Reply #4: Thanks for the memories. So much of what has happened since then has been unspeakable. [View All]

A few weeks ago I watched a fascinating film of JFK-the-candidate meeting with representatives of Protestant denominations to talk about being the Catholic candidate for president in a largely Protestant country.

As far as I could tell the audience was all white and all male, and they really grilled him hard, some of them dredging up every past prejudice against Roman Catholicism.

JFK never broke a sweat and never broke stride. Every answer he gave was rational, thoughtful, detailed, on-message, and without anger. It was a remarkable performance.

He had honor, wit, intelligence, courage, and the respect of friend and foe alike. During the Cuban Missile Crisis he told French president Charles DeGaulle that he could provide photos of the USSR nukes in Cuba and DeGaulle said that he did not need photos for proof -- that the word of the president of the United States was sufficient.

Imagine that.

Hekate