Close
Not finding the information you're looking for? Please contact the Archives research staff.
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-1962-09-11-A
ST13
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C44-7-62
Architect, Edward Durell Stone, speaks at the unveiling of an architectural model of the National Cultural Center in a ceremony at the Elms mansion in Newport, Rhode Island; First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (wearing yellow dress) sits in first row behind the model. Those seated behind the model also include: actress, Geraldine Page; entertainer, Danny Kaye; chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Janet Auchincloss; music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf; Hugh D. Auchincloss; member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the National Cultural Center, Joan Braden; actress, Joanne Woodward; actor, Paul Newman. [Photograph by Harold Sellers.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C44-6-62
Architect, Edward Durell Stone, speaks at the unveiling of an architectural model of the National Cultural Center in a ceremony at the Elms mansion in Newport, Rhode Island; First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (wearing yellow dress) sits in first row behind the model. Also pictured: chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Janet Auchincloss (partially obscured); music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf; member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the National Cultural Center, Joan Braden; actress, Joanne Woodward; actor, Paul Newman. [Photograph by Harold Sellers.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C44-5-62
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (center, wearing yellow dress), views an architectural model of the National Cultural Center during an unveiling ceremony at the Elms mansion in Newport, Rhode Island. Also pictured: actress, Geraldine Page; entertainer, Danny Kaye; chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Janet Auchincloss; music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf; architect, Edward Durell, Stone; member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the National Cultural Center, Joan Braden; actress, Joanne Woodward; actor, Paul Newman. [Photograph by Harold Sellers.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C44-4-62
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (center, wearing yellow dress), views an architectural model of the National Cultural Center during an unveiling ceremony at the Elms mansion in Newport, Rhode Island. Also pictured: actress, Geraldine Page; entertainer, Danny Kaye; chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Janet Auchincloss; music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf; Hugh D. Auchincloss; architect, Edward Durell Stone; member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the National Cultural Center, Joan Braden; actress, Joanne Woodward; actor, Paul Newman. [Photograph by Harold Sellers.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C44-2-62
Actress, Geraldine Page (standing at center), speaks at the unveiling of an architectural model of the National Cultural Center in a ceremony at the Elms mansion in Newport, Rhode Island; First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy sits in first row behind the model. Those seated behind the model also include: chairman of the Washington Area Campaign Committee for the National Cultural Center, Janet Auchincloss; music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf; architect, Edward Durell Stone; member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the National Cultural Center, Joan Braden; actress, Joanne Woodward; actor, Paul Newman. [Photograph by Harold Sellers.]
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-C44-1-62
Entertainer, Danny Kaye (standing at center), speaks at the unveiling of an architectural model of the National Cultural Center in a ceremony at the Elms mansion in Newport, Rhode Island; First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (face partially obscured) sits in first row behind the model. Those seated behind the model also include: music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf; architect, Edward Durell Stone; member of the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the National Cultural Center, Joan Braden; actress, Joanne Woodward; actor, Paul Newman. [Photograph by Harold Sellers.]