The building is impressive, and understated, as are most of the museums exhibits.
The self guided tour starts with President Kennedy's life as a boy, and his experiences traveling during college to Europe. Then the transition to politics is made, with the admission that "I really didn't think of politics as a career", since his older brother was being groomed for the presidency. After WW II, with the death of his brother, family encouragement to run for office resulted in Jack's election to congress, then the senate. His meteoric rise through the political ranks came to him as a birthright, since his roots are in an affluent eastern family. His skills as an orator, polished in college, served him well in the presidential debates of 1960, and his demeanor made him welcome in the living rooms and kitchens of a cross-section of America. Nonetheless, the election was one of the closest in history, with Richard Nixon winning more states, but Kennedy winning in the electoral college. The final map shows the spread.
On display is the Kennedy Family Bible that President Kennedy used at his inauguration ceremony in January, 1961. It is an 1850 edition brought from Ireland by Kennedy's forebears. The Bible was transported from a relative's house to Washington in a brown paper grocery bag taken from a local market.
A large part of the museum told us about First Lady Jacqueline. On display are a number of gifts received by the Kennedy's while in the White House, including this Gold, Diamond and Ruby studded purse presented to the First Lady by the King of Morocco.
Several of Jackie's dresses are on display.
As is one of the Presidents' golf clubs and a box of personalized gold balls. The sign says that the President never played 18 holes of golf, but played one hole, went to another randomly, and left after a few odd holes.
Many items from the First Lady's early life is displayed, including this photo of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy at age seven.
A large part of the museum is devoted to President Kennedy's Peace Corps Initiative, and, of course, the influence that Jacqueline had on the arts, but by far the most heart stopping exhibit was about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Everyone of that era remembers that America was on the brink of war, and that through a combination of strength and restraint, President Kennedy defused the situation. A couple of interesting stories were on display that were not declassified until recently.
Just how close nuclear war was is illustrated by this display:
We were that close!
Outside the Library and Museum, the Victura, a sailboat given to John Kennedy by his father is on display.
The Harbor Walk is a pleasant stroll around the Library, with a view of Boston across the water, and Old North Church in right center.
But, since the temp was 95, with a goodly amount of humidity from the rain yesterday, we didn't walk very far.
A 60 minute ride home (rush hour) got us back to the park in time to provide Sasha with a long walk and a trip to the dog park. She loves the dog park, particularly when she has friends to play with!
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