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Fifty years after John F. Kennedy delivered his inaugural address,
WSGS.com presents Nell Cooper's memories of the event. Nell was
the wife of Vernon Cooper of Hazard. She describes her visit to
Washington in 1961 where she witnessed the swearing-in ceremonies and the Inaugural
Ball.
Well, I've been to my first Presidential Inauguration, and it was the
most impressive experience of a lifetime. I am a Kentucky
mountaineer, born and bred, on both sides, all the way back. My
great grandfather was a Lieutenant in the Union Army during the Civil
War and on both sides I am descended from Revolutionary War soldiers
so I feel a very strong identification with our country and its great
history.
It was an indescribable thrill to see our nation's capital on its
greatest day - the inauguration of a new president. We traveled to
Washington by automobile with Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Lindon, the best
possible traveling companions. Mr. Lindon is an unsurpassed
raconteur and Mrs. Lindon is a lovely and accommodating lady.
The trip to Washington was uneventful, the weather being mild and
driving conditions perfect. We were understandably concerned
about accommodations, but we secured good rooms at a good hotel
without any trouble. Mr. Lindon has excellent connections in
Washington, and through his good friend, former Senator Earle
Clements, we had excellent tickets to all inaugural functions.
We spent Wednesday picking up tickets and visiting Senator Earle
Clements at his sumptuous offices at the American Merchant Marine
Institute of America. Mr. Clements treated us royally and we
thoroughly enjoyed our visit with him. We went to the House
Office Building to see our Congressman Carl Perkins.
Representative Perkins was a most gracious and accommodating host.
I met Mrs. Perkins for the first time and found her to be a very
lovely and gracious hostess. Their little blonde-headed son was
a doll in a little red jacket. Mrs. Lucille Blake, Mr. Harve
Mobley and Mr. Randolph Smith were also hospitable and accommodating.
Congressman Perkins had a magnificent feast spread on one of the desks
in his office - ham, crackers, cheese, cookies, a great urn of coffee
- in short, typical Kentucky hospitality. And boy, did we enjoy
it.
On Wednesday night we went to the Statler - Hilton for a reception for
Vice President and Mrs. Lyndon Johnson. The Johnson's shook
hands with 8,000 people. It was really elegant.
On Thursday morning Dorothy Lindon and I visited the White House.
We were impressed with the beauty of the home of our President.
I was amazed at the freedom of movement at the White House. No
pass was required to get in and we were allowed to move about freely
and look as much as we liked. I had read a recent article in the
National Geographic with vivid descriptions and pictures of the house
and it was really interesting to actually see it. The thing I
liked best was the gorgeous walnut piano with golden eagles for legs,
which was designed by President Franklin Roosevelt. On this
particular morning we had driven by the White House several times
because Dorothy and I were so eager to see it. Sam Lindon and
Vernon Cooper had a business appointment and didn't want to bother
with us. But Vernon drove by twice while we gawked at the
Inaugural stands, the crowds, and all the drama surrounding the home
of our President. Dorothy insisted on seeing this historic
shrine so finally Sam said, "Well, go on then." So we
hopped out of the car right in front of the White House and the men
went on about their business. We enjoyed every minute of the
trip through the grounds and the building.
Naturally, Dorothy and I wanted to shop in Washington, so the men took
us downtown. We had a fine time looking in the shops and Dorothy
bought a snazzy red hat to wear to the inauguration. A severe
snow and windstorm caught us downtown, but we finally got back to our
hotel. The Kentucky Society of Washington, D.C., was having a
big party at the Arlington Towers in Arlington, Virginia, on Thursday
night. We decked ourselves out in our best bib and tucker and
sallied forth to the lobby of our hotel. We engaged in
conversation with several people in evening dress who had been waiting
2 and 3 hours for cabs. But Sam Lindon went out into the wind
and snow and within 15 minutes had engaged a cab to take us to
Arlington. The traffic snarl was incredible and indescribable.
Washington was trying to handle 400,000 extra people in one of the
worst snow storms in history. We inched along at about 2 miles
an hour. When an intersection would hold us up for 15 or 20
minutes, Vernon would jump out of the cab in his new tuxedo and the
highly polished slippers which Uncle Dewey had given him, and direct
traffic. Unbelievably enough, every time he got out in the
fierce howling blizzard, we would move through the intersection.
The cabbie got a big kick out of Vernon's antics. He said he had
just driven a party of four from the Shoreham to the Roosevelt, and
they had kept him in stitches. One lady in the party said,
"The Inauguration should be moved to Miami," Whereupon
her companion replied, "Well, of we did, there would be the worst
hurricane in history." We left our hotel at 6 0' clock and
reached the Arlington Towers at 10:05 and considered ourselves lucky
to be there. We saw scores of automobiles abandoned on Memorial
Bridge alone, in all positions and all lanes. We had to wind in and out in single file on
a bridge which is a 6
lane bridge under ordinary conditions.
The Terrace Room is an impressive place. The tables are arranged
in tiers on raised platforms, gradually rising from the bandstand and
the dance floor. 450 people were expected and 125 brave souls
managed to reach the gala affair. But it was well worth it,
because it was a wonderful party. Lt. Governor Wilson Wyatt was
a very gracious host, along with others, and his lovely dark-haired
daughter added much to the evening. The food was delicious and
the hospitality unexcelled. Vernon said it was my imagination,
but I sensed that wonderful Kentucky warmth and hospitality when we
entered the door. Every detail had been carefully planned.
The ladies received a gift of perfume and the gentlemen a cigarette
lighter. Governor Wyatt came to our table and greeted us and
took a picture of our party. Then he danced with Mrs. Lindon.
Mr. and Mrs. Gene Adkins were at our table. They are former
residents of Whitesburg, now living in Arlington. I don't know
how we would have gotten back to Washington without them. Mr.
Adkins drove us back in his red Corvair in a snow storm. Oh,
yes, I mustn't forget - Governor Wyatt introduced Sam Lindon to the
party as a distinguished guest from Eastern Kentucky. Mrs.
Burkhalter, the president of the Society, was very charming and an
excellent mistress of ceremonies.
Of course, Friday was the big day. We reached the Capital about
10 0' clock that morning and waited in the office of Congressman
Perkins until time for the swearing-in ceremony. We had good
seats with an excellent view of the stands where President Kennedy
took the oath of office. Vernon took 4 rolls of movie film.
We're just hoping they'll be good. The crowd around us was
heavily wrapped and bundled up in every conceivable type of cold
weather gear, for it was arctic weather. President Kennedy made
a fine speech and Jackie Kennedy looked very lovely and radiant.
But I couldn't help but think of the responsibilities facing her.
I was also proud of Pat and Dick Nixon. He looked magnificent in
defeat. As I looked at President Kennedy, standing in the
brilliant sunshine, I thought he looked touchingly young, and boyish,
and yet somehow stalwart, mature and dependable.
The parade was thrilling. I nearly froze but was so excited I
didn't even know it. President and Mrs. Kennedy were so close I
could see very detail about them. As the West Point Cadets swung
by, I cheered loudly. Their bayonets gleaming in the sun made a
thrilling site. Then when the midshipmen of Annapolis stepped by
so smartly, I cheered loudly again. A boy sitting beside me
whose father is a West Point graduate and colonel in the Army, said,
"Now whose side are you on, the Army or the Navy?"
We were very proud of Kentucky's part in the parade. It was nice
to see our hometown boy - Fred Copeland - in the UK Band.
The Inaugural Ball we attended was at the Statler-Hilton. The
bands of Nelson Riddle and Woody Herman played continuously for
dancing. Peter Lawford was having a small party on the same
floor and we really gawked at the celebrities, Jimmy Durante, Gene
Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Audrey Meadows, etc. I was standing on the
balcony overlooking the lobby early in the evening, when I noticed a
great stir and commotion among the policemen and others. In the
door walked the President of the United States and proceeded up the
steps where I was standing. He made a brief visit to the Lawford
party and then left. But he returned, later in the evening and
greeted the people at the Ball. Conrad Hilton, Sr., introduced
him and Vice President and Mrs. Lyndon Johnson. It was really
exciting to me to see Leonard Bernstein in person. He strolled
casually around the ballroom and I got a really good look at him.
We departed for home the next day - four weary celebrants, but elated
over the wonderful times we had in Washington. Nell Cooper,
Hazard, KY
What an experience so many years after the swearing in ceremony of Jack Kennedy to be able, through the eyes, of a homespun Kentuckian, as she put us on the scene of every function attended. Although we all could not be there on the spot, she has captured her trip and made it possible to visualize what she saw as we read her well documented notes. I hope many will read what WSGS is making possible for us all so many years later. Here I am pushing 80 and I was still a young girl at that time. Nell's account of her trip has brought into reality a lot of my memories of that time. IdaLee Hansel, Spartanburg, SC
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