JFK attended mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
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January 29, 1954 (Friday)
JFK was in the capital and attended the Women’s Forum on National Poverty in the Presidential Room at the Hotel Statler from 1 pm – 2 pm.
A postcard of the Hotel Statler in 1950 (photo courtesy etsy.com)
In the evening, Kennedy, who always enjoyed dining with someone in the evening, met Larry Spivak for dinner at 7 pm at 2400 16th St. N. W.
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January 28, 1954 (Thursday)
JFK had an appointment with a Dr. Corrigan at noon and then in the evening attended a reception starting at 6 pm at the Japanese embassy for the charge’ d’Affairs.
Afterwards, he left to attend a reception for the Turkish Ambassador to the United States in the Grand Ballroom of the Mayflower Hotel.
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The Honey Fitz
JFK loved to sail and regularly used the presidential yacht throughout his presidency. The 92 foot vessel was originally built in 1933 and was christened the Lenore. The first president to use it was Eisenhower.
The presidential yacht Honey Fitz (photo courtesy yachtpals.com)
In 1961 JFK renamed it the Honey Fitz in honor of his beloved grandfather. It was maintained and manned by the United States Navy and was kept for most of the year on the Potomac, although it was sometimes moved to Hyannis or Palm Beach.
The vessel held 60 people and was often used by the Kennedys for entertaining and family outings and parties. When the ship sailed on open waters, it was accompanied by a coastguard cutter, helicopter, and high-speed escort boat.
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Green’s Pharmacy
Green’s Pharmacy was a favorite JFK boyhood haunt in Palm Beach, Florida. As President, JFK would sometimes go out the back door of the Kennedy house, telling the Secret Service he was going to walk on the lawn. Then dressed in khaki trousers and penny loafers without socks, he would make a dash for Green’s.
Modern view of the lunch counter at Green's Pharmacy (photo courtesy tripadvisor.com)
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14 Princes Gate
This was the residence of the United States ambassador to the Court of St. James’s during the time Joseph Kennedy, Sr. held the post from 1938 to 1940.
14 Prince's Gate in London (photo courtesy wikipedia.com)
JFK lived here when visiting his family during part of the summer of 1938 and during the fall of 1939.
The house’s street address comes from the fact that it is across the street from the Prince’s gate of Hyde Park. The residence was originally owned by J. P. Morgan, who also owned 13 Prince’s Gate, the house next door. To better house his art collection, Morgan combined the houses by knocking down internal walls.
Interior of 14 Princes Gate in the early 1900s (photo courtesy rcgp.org.uk)
After the building was given to the United States Government, architect Thomas Hastings was hired to redo the facade. He is also responsible for adding the famous red Indian head carvings.
The building was abandoned by the US government in 1955 because the building of nearby flats was deemed a security risk. The builiding was subsequently occupied by the Independent Television Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners.
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St. Edwards Catholic Church
Although decidedly lax in following church teaching on some subjects such as adultery, JFK attended mass regularly. When the family was in Palm Beach, they attended St. Edwards Catholic Church.
St. Edward's Church, Palm Beach (photo courtesy weddingbycolor.com)
JFK sat in a reserved pew with Secret Service men on either side of him. Even in church, he was unobtrusively accompanied by a military officer carrying the codebook that would allow Kennedy to control nuclear launches. In addition, a secure “red phone” was installed in the back of the church that would allow instant communication in the case of a developing crisis.
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Paul Residence
Before he was elected President, when JFK traveled to Palm Beach, he stayed at his father’s Spanish-style estate on Ocean Blvd. However, after the election, Joe, Sr.’s house would not accomodate both the Kennedy family and all of the Presidential entourage.
To offset these logistical problems, the presidential party usually stayed at the nearby estate of Colonel C. Michael Paul, who was a wealthy financier and retired Army officer.
The Kennedy's and Radziwill's celebrating Christmas at the home of C. Michael Paul
Paul’s opulent estate had eight bedrooms, museum quality art on the walls, a panoramic floor-to-ceiling view of the ocean, a grand marble staircase, and a heated swimming pool. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was said to be very comfortable using the house.
In addition, the house met her chief requirement of providing privacy through the high hedges that completely surrounded the property. This allowed Caroline and John, Jr. to play in the outdoor fountain complete with lilly pads unseen and provided ample space for the machine-gun toting Secret Service officers to set-up and maintain a security perimeter.
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