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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-1963-11-21-G
ST34
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1961-09-19-D
AR11, ST04, KN08
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-05-22-F
AR21, ST10, KN17
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-04-29-B
AR19, ST09, KN15
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-05-11-F
AR20, ST10, KN16
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-01-18-I
AR31, ST19
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-11-29-C
AR29
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-04-16-A
AR19, ST09, KN15
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR6351-B
Presentation of silver Christening cup to President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy for John F. Kennedy, Jr. in Diplomatic Reception Room, White House, Washington, D.C. The two-hundred-year-old cup is from the Kennedy ancestral home in New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland. (L-R) President Kennedy; Irish Ambassador to the United States Thomas J. Kiernan; hostess for Irish airline Aer Lingus Margaret Teresa Ryan; Jacqueline Kennedy; the Ambassador's wife, singer Delia Murphy.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR6351-A
Presentation of silver Christening cup to President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy for John F. Kennedy, Jr. in Diplomatic Reception Room, White House, Washington, D.C. The two-hundred-year-old cup is from the Kennedy ancestral home in New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland. (L-R) President Kennedy; Irish Ambassador to the United States Thomas J. Kiernan; hostess for Irish airline Aer Lingus Margaret Teresa Ryan; the Ambassador's wife, singer Delia Murphy; Jacqueline Kennedy.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19299
Former President Harry S. Truman plays piano at a dinner in his honor. Pianist Eugene List stands behind President Truman. Seated in the background are (L-R): First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Vice President Lyndon Johnson, and Director of the Bureau of the Budget David E. Bell. East Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19298
Dinner in honor of former President Harry S. Truman. Standing (L-R): President John F. Kennedy, pianist Eugene List, and President Truman. First Row (L-R): Congressman Richard W. Bolling (Missouri), First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, and an unidentified woman. East Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19295
Former President Harry S. Truman stands with pianist Eugene List. Seated, First Row (L-R): Former First Lady Bess Truman, President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, and an unidentified woman. Second Row (L-R): Margaret Truman Daniel, former Senator Scott W. Lucas, unidentified woman, Roberta Vinson, Lady Bird Johnson, and Director of the Bureau of the Budget David E. Bell. East Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19294
Former President Harry S. Truman plays piano at a dinner in his honor. Pianist Eugene List stands behind President Truman. Seated in the background are (L-R): President John F. Kennedy, Roberta Vinson (dark hair, white necklace), First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. East Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19893
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy greet composer Igor Stravinsky (back to camera) and his wife Vera de Bosset Stravinsky as they arrive for a dinner party. White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C19892
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy greet composer Igor Stravinsky (far right) and his wife Vera de Bosset Stravinsky as they arrive for a dinner party. White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20032
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (center, partially hidden) speaks with Lucy Baines Johnson (wearing yellow dress, back to camera) following the Metropolitan Opera Studio’s performance of Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” in the White House. Mrs. Kennedy held the event for children of ambassadors living in Washington, D.C.; it was the second of her Musical Programs for Youth. Master of Ceremonies and General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera Company, Rudolf Bing, stands at right; all other guests are unidentified. State Dining Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20031
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy stands with actors and guests following the Metropolitan Opera Studio’s performance of Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” in the White House. Mrs. Kennedy held the event for children of ambassadors living in Washington, D.C.; it was the second of her Musical Programs for Youth. Standing to the right of the First Lady (L-R): unidentified; actor Gimi Beni; Lynda Bird Johnson; Lucy Baines Johnson; Master of Ceremonies and General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera Company, Rudolf Bing (in back). All others are unidentified. State Dining Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20030
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy stands with actors and guests following the Metropolitan Opera Studio’s performance of Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” in the White House. Mrs. Kennedy held the event for children of ambassadors living in Washington, D.C.; it was the second of her Musical Programs for Youth. Standing to the right of the First Lady (L-R): actor Gimi Beni (facing away); Lynda Bird Johnson; Lucy Baines Johnson; Master of Ceremonies and General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera Company, Rudolf Bing (in back, partially hidden). All others are unidentified. State Dining Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20225
President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and guests stand in front of the Grand Staircase in the Entrance Hall of the White House at a dinner in honor of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives John W. McCormack, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. Front Row (L-R): President Kennedy; Mrs. Kennedy; Vice President Johnson (hidden behind Mrs. Kennedy); Lady Bird Johnson; Speaker McCormack; Harriet McCormack, wife of Speaker McCormack; Chief Justice Warren; and Nina Warren, wife of Chief Justice Warren. Back Row (L-R): Military Aide to the President General Chester V. Clifton, Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh, and Naval Aide to the President Captain Tazewell Shepard, Jr. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20224
President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and guests stand in front of the Grand Staircase in the Entrance Hall of the White House at a dinner in honor of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives John W. McCormack, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. Front Row (L-R): President Kennedy; Mrs. Kennedy; Vice President Johnson (hidden behind Mrs. Kennedy); Lady Bird Johnson; Speaker McCormack; Harriet McCormack, wife of Speaker McCormack; Chief Justice Warren; and Nina Warren, wife of Chief Justice Warren. Back Row (L-R): Military Aide to the President General Chester V. Clifton, Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh, and Naval Aide to the President Captain Tazewell Shepard, Jr. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20223
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy visits with mezzo-soprano opera singer Grace Bumbry following Ms. Bumbry's performance at a dinner in honor of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives John W. McCormack, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. President John F. Kennedy looks on from left; Harriet McCormack, wife of Speaker McCormack (wearing a blue dress) and Chief Justice Earl Warren (back to camera) stand at far right; Speaker McCormack stands in the background to the left of Mrs. Kennedy. East Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20220
President John F. Kennedy (pointing toward the audience) walks with mezzo-soprano opera singer Grace Bumbry across the East Room of the White House following Ms. Bumbry's performance at a dinner in honor of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives John W. McCormack, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (back to camera) stands with Lady Bird Johnson and Vice President Johnson (partially hidden) to the right of Ms. Bumbry. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20219
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy congratulate mezzo-soprano opera singer Grace Bumbry (on stage) following Ms. Bumbry's performance at a dinner in honor of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives John W. McCormack, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. Those looking on include: Nina Warren, wife of Chief Justice Warren; Speaker McCormack; Lady Bird Johnson; and Vice President Johnson. East Room, White House, Washington, D.C.