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Sound recording
Margaret Ronayne Hahn Personal Papers
MRHPP-AU01-AU001-020101
Sound recording of Margaret Ronayne Hahn's recollections of her work on Senator John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign as a campaigner and one of Polly (Pauline) Fitzgerald's "tea ladies." The recording continues from side 2 of tape 1. Hahn describes watching a studio interview of John F. Kennedy and then introducing members of her family to Kennedy afterward. She also talks about campaigning with Rose Kennedy, Patricia "Pat" Kennedy Lawford, and Jean Kennedy Smith, and about travels in Ohio, Iowa, and Illinois. She describes Rose Kennedy's clothes and style, skill as a campaigner, and routines on the campaign trail. She speaks about watching the second presidential debate between Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard M. Nixon on television with Rose Kennedy in a hotel bar, and about Rose Kennedy playing piano and singing "Sweet Adeline" at a reception. Hahn concludes by quoting from The St. Crispin's Day speech from William Shakespeare's play "Henry V." This is tape 2 of 3. Please note that a portion of the recording on this audio cassette (tape 2) is also recorded on another cassette (tape 3); the quality of the recording on tape 3 is superior, but a segment at the beginning lasting approximately seven minutes is not included on tape 3; the recording on tape 3 has not been published online in digital form. For more information, please contact John F. Kennedy Presidential Library reference staff.
Sound recording
Margaret Ronayne Hahn Personal Papers
MRHPP-AU01-AU001-010201
Sound recording of Margaret Ronayne Hahn's recollections of her work on John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign. The recording continues from side 1 of tape 1. Hahn talks about the support that Polly (Pauline) Fitzgerald and campaign manager Robert F. Kennedy provided to her and other campaigners. Hahn speaks about her experiences and challenges serving as a Kennedy-Johnson advance person and a "tea lady" on the campaign trail in Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. She also talks about attending a party hosted by Jacqueline Kennedy to view on television John F. Kennedy's first presidential debate against Vice President Richard M. Nixon. Hahn speaks about her advance campaign work in Indiana, a reluctance among Democrats there to publicly support a Catholic candidate for president, and the decision by the Kennedy-Johnson campaign not to have the tea ladies hold receptions in Indiana. This is side 2 of 2 on tape 1 of 3. The recording continues on tape 2.
Sound recording
Margaret Ronayne Hahn Personal Papers
MRHPP-AU01-AU001-010101
Sound recording of Margaret Ronayne Hahn's recollections of her work on John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign. Hahn begins by reading a letter she wrote to her mother, in which she describes her experiences while attending events relating to President-elect Kennedy's inauguration. Hahn also talks about her introduction to campaigning and her role as one of Polly (Pauline) Fitzgerald's "tea ladies," arranging and hosting teas and receptions during the 1960 presidential campaign. Hahn describes her work arranging a tea reception in Baltimore and the participation of Kennedy family members during the event. Hahn also speaks about responding to Polly Fitzgerald's request to work on behalf of the tea ladies at the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington, D.C., becoming a working mother in the process, and later traveling and working as an advance person on the campaign trail. This is side 1 of 2 on tape 1 of 3. The recording continues on side 2 of tape 1.