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Oral history
John F. Kennedy Oral History Collection
JFKOH-AUG-01
In this interview Heckscher discusses John F. Kennedy [JFK] and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis as an “inspiration to cultural life”; Heckscher’s involvement in government affairs prior to becoming a Special Consultant to the President; the invitation of 168 artists to JFK’s 1961 inauguration and its impact; how Heckscher came to work for the White House; discussing Heckscher’s position with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.; the reasoning behind the creation of the new position of Special Consultant on the Arts and the favorable public reaction to it; enlarging the definition of “The Arts,” especially regarding architecture; Arthur Goldberg; the establishment of the Freedom Medal; creating the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts through executive order; personal impressions of JFK; setting up Heckscher’s office and staff; how Heckscher was meant to advise JFK and what his position entailed; the Cultural Center [Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]; conversations with JFK; Mrs. Kennedy’s expansive work for the arts; the arts as part of national policy; working with other White House staff members and other Departments; designing special postage stamps; what the President’s role in the arts should be; and the Fine Arts Commission, among other issues.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-06-22-D
AR23, KN18
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Staff Files of Sanford L. Fox
JFKWHSFSLF-025-008
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Staff Files of Sanford L. Fox
JFKWHSFSLF-025-007
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Staff Files of Sanford L. Fox
JFKWHSFSLF-018-001
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Staff Files of Sanford L. Fox
JFKWHSFSLF-017-012
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Staff Files of Sanford L. Fox
JFKWHSFSLF-015-015
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C22396
Guests arrive at the White House to attend First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's tea for National Cultural Center Campaign officials. Left to right: former first lady and honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mamie Eisenhower; co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Edward H. Foley (in back); chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Cultural Center, Roger L. Stevens (mostly hidden); honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mrs. Kennedy; member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the National Cultural Center, actor Robert Montgomery (in back); member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the National Cultural Center, Joan Braden; co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, William J. McManus (in back, mostly hidden); co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Grace Hendrick Phillips; chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Janet Auchincloss. North Portico, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C22393
Former first lady and honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mamie Eisenhower, arrives at the White House to attend First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's tea for National Cultural Center Campaign officials. Also pictured: New York Times photographer, George Tames; intern in the White House Press Office, Mimi Beardsley; Secretary to the Assistant Press Secretary, Barbara Gamarekian. Unidentified photographers observe at left. North Portico, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7316-A
Former first lady and honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mamie Eisenhower, and other guests arrive at the White House to attend First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's tea for National Cultural Center Campaign officials. Left to right: co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, William J. McManus (in shadow); Mrs. Eisenhower; co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Grace Hendrick Phillips; chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Janet Auchincloss (partially hidden); honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mrs. Kennedy. North Portico, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C22397
Guests arrive at the White House to attend First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's tea for National Cultural Center Campaign officials. Left to right: former first lady and honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mamie Eisenhower; co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Edward H. Foley (in back); honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mrs. Kennedy; chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Cultural Center, Roger L. Stevens (in back); member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the National Cultural Center, Joan Braden; co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, William J. McManus (in back); co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Grace Hendrick Phillips; chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Janet Auchincloss. North Portico, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C22395
Guests arrive at the White House to attend First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's tea for National Cultural Center Campaign officials. Left to right: former first lady and honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mamie Eisenhower; chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Cultural Center, Roger L. Stevens (in back); honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mrs. Kennedy; member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the National Cultural Center, Joan Braden; co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Grace Hendrick Phillips; chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Janet Auchincloss. North Portico, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C22394
Guests arrive at the White House to attend First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's tea for National Cultural Center Campaign officials. Left to right: former first lady and honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mamie Eisenhower; chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Cultural Center, Roger L. Stevens; co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, William J. McManus; co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Grace Hendrick Phillips; chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Janet Auchincloss; honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mrs. Kennedy. North Portico, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7316-E
Former first lady and honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mamie Eisenhower, arrives at the White House to attend First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's tea for National Cultural Center Campaign officials. Also pictured: New York Times photographer, George Tames; intern in the White House Press Office, Mimi Beardsley; Secretary to the Assistant Press Secretary, Barbara Gamarekian; White House doorman, Preston Bruce. Members of the press and unidentified photographers observe at left. North Portico, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7316-D
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy enters the White House with former first lady and honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mamie Eisenhower; Mrs. Eisenhower attended Mrs. Kennedy's tea for National Cultural Center Campaign officials. First Lady's Social Secretary, Letitia Baldrige, stands at far left in doorway. Members of the press observe, including White House correspondent for United Press International (UPI), Helen Thomas, and Washington Correspondent for the Guy Gannett Publishing Company of Maine, May Craig. North Portico, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7316-C
Guests arrive at the White House to attend First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's tea for National Cultural Center Campaign officials. Left to right: former first lady and honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mamie Eisenhower; chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Cultural Center, Roger L. Stevens (in back, partially hidden); honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mrs. Kennedy; co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, William J. McManus (in back, head turned); member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the National Cultural Center, Joan Braden; co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Grace Hendrick Phillips; chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Janet Auchincloss. North Portico, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7316-B
Guests arrive at the White House to attend First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's tea for National Cultural Center Campaign officials. Left to right: former first lady and honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mamie Eisenhower; chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Cultural Center, Roger L. Stevens (in back, mostly hidden); honorary co-chairman of the National Cultural Center Campaign, Mrs. Kennedy; member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the National Cultural Center, Joan Braden; co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, William J. McManus (in back); co-chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Grace Hendrick Phillips; chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Janet Auchincloss. North Portico, White House, Washington, D.C.