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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-1962-04-27-D
AR19
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7186-Z
At the White House Correspondents and News Photographers Dinner, William H. Y. Knighton, Jr., President of the White House Correspondents’ Association (center), presents Prime Minister Harold Macmillan of Great Britain and President John F. Kennedy with gifts. President Kennedy holds a silver replica of the inkstand used during the signing of the Declaration of Independence; Prime Minister Macmillan holds a silver cigar box modeled on a colonial tobacco box. Both gifts were made by William deMatteo, a silversmith at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Main ballroom, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7186-Y
President John F. Kennedy speaks at White House Correspondents and News Photographers Dinner. Main ballroom, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7186-X
At the White House Correspondents and News Photographers Dinner, William H. Y. Knighton, Jr., President of the White House Correspondents’ Association, presents Prime Minister Harold Macmillan of Great Britain with a silver cigar box modeled on a colonial tobacco box. President John F. Kennedy looks on, holding a silver replica of the inkstand used during the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Both gifts were made by William De Matteo, a silversmith at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Main ballroom, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7186-W
At the White House Correspondents and News Photographers Dinner, William H. Y. Knighton, Jr., President of the White House Correspondents’ Association, presents President John F. Kennedy with a silver replica of the inkstand used during the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The inkstand was made by William De Matteo, a silversmith at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Main ballroom, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7186-V
President John F. Kennedy sits behind a table with Washington Post photographer, Charles Del Vecchio, at the White House Correspondents and News Photographers Dinner. In front of President Kennedy is a silver replica of the inkstand used during the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The inkstand was made by William De Matteo, a silversmith at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Main ballroom, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7186-R
President John F. Kennedy stands with unidentified guests at the White House Correspondents and News Photographers Dinner. Garden Foyer, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7186-N
President John F. Kennedy and Prime Minister Harold Macmillan of Great Britain stand with other guests at the White House Correspondents and News Photographers Dinner. (L-R) Unidentified guest; President Kennedy; dean of the White House press corps and United Press International (UPI) reporter, Merriman "Smitty" Smith; Prime Minister Macmillan. Standing in background: White House Secret Service agents, Bill Payne and Frank Yeager. Garden Foyer, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7186-I
President John F. Kennedy stands with performers at the White House Correspondents and News Photographers Dinner. (L-R) Actor Elliot Reid; President Kennedy; actor Peter Sellers; Prime Minister Macmillan. Garden Foyer, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7186-G
President John F. Kennedy stands with guests at the White House Correspondents and News Photographers Dinner. Left to right: President of White House Correspondents' Association, William H. Y. Knighton, Jr.; unidentified; Manager of the Sheraton Park Hotel, George Johnson; President Kennedy; unidentified; Washington Post photographer, Charles Del Vecchio; unidentified. Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.