DON VINCENZO writes:

Next week, the nation will find itself wrapped up in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy. Anyone who watches television or enters a bookstore or supermarket will immediately confront the multiple books and magazines showing pictures of the late president and his family.Those who were alive on that day – November 22, 1963 – can usually recall what they were doing when they heard the news of the president’s death, something similar to those of an earlier generation who could tell you where they were when they heard the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

The death of President Kennedy, however, has been unusual in that a trio of troubadours – Richard Godwin, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., and Ted Sorenson – have created an on-going myth of the president’s legacy. What will be glossed over in this retrospective is the president’s behavior in non-official matters. President Kennedy, the first Catholic president, was a product of a family whose influence with the Catholic hierarchy was such that the prelates – especially Cardinal Cushing of Boston – sought to underplay the president’s persistent philandering, as they had done with Joseph Kennedy, the president’s father. On a personal basis, when I first heard of these escapades while assigned overseas, I refused to believe them.  Time and evidence showed, however, that I was very wrong.

That J.F.K. was charming, engaging, smart and charismatic, I have no doubt, but what I do doubt is that he had a strong believer’s faith. To quote an American jurist I know, “(President) Kennedy wore his religion on his sleeve.” But, then, so did the other members of his family.

The Kennedy myth and its ever-present influence exists to this day. Earlier this week, Caroline Kennedy, the only remaining member of J.F.K’s immediate family was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, a task for which she is totally unqualified. I have worked for “political ambassadors” who were nominated for reasons other than their knowledge of the country to which they were assigned, but they brought with them an expertise or knowledge of one aspect of running an embassy. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg brings nothing but her name, something even an administration fifty years removed from the fact, cannot discard. The myth is alive and well.

November is the month that the Church puts aside for reflection and recollection of those who have passed onto their eternal reward. That tradition is at least as old as the 5th century. De mortuiis nihil nisi bonam – of the dead say nothing but good. Still, as we approach the date of the Kennedy’s death, let us also remember that his achievements were not all they were stacked up to be. As a Catholic, neither was he.

— Comments —

Rita Jane writes:

The New York Times has seen fit to remind us Kennedy was killed by those evil conservatives in Dallas. (And silly old me thought Lee Harvey Oswald was a Communist who attempted to defect to the U.S.S.R.!) The Gray Lady has gone senile. I’m surprised they didn’t find a way to blame it on the Tea Party.

Karen I. writes:

I was shocked to learn that for most of his life, President Kennedy suffered from serious medical issues. He hid them so well, others hardly knew the extent of his suffering. Among his ailments were Addison’s disease, severe stomach problems that started in childhood, and such bad back problems that he underwent two failed back surgeries. The first placed a plate in his back, the second took the infected plate out a year later. Those who knew him well said he was in such pain at times, he could not tie his shoelaces. He survived on a number of strong medications daily, including steroids and hormones to treat the Addison’s, along with pain killers and spinal injections. His face was often swollen from the steroids, and it showed in many pictures. Some doctors have a plausible theory that the president actually suffered from undiagnosed celiac disease, and it was mistreated with steroids, causing the Addison’s and spinal degeneration. Celiac is most common in people of Irish descent and Kennedy certainly had symptoms of the condition.

I am certain President Kennedy had his failings as a Catholic. We all do. However, the way he endured daily pain and suffering was an excellent example of a Catholic carrying his cross without complaint.

Hurricane Betsy writes:

1. He was given testosterone in addition to the countless other prescriptions. I think we all know what that will do to a man. I guess they gave him too much.

2. He took Dr. Feelgood’s poisonous mixture and was happy about it for awhile in that it cured his worst pain. Jacquie took this stuff also.

 I watched the series The Kennedys, which went into his physical sufferings in some detail. What he endured was horrible.

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