Statement from JFK Presidential Library and Museum Executive Director Alan Price on the passing for Dan Fenn, former Staff Assistant to President Kennedy and first director of the JFK Library:
Mr. Fenn, who helped Eleanor Roosevelt create the World Affairs Council and was a staff assistant in the White House during President Kennedy’s administration, was named director of the presidential library when it opened in 1972. Designed by the legendary I.M. Pei, the soaring library devoted to the life of the 35th president, became an instant tourist attraction and center for scholarly research and educational programming under Mr. Fenn. He served as director until his retirement in 1986.
It was a high point within of a life of service to his country.
He graduated from Harvard University in 1944 before being drafted into the army during World War II, where he served as an officer in the United States Air Force in Italy.
After his discharge, he returned to Harvard as Assistant Dean of Freshmen. From 1955 to 1961, he was a faculty member and lecturer in the Harvard School of Business. (He continued to teach in the Executive Education program at the Harvard Kennedy School for forty years.)
He left to work briefly as Special Assistant to Sen. Benjamin Smith, Dem.-Mass, before moving on to the White House.
As one of President Kennedy’s final appointments, Mr. Fenn served as a Commissioner on the United States Tariff Commission, now the United States International Trade Commission. He served on the commission from 1963 to 1967.
From 1969 to 1971, Mr. Fenn was president of the Center for Business-Government Relations in Washington, D.C. During this time, Mr. Fenn also taught a seminar on business-government relations at American University. He served as an elected member of the Lexington Town Meeting for 57 years, winning reelection again last fall.
We, at the JFK Library will never forget the passion, sharp attention, and quick humor of Dan's mind. He loved to teach and mentor. I will treasure his many lessons about President Kennedy, our Library, local and national politics, historic reinactments, and life in general. He will be deeply missed.