The John F. Kennedy Center and the Kennedys

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Arthur I. Cyr is author of the book “After the Cold War.”

Not too long ago, the travails of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts would have been most unlikely. Earlier presidents did not engage in similar disruptive behavior. However, the administration of Donald Trump is definitely different.

In May, a federal judge ordered that Trump does not have the right to add his name to that of President Kennedy on the enormous hall. As in various other court cases, Trump has complied. But a tarp remains in place covering Kennedy’s name.

The Kennedy administration was noted for quality cultural events, the initiative of first lady Jacqueline Kennedy. The ongoing series included African-American opera star Grace Bumbry, cellist Pablo Casals, the American Ballet Theater, a Jerome Robbins ballet, the National Symphony Orchestra, and others.

A special dinner honored 49 Nobel Laureates, writer James Baldwin, poet Robert Frost, and nuclear scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Years later, Mrs. Kennedy worked as an editor at publisher Doubleday. A senior executive of the firm, with whom this writer collaborated, described her as an excellent employee — hard-working and punctual, with exceptional artistic and literary judgment, who never played the celebrity.

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, largely froze the life of the nation. In one misguided exception, the National Football League decided to continue Sunday games as scheduled. NFL press releases argued the vigorous JFK would have wanted sports to go on as usual. In fact many fans stayed home, there was no national television coverage, and Pete Rozelle later cited the decision to go ahead with play as his worst as NFL commissioner.

In the immediate aftermath of Kennedy’s death, there was a thoroughly understandable tendency to idealize the man and emphasize his accomplishments. Kennedy’s brief tenure in office further complicates analysis. Later, revelations concerning his reckless personal behavior changed the picture. Still later, information about his severe health problems, successfully concealed during his life, became public.

The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, the most dangerous confrontation of the Cold War, could easily have led to general thermonuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Kennedy, like other men with very direct military and war experience, was consistently cautious about using force. In the end, he and his advisers were able to finesse the missiles out of Cuba.

Despite serious illnesses, in World War II he managed to enlist in the Navy. He then volunteered for extremely dangerous special patrol boat duty.

JFK demonstrated considerable heroism after his patrol boat PT-109 was rammed by a Japanese destroyer. He led his men to nearby islands, where they were eventually rescued. Kennedy towed one badly burned seaman through heavy current, gripping the ties of the man’s life jacket in his teeth. Two men in Kennedy’s crew were killed in the collision with the destroyer, a grim fact that weighed heavily.

He could have had a one-way ticket home but instead lobbied to remain. He was given command of PT-59 and completed more missions, including rescue of U.S. Marines despite heavy Japanese fire.

Kennedy successfully emphasized the importance of public service, a marked change from the corporate-style consolidation of the Eisenhower years. He created the Peace Corps along with the U.S. Navy SEALs. Both proved durable institutions.

Kennedy at the start of his administration dramatically committed to a manned mission to the Moon, and safe return. Associated miniaturization helped drive development of the small computer, and other innovations.. Every time you turn on your personal computer or cell phone, you are also saying hello to JFK.