Collection of items from the estate of Dave Powers, a close friend and assistant of President John F. Kennedy, which contains rare photographs, articles, and itineraries related to Kennedy and his final visit to New England. The collection is highlighted by a TLS from Jacqueline Kennedy, signed “Jackie,” one page, 6.25 x 9.25, personal mourning stationery, March 15, 1966, addressed to Powers: “I just received the lovely vermeil box which you and other friends of Jack’s sent me in memory of our trip to Runnymede. You will never know how touched I am. I shall treasure it forever. It meant so much — your coming to England with me — I don’t think any of us will forget Runnymede. I do thank you.” The letter is accompanied by its original mailing envelope and two photographs from the opening of the JFK Runnymede Memorial on May 14, 1965, with the color photo showing Powers next to the memorial, and the second picturing the full gathered Kennedy family during a lighthearted moment, with Robert F. Kennedy pictured to left and Jackie Kennedy to center.
Photographs from Kennedy’s presidency include: two glossy photos, 7 x 5 and 5 x 7, showing President Kennedy meeting spectators at the University of Maine on October 19, 1963; a glossy 10 x 8 photo of President Kennedy blending into the crowd at Harvard Stadium during a football game between Harvard and Columbia on October 19, 1963; and a glossy 8 x 10 bust-length photo of Kennedy delivering a speech at a dinner celebration in Columbus, Ohio, on January 6, 1962, which includes its original negative. Accompanying the photos are two typed quote sheets from Kennedy’s address at the University of Maine; a stapled itinerary packet for Kennedy’s “Last Visit to Boston, Saturday, October 19, 1963,” with a typed remembrance sheet from Powers detailing Kennedy’s brief and last time home; and a 13-page copy of journalist George Sullivan’s article ‘JFK’s Last Weekend in New England,’ which includes a signed transmittal letter from Sullivan.
Also included are itinerary materials related to Kennedy’s prolific presidential schedule in 1962, which have been personally compiled and copiously hand-annotated by Powers, including: two typed packets, 10 total pages, 8 x 10.5, which contain all of the significant JFK events from 1962, organized chronologically by month and time, with Powers adding several other noteworthy moments to both sides of the pages; and a manilla office folder, 11.75 x 9.5, signed “Dave Powers” and headed “1962, The White House, 1962,” the front of which is annotated extensively by Powers with various JFK-related events, some major and some intimate, dated from January 5th, “Time Magazine, ‘Man of the Year,’" to September 30th, "Jack stayed up all night.” In overall fine condition.
