Kennedy Targeted on 1963 Ireland Trip

[deminks]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/28/AR2006122801101_pf.html

DUBLIN, Ireland -- President John F. Kennedy was the subject of three separate death threats during his visit to Ireland in 1963, according to newly declassified police documents released Friday.

The documents released by the Irish Justice Department said police received two anonymous telephoned warnings in the weeks before the arrival of the United States' first Irish Catholic president. A third threat went to the newsroom of the Irish Independent newspaper.

Kennedy's June 26-29 visit went ahead trouble free as he was greeted by adoring crowds in Dublin, Cork, Galway and at his family homestead in County Wexford, in southeast Ireland.

He was assassinated in Dallas five months later.

In a letter, Commissioner Daniel Costigan, the commander of Ireland's national police force in 1963, described the Kennedy tour as "the most important visit to this country since the establishment of the state, with worldwide publicity. British journalists are likely to be ready to criticize any fault in arrangements."

[Horse with no Name]

1. Would be most curious to find out WHO was planning on being

in Ireland during those events.

[Divernan]

2. The Irish Parliament (Oireachtas) proudly displays photos of JFK visit

in their elegant reception room for dignitaries. Similar photos of Bill Clinton & other world leaders adorn the walls of this rather small room. Noticeably missing is any photo of W.

Also proudly and prominently displayed is a gift from JFK to the Parliament. It is the large and beautiful battle flag of "Meagher's Irish Brigade of 1863", the 69th Regiment from New York State, which fought at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Gaines Hill, Allen's Farm, Antietam and Gettysburg, among other locations during the Civil War. In that many Irish American immigrants from this group died in these battles, the Irish were and remain deeply touched when JFK gave them this very large flag (as I recall it was about 8 by 12 feet) and have it displayed like a tapestry over a wide main stair case. It was a highlight of the tour provided by the capitol guide.

[jwirr]

5. Thank you for that beautiful bit of history. It brought tears to my eyes.

[dflprincess]

8. I knew a guy from County Kerry who told me the broadcast of

JFK's visit was the first time he remembered there being any daytime TV in his area. Not everyone had a television so the people who did, invited friends and family over to watch the live coverage. He said his family's living room was packed and all the women were ohing and ahing over Kennedy. Everyone had some relative, no matter how distant, who had emigrated to America and JFK was practically viewed as the local boy who made good (just like JFK was "one of ours" to a lot of American Irish Catholic families like mine).

He also told me how crushing it was to everyone in his town when Kennedy was killed.

[Maeve]

10. And Eyre Square, in the center of Galway, is JFK Memorial Park

[dave_p]

3. Now that's priorities!

I love the closing remark... never mind the world's most powerful leader being killed, just imagine what a field-day the Brits would have! :D

[Say_What]

4. "Johnny we Hardly Knew Ye"... pics of JFK in Ireland

[EFerrari]

9. When was the last time an American president was so loved.

Clinton got close but no one, afaik, has matched that.

[Countdown_3_2_1]

6. Sadaam was EVERYWHERE!!!!! nt

[gorbal]

7. Kind of like when Obama went to Kenya

I think that is why people still have warm feelings for the US, no matter what horrors our leaders commit. The US is the wayward child of the rest of the world.