JFK's Last Hundred Days: The Transformation of a Man and the Emergence of a Great President

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JFK's Last Hundred Days: The Transformation of a Man and the Emergence of a Great President Page 51

by Thurston Clarke


  “Oh, Mr. West, he’s been a houseguest”: West, p. 235.

  He had made a pass when they were teenagers: Pitts, pp. 22–23.

  Eunice called it: Michaelis, p. 175.

  Billings claimed to know: Billings, JFKLOH.

  “because it was brand new”: Ibid.

  There were not enough closets: JFK’s complaints about Wexford are mentioned in Gallagher, p. 300; Leaming, p. 319.

  Nor did Wexford impress: Galitzine, pp. 171–72.

  Jackie was riding when Galitzine arrived: Ibid.

  “You’ll be so young”: Ibid.

  Then he took her for a drive: Ibid.

  He maintained the easy banter: Ibid., pp. 172–73.

  During his 1946 campaign, Jim Reed had noticed: Reed, JFKLOH.

  As the film flickered: Galitzine, p. 173.

  MONDAY, OCTOBER 28–THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31

  “The President came in all excited”: Lincoln Papers, Box 6, JFKL.

  A note says, “Staff members conferred”: JFK appointment book, JFKL Web site.

  The reporter Dan Oberdorfer writes: Oberdorfer, p. 204.

  Bobby was given the task of persuading Hoover: Guthman and Shulman, p. 278.

  Hoover also noted that the president had asked him: FBI memorandums, FBI FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) material at FBI archives or at paperlessarchives.com; also see Evan Thomas, pp. 263–67.

  Hoover suggested that since the FBI: Ibid.

  Mansfield and Dirksen left no record: Oberdorfer, p. 205.

  According to Hoover’s memorandum: FBI memorandums, FBI FOIA material at FBI archives or at paperlessarchives.com; also see Evan Thomas, pp. 263–67.

  Hoover told Bobby afterward: Ibid.

  While Hoover was still in his office: Ibid.

  “Had they not had that meeting”: Oberdorfer, p. 205.

  Kennan had sent him a handwritten letter: Kennan, p. 317.

  “the American diplomat who did more”: NYT, March 18, 2005.

  He responded on October 28: Kennan, p. 318.

  When the Illinois congressman Roland Libonati persisted: Presidential Recordings, Telephone Recordings, Transcripts, Dictabelt 28A2, JFKL.

  “Do you think he will know who we are?”: Lincoln (My Twelve), pp. 299–300.

  He called his father: Stoughton and Clifton, p. 130.

  Lincoln wrote in her diary: Lincoln Papers, Box 6, JFKL.

  Kennedy scrawled “POVERTY”: JFKPP, Box 12, JFKL.

  “a notable political achievement”: NYT, October 30, 1963.

  the Boston Globe called it: Boston Globe, October 30, 1963.

  An anonymous House Republican: WP (Richard Lyons column), October 31, 1963.

  Kennedy called Halleck that afternoon: Presidential Recordings, Telephone Recordings, Transcripts, Dictabelt 28A3, JFKL.

  Since he had told Lodge: FRUS, 1961–1963, Volume IV, Vietnam, January–August 1963, Document 1.

  Kennedy recorded the October 29 meeting: Presidential Recordings, Tape 118/A54; Hilsman, pp. 518–19; FRUS, 1961–1963, Volume IV, Vietnam, August–December 1963, Document 226.

  When the meeting reconvened: Presidential Recordings, Tape 118/A54; FRUS, 1961–1963, Volume IV, Vietnam, August–December 1963, Document 235.

  He and Bundy had received a cable from Lodge: FRUS, 1961–1963, Volume IV, Vietnam, August–December 1963, Document 226.

  In a reply from Bundy: Ibid., Document 236.

  In his reply, Lodge called out Kennedy: Ibid., Document 242.

  This was not good enough for Bundy and Kennedy: Ibid., Document 249.

  On October 30, 1960, Kennedy had driven: NYT, October 31, 1960.

  women hurled themselves: Dilworth, JFKLOH.

  His motorcade had been well advertised: NYT, October 31, 1963; Newsweek, November 4, 1963; WP, October 31, 1963.

  In August, a mob of jeering: NYT, August 31 and September 1, 1963.

  One thousand heads of families: Ibid., September 3, 1963.

  When Kennedy spoke in Convention Hall: Text of the speech in Sorensen Papers, Box 73, JFKL.

  he told a joke that Lawrence would call: Lawrence, JFKLOH.

  According to Larry Newman: Martin (Hero), p. 267.

  “one of the things of the time”: Taylor, JFKLOH.

  The Washington attorney Clark Clifford: Clifford, p. 331.

  “I really am not in a position to do”: Fay, JFKLOH.

  He told Hilsman, “What we’re going to do”: Strober and Strober, p. 270.

  The following week, Kennedy gave Bradlee: Bradlee (Conversations), pp. 227–29.

  FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1–SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10

  Bundy woke Kennedy just after 3:00 a.m.: Reeves, p. 644.

  Three hours later, a CIA cable: FRUS, 1961–1963, Volume IV, Vietnam, August–December 1963, Document 256.

  At an early morning White House staff meeting: Ibid., Document 263.

  “I think we have to make it clear this is not”: Presidential Recordings, Tape 118/A54, JFKL.

  He jumped to his feet: Taylor, p. 301.

  Schlesinger thought he looked: Schlesinger (A Thousand), p. 997.

  Forrestal believed that the deaths: McNamara, p. 84.

  Jackie noticed that he had: Jacqueline Kennedy, p. 304.

  and would later tell Cardinal Spellman: Parmet (The Presidency), p. 335.

  “We must bear a good deal of responsibility”: McNamara interview on JFK: A Presidency Revealed, a History Channel documentary.

  “She’s responsible for the death”: Fay, JFKLOH.

  While Jackie was at Wexford: Leaming, p. 323.

  By the time he reconvened his advisers: Presidential Recordings, Tape 118/A55, JFKL.

  When he began dictating his first speech: Mary Davis, JFKLOH.

  “the words rolling out of his mouth”: Lincoln (My Twelve), pp. 131–32.

  He dictated his announcement that he was running: Ibid., pp. 105–6.

  and dictated passages for his inaugural address: Lincoln Papers, Box 2, JFKL; cited in Clarke, pp. 29–37.

  On November 4, he dictated: Presidential Recordings, Tape 118/A55, JFKL; transcript on JFKL Web site.

  He may have been atoning for his complicity: Claflin, p. 279.

  In a covering letter, Skelton wrote: William Manchester Papers (Death of a President), Box 43, Wesleyan Library.

  While reviewing foreign policy issues: Presidential Recordings, Tape 118/A55, JFKL.

  On Tuesday, Attwood briefed Bundy and Chase: The developments that Attwood described in the briefing are summarized in his subsequent memorandum: FRUS, 1961–1963, Volume XI, Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath, Document 374.

  Bundy and Chase asked Attwood to write a memorandum: Ibid.

  Bundy added that the president was more interested: Attwood (Twilight Struggle), p. 261.

  At a Tuesday White House meeting on Cuba: FRUS, 1961–1963, Volume XI, Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath, Document 373.

  Kennedy was in an expansive mood: Bradlee (Conversations), pp. 227–35.

  “You know, I have made up my mind”: Ormsby-Gore, JFKLOH.

  An article by Attwood: William Attwood, “We Face a New Kind of World,” Look, November 5, 1963.

  Kennedy liked the article so much: JFKPP, Box 43, JFKL.

  He criticized congressmen who found it: JFK’s “Remarks before the Protestant Council, November 8, 1963,” JFKL Web site.

  William Styron was surprised to see him: William Styron, “The Short Classy Voyage of JFK,” Esquire, December 1983.

  Salinger informed reporters: WP, November 7, 1963.

  He arrived at Wexford early: Bradlee (A Good Life), pp. 255–57; Bradlee (Conversations), pp. 235–39; Stoughton and Clifton, pp. 99, 126, 139.

  Stoughton also filmed: Audiovisual collection,
JFKL.

  She knelt down . . . to show him how to do it correctly: Blaine, p. 71.

  “I guess we all go through that”: Stoughton and Clifton, p. 174.

  “The Saints today are the peacemakers”: WP, November 11, 1963.

  he was an outspoken civil rights advocate: “Civil Rights Movement in Middleburg, Virginia,” Eugene Scheel, www.loudounhistory.org.

  On November 10, Pereira gave him a Bible: Moon, p. 19.

  Bill Walton confirmed her impression: Ridder, author interview.

  MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11–TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12

  “many miracles”: Hirsh, JFKLOH.

  “I think he’ll be lonely”: Helen Thomas, p. 33.

  “Okay. Time to salute Daddy”: Blaine, p. 72.

  “This is one of the really beautiful places”: Reeves, p. 654.

  “I suppose I’ll have to go back to Boston”: Thompson, p. 15.

  he persuaded Hirsh to repeat it: Hirsh, JFKLOH.

  Hirsh took Caroline on an excursion: Ibid.

  “Well, I think it’s time”: Ibid.

  whose facility with languages had left him somewhat jealous: Bradlee (Conversations), p. 95.

  “I can assure you that this flag”: Reeves, p. 445.

  These strategies converged on November 12: FRUS, 1961–1963, Volume XI, Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath, Document 376.

  Bundy called Attwood to deliver a message from the president: Ibid., Document 377.

  Attwood told Bundy he would ask: Ibid.

  Kennedy convened: Sorensen (Counselor), pp. 347–48; O’Donnell and Powers, pp. 386–87; Sidey (John F. Kennedy), pp. 351–52; Guthman and Shulman, pp. 390–92; Reeves, pp. 655–57; Presidential Recordings, transcript on JFKL Web site.

  Lincoln had noticed Johnson’s name appearing less often: Lincoln (Kennedy and Johnson), p. 161.

  Sorensen believed he had been excluded: Sorensen (Counselor), p. 346

  Kennedy even raised the subject of his forthcoming: O’Donnell and Powers, p. 386.

  McGeorge Bundy was even thinking ahead: Jacqueline Kennedy, p. 130.

  “Goldwater doesn’t have a prayer”: Saturday Evening Post, November 2, 1963.

  A recent Gallup poll: Boston Globe, October 27, 1963.

  WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13

  Kennedy stopped at Lincoln’s desk to chat: Lincoln (Kennedy and Johnson), p. 200.

  Bryant had noticed an increase: Bryant, pp. 65–66.

  Kennedy had dismissed the rumors: Transcript of October 31 press conference, JFKL Web site.

  when Bartlett raised the possibility: Sally Bedell Smith, p. 426.

  Lincoln was in a different category: Kennedy had given Lincoln’s home address to a mistress living in Europe, and she wrote him there several weeks after the inauguration. Lincoln Papers, Box 3, JFKLOH.

  After examining Kennedy on Wednesday: JFKPP, Box 46, JFKL.

  Kennedy chaired an afternoon meeting: Sorensen Papers, Box 37, JFKL; NYT, November 13, November 14, 1963; Gordon, JFKLOH.

  he and Jackie appeared together: Shaw, p. 113. WP, NYT, and ES, November 14, 1963.

  “What would the people think”: Lincoln (My Twelve), pp. 302–3.

  Lincoln and Shaw took the children into the Rose Garden: Ibid.

  A prime example was his treatment of Stevenson: Cassini, pp. 325–26.

  he had persuaded Bradlee to participate: Bradlee (Conversations), pp. 237–39.

  Kennedy had invited Garbo: Pitts, pp. 205–6; Michaelis, pp. 177–78.

  Garbo became inebriated: Details of the dinner are based on three Garbo biographies—Barry Paris, Garbo; Scott Reisfield, Greta Garbo—Portraits from Her Private Collection; Karen Swenson, Greta Garbo: A Life Apart.

  “He never gave me”: Ibid.

  THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14–FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15

  Kennedy’s sixty-fourth press conference: Transcript at JFKL Web site.

  If there was ever a year when he owed Jackie: Lincoln (My Twelve), p. 303.

  At 4.00 p.m. his helicopter landed: NYT, November 15, 1963.

  The previous week he had driven: Boston Sunday Globe, November 17, 1963; NYT, November 15, 1963; ES, November 15; Time, November 22, 1963; Blaine, pp. 26–27.

  A policeman told a reporter: Time, November 22, 1963.

  A police official criticized him: NYT, November 15, 1963.

  Salinger explained: NYT, November 14, 1963.

  “zeroing in on the ‘safe-motorists’ vote”: Time, November 22, 1963.

  Once he arrived at the Carlyle Hotel: O’Donnell and Powers, p. 387; NYT, November 15, 1963.

  Stevenson was at the party: Cassini, p. 239.

  Oleg Cassini, who overheard: Ibid.

  he met with Henry Luce: William Manchester Papers (Death of a President), Box 43, Wesleyan Library.

  In his speech to the AFL-CIO: JFKL Web site.

  When he finished, a young Irish nanny: Boston Globe, November 16, 1963.

  he told delegates to the Catholic Youth Organization’s national convention: JFKL Web site.

  Ignoring the protests of his Secret Service detail: NYT, November 16, 1963.

  At another red light: Ibid.

  When Smathers remarked offhandedly: O’Donnell and Powers, p. 5 ; .. Smathers, JFKLOH.

  “When will I put your picture on there?”: Bishop (The Day), p. 87.

  While Kennedy was out of town: Dobrynin, pp. 110–11.

  On Friday, she entertained her friend Robin Douglas-Home: Robin Douglas-Home, “New Humility,” News of the World, March 12, 1967, cited by Sally Bedell Smith, p. 431, and Bradford, p. 261.

  “You won’t believe it”: Baldrige, p. 208.

  SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16

  “You had the feeling the air was electrified”: Miami Herald, November 17, 1963.

  “in the very best of health”: Von Braun, JFKLOH.

  Inside the windowless blockhouse: Ibid.; Seamans, p. 113.

  “Amazing!” “Fantastic!”: Von Braun, JFKLOH.

  Robert Seamans, who headed NASA, believed: Seamans, p. 113.

  He had mentioned this when they met in 1953: Von Braun, JFKLOH.

  When von Braun later recounted their conversation: Ibid.

  “Now, this will be the largest payload”: Seamans, pp. 113–14.

  While briefing Kennedy at the Marshall Space Flight Center: Von Braun, JFKLOH.

  “When this goes up we’ll be ahead”: Time, July 25, 1994; William Manchester Papers (Death of a President), Box 43, Wesleyan Library.

  “I will take my television black and white”: JFK speech at Municipal Auditorium, Oklahoma City, November 3, 1963.

  “What can we do now?”: Time, July 25, 1994; Murray and Cox, pp. 78–79.

  JFK speech at Rice University, September 12, 1962: JFKL Web site.

  “Now, I’m not sure I have the facts straight on this”: Seamans, p. 114.

  Seamans did as he was told: NYT, November 17, 1963.

  Four days before leaving: Logsdon, p. 193.

  SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17–MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18

  the weekend had been “really living”: Lincoln (Kennedy and Johnson), p. 203.

  The weather had been perfect: O’Donnell and Powers, p. 388; Manchester (Remembering), p. 263.

  The weekend reminded Macdonald: Beschloss (Crisis), p. 665.

  Macdonald asked Kennedy: Collier and Horowitz, p. 310.

  “a fundamental strategic shift”: NYT, November 19, 1963.

  “the withdrawal of 1000 U. S. servicemen”: NYT and WP, November 16, 1963.

  “legislation to provide health care”: NYT, November 19, 1963.

  the administration was “hopeful”: Ibid., November 18, 1963.

  Walter Heller received a memorandum: Sorensen Papers, Box 37, JFKL.

  Jim Bishop and Pierre Salin
ger happened to dine: Bishop (A Day), p. x.

  “I have a feeling it’s going to be a great day”: Blaine, p. 145.

  Agent Emory Roberts . . . had received a call: Ibid., pp. 136–37.

  The Secret Service had tracked Milteer: Bugliosi, pp. 1268–71.

  “Mr. President, we have a very long motorcade”: Blaine, pp. 145–46.

  “Floyd, this is a political trip”: Ibid.

  The Secret Service had not guarded: Tampa Tribune, November 19, 1963.

  Evelyn Lincoln remembered Kennedy: Lincoln (My Twelve), p. 303.

  Reporters described him being: Tampa Tribune, November 19, 1963.

  He wore three different outfits: Ibid.

  He was smiling and relaxed: Ibid.

  “Floyd, have the Ivy League charlatans”: Blaine, p. 148.

  “It’s excessive, Floyd”: Ibid., p. 149; NYT, November 24, 1964; Warren Commission, exhibit 1025.

  After arriving at MacDill: Tampa Tribune, November 19, 1963.

  After eating lunch: Ibid.

  He delayed his departure from Tampa: Ibid.

  The lead editorial: Ibid.

  He witnessed the power: Ibid.; Armory speech, JFKL Web site.

  Decades later, a St. Petersburg Times: St. Petersburg Times, November 11, 1999.

  He told the crowd greeting him: Miami Herald, November 18, 1963.

  Speech to the Inter-American Press Association: JFKL Web site.

  “God, I hate to go out to Texas”: Martin (Seeds), p. 451, based on an interview with Smathers.

  “Look how screwed up it’s going to be”: Beschloss (Crisis), pp. 665-66.

  “Thank God nobody wanted to kill”: Martin (Hero), p. 477.

  TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19

  Lincoln remembered Tuesday: Lincoln (Kennedy and Johnson), p. 203.

  He sat in a rocking chair: Ibid., pp. 203–7; Lincoln Papers, Box 6, JFKL. Some authors have doubted that the conversation happened as Lincoln reported it in her 1968 book. Box 6 of her papers, however, contains the shorthand notes that she made on a White House memorandum pad as he spoke—conclusive proof that Kennedy told her that he was considering replacing Johnson.

  Sanford would later say: Sanford, JFKLOH.

  “Oh, God, can you ever imagine”: Jacqueline Kennedy, p. 278.

  In 1964, Sorensen would ask Jackie: Sorensen (Counselor), p. 249. `

  At a 10.00 a.m. ceremony in the Rose Garden: NYT and WP, November 20, 1963.

 

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