you who the first, or seventh, or thirteenth president was. We saw some people campaigning tonight (in sub zero temps) for a local election for the position of ‘selectman’ (a local government position). For a country with non compulsory voting, it’s astounding!

Starting at Disney World, we have been educated about the American presidents. Very stirring and patriotic exhibits have outlined facts about them. Conversations about whether Obama is doing a good job and who should be the next president (with opinions ranging from Sarah Palin to Donald Trump) have been common for us in every place we have been in. Our boys have taken all this in, and unanimously decided that JFK is their favourite president! Partly because of the Kennedy Space Center, partly because of his speeches (that guy had a fantastic speechwriter!) and also because of their macabre fascination with his assassination, he’s the one. He’s closely followed by Abraham Lincoln (more great speeches and another assassination! Is there a theme here?)

From the time we have left NY, we have been in the footsteps of the Kennedys. We spent our first night after we left NY in Newport, Rhode Island. The two claims to fame of this town are the site of the America’s Cup and the church where John and Jacqueline Kennedy were married. We checked out both! We then went on to Cape Cod and played on the beach at Hyannis (where the Kennedy compound is and where they holidayed). And then yesterday, in Boston, we hit the mother lode: we visited the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. It’s the nation’s official memorial to the 35th President. We navigated our way there, into Boston, and found it – free parking, even for a RV (yay!) and children under 18 free (double yay!) We started with a film which used original footage to outline JFK’s early life (including his WWII heroics and wedding) and concluded with his nomination as Democratic candidate for the presidency. We then went into a room which was set up as the convention floor and saw his acceptance speech. And on it went. Rooms depicting the campaign trail, the Kennedy-Nixon debates (the first ones to be televised, and after watching the debates, out of 4 million Americans who had been undecided as to who to vote for, 3 million voted for Kennedy), the election results from a tally room with Walter Cronkite commentating. We then sat and saw his inauguration address, and then saw a replica of the White House Corridor during his presidency. Coming off this corridor were rooms about the Peace Corps, his speechwriter, the Briefing Room, the Cuban Missile Crisis, his visits to Berlin (‘Ich bin ein Berleiner’!) and Ireland, the Space Program, the Attorney General (his brother, Robert) and ceremonial and cultural events held at the White House. There was a room set up as the Oval Office with Kennedy’s original furnishings (including this desk plaque), then a few rooms about Jackie Kennedy, her background and achievements as First lady. We then saw news footage about November 23rd 1963, and finally an exhibit about the Kennedy legacy. And then we were in an enormous room with glass walls, a huge American flag and a view out over the harbour. (And of course, the gift shop on the way out!) We all had a great time. The museum did a good job of capturing the feeling of youthful enthusiasm, courage and impetus for change that JFK seemed to have. And our boys had their fill of Kennedys! Karen