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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.
Textual folder
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Personal Papers
JBKOPP-SF053-010
This file contains correspondence, memoranda, articles, and press releases regarding the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Topics include gifts of chandeliers, marble, and a Stradivarius violin; and lists of potential members for the Board of Trustees.
Textual folder
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Personal Papers
JBKOPP-SF053-009
This file contains correspondence, memoranda, and news articles regarding the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Topics include the design and geographic location of the building, members of the Board of Trustees, and press releases concerning a commission by the Center for a new work by composer Leonard Bernstein to be performed at the Center's opening. Contains five photographic prints.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-11-29-C
AR29
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-T
Master of ceremonies, composer, and conductor Leonard Bernstein (at microphones) speaks at a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center; President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy attended the dinner. Nina Warren, wife of Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, sits left of Mr. Bernstein. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Personal Papers
JBKOPP-SF053-009-p0017
Photograph of Senator-elect Robert F. Kennedy speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Seated in the front row are President Lyndon Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson (both wearing light-colored coats). Also in attendance are Reverend Philip M. Hannan; Arthur M. Schlesinger, Special Assistant to President John F. Kennedy; White House Secret Service Agent Gerald A. "Jerry" Behn; and Roger L. Stevens, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center. Verso contains, "145," handwritten in pencil, and a stamp of, "Credit Photo By, City News Bureau, CO. 5-2000, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington 8, D.C."
Photograph
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Personal Papers
JBKOPP-SF053-009-p0015
Photograph of President Lyndon Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson at the groundbreaking ceremony for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. First row (standing, L-R): Reverend Philip M. Hannan (wearing wide-brimmed hat), Senator-elect Robert F. Kennedy, President Johnson, and the First Lady. Also in attendance are Arthur M. Schlesinger, Special Assistant to President John F. Kennedy; White House Secret Service Agent Gerald A. “Jerry” Behn; and Roger L. Stevens, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center. Verso contains, "243," handwritten in pencil, and a stamp of, "Credit Photo By, City News Bureau, CO. 5-2000, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington 8, D.C."
Photograph
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Personal Papers
JBKOPP-SF053-009-p0013
Photograph of Senator-elect Robert F. Kennedy speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Seated in the background is Arthur M. Schlesinger (wearing glasses), Special Assistant to President John F. Kennedy. Verso contains, "D17," handwritten in pencil, and a stamp of, "Credit Photo By, City News Bureau, CO. 5-2000, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington 8, D.C."
Photograph
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Personal Papers
JBKOPP-SF053-009-p0077
Photograph of an architectural model of the Entrance Plaza of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to be located in Washington, D.C. The caption below reads, "(2) John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. -- Entrance Plaza -- Credit Ezra Stoller Associates."
Photograph
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Personal Papers
JBKOPP-SF053-009-p0076
Photograph of an architectural model of the East Front and Entrance Plaza of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to be located in Washington, D.C. The caption below reads, "(1) John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. -- East Front and Entrance Plaza -- Credit Ezra Stoller Associates."
Photograph
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Staff Files of August Heckscher
JFKWHSFAH-028-007-p0029
Photograph of the proposed National Cultural Center (later known as the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts) in Washington, D.C.
Photograph
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Staff Files of August Heckscher
JFKWHSFAH-028-007-p0028
Photograph of an aerial view of the proposed National Cultural Center (later known as the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts) in Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-O
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (seated at table) attend a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-N
Master of ceremonies, composer, and conductor Leonard Bernstein (left), speaks at a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center; President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy attended the dinner. At the head table (L-R): Secretary of the Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon; unidentified; Secretary of State, Dean Rusk; Nina Warren, wife of Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Mr. Bernstein; chairman of the dinner committee for the National Cultural Center, Suzanne Gardner; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; President Kennedy; Mrs. Kennedy; Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Cultural Center, Roger L. Stevens; Lady Bird Johnson; Chief Justice Warren; and Virginia Rusk, wife of Secretary Rusk. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-L
Entertainer Danny Kaye conducts the National Symphony Orchestra during a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center; President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy attended the dinner. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-K
President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and others attend a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. Left to right: Nina Warren (seated), wife of Earl Warren, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; master of ceremonies, composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein; chairman of the dinner committee for the National Cultural Center, Suzanne Gardner; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Mrs. Kennedy; and President Kennedy. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-J
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy prepares to deliver remarks at a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. Left to right: chairman of the dinner committee for the National Cultural Center, Suzanne Gardner; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Mrs. Kennedy; and President John F. Kennedy. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-H
President John F. Kennedy (at lectern) delivers remarks at a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. Seated (L-R): chairman of the dinner committee for the National Cultural Center, Suzanne Gardner; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy; Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Cultural Center, Roger L. Stevens; Lady Bird Johnson; and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Earl Warren. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-F
Guests attend a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. Seated (L-R): two unidentified persons; Secretary of Agriculture, Orville L. Freeman; opera singer Dorothy Kirsten; and Secretary of the Interior, Stewart L. Udall. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy also attended the dinner. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-A
View of the National Guard Armory auditorium during a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center; President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy attended the dinner. Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-G
President John F. Kennedy (at lectern) delivers remarks at a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-R
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (seated at table) attend a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-Q
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (seated at table) attend a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-P
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (seated at table) attend a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR7606-M
Entertainer Danny Kaye (center, back to camera) conducts the National Symphony Orchestra during a fundraising dinner and closed-circuit telecast of "An American Pageant of the Arts" for the National Cultural Center; President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy attended the dinner. National Guard Armory, Washington, D.C.