john fitzgerald kennedy 05 january 1960

on tuesday 05 january 1960, on the eve of then united states senator for massachusetts john f. kennedy run for the united states presidency, he sat down with ben bradlee of newsweek magazine, his wife antoinette and a journalist named james m. cannon. the occasion was a dinner party at senator and mrs. kennedy's georgetown home. afterwards mr. cannon sets up a reel-to-reel tape recorder and records a very candid conversation with senator kennedy about life and health and politics.
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go here for the full version:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/27168561#27168561
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http://wesawthat.blogspot.com/search/label/jfk

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[VincePalamara]

Fantastic! I saw this the other day when it was on NBC News live...makes you miss JFK even more (if that is humanly possible)

[WALRU11]

JFK was not even SLIGHTLY inebriated. Those suffering from Addison's disease cannot drink. It was extremely rare for JFK to have any alcoholic beverage. He was glib. facile, candid, spontaneous, & very sharp.

[bkj333]

January 5, 1960 was NOT on the "eve" of Kennedy's presidential candidacy.

JFK already had formally announced his candidacy three days before on January 2, 1960.

[WALRU11]

Thanks. Yeah, the deeper story here derives directly from his lifelong illnesses. He was born ill & frail & acutely discriminated against as a minority member by the Boston Brahmins during an age of fierce anti-immigration sentiment & Eugenics termination proposals. His life thus became a struggle to assert justice & egalitarian democracy for minority members. His proudest literary achievement was writing "A Nation of Immigrants" & he did, despite objections, champion rights for all citizens.

[esb84]

Agreed. I have always had great respect and admiration for JFK, his time was cut short but he will always be an American hero in my opinion.

[WALRU11]

5 thumbs down! Why pay any attention to that? I've never voted on any post & folks will always be negative if they think you're attacking their hero. Anyway, your query was legit as you were unaware of his condition. Jack K was refreshingly candid, but also protective of his persona. All his life he projected an image of robust health, "Vigah" he said, depsite horrific pain & illness. He refused to be pitied & always kept casual conversation light & breezy. A very witty, funny, sadonic guy.

[esb84]

I'm not being defensive, and I was referring to the -5 thumbs downs my comment received, not your response to it. I basically agree with everything you said. He was at a dinner with friends and I thought (not being an expert on his health problems and diseases) that maybe he had some drinks, because of everything he revealed.

[WALRU11]

You needn't be so defensive. You're overreacting. I simply pointed out that JFK could not drink owing to his Addison's. Yes, he was candid. In '60 he was a favorite with the press because of such candor. They had never met a politician quite so open & disarming. & FYI: JFK was NO saint. He had his foibles & faults, but overall was a damned good leader with a remarkable capacity for growth. I don't worship JFK. I respect his intellect & rationality - America's young Pericles.

[esb84]

Oh ok I apologize, I never knew that asking a simple question would generate such a negative response, lol. He didn't sound drunk, I really meant because he was being so open and candid I wondered if he had been drinking. It doesn't matter to me anyway, but I guess I should've known questioning JFK's saintliness would enrage the youtube worshippers.

[esb84]

Was JFK drunk during this interview?

[srbeaty]

thats really cool.