Results tagged “John F. Kennedy” from York Town Square

York, Pa.'s Loretta Claiborne joins other Special Olympians and Eunice Kennedy Shriver in this portrait hanging in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. From left are Airika Straka, Katie Meade, Andy Leonard, Claiborne, Shriver and Marty Sheets. According to the York Daily Record/Sunday News, this was the first portrait commissioned by the museum that was not of a person who had served as president or first lady. (See additional photo below.) Background posts: William Penn Senior High School Hall of Fame honors a host of York County achievers and Loretta Claiborne's achievements bring spotlight her way and Who were most prominent 20th-century sports heroes in York and Adams counties?.

Special Olympian Loretta Claiborne first met Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1972 and crossed paths with her again in 1980. The two kept in touch after that.

In an interview at the time of Shriver's death, Claiborne told the York Daily Record/Sunday News: "She was a woman of wealth. She could have gone anywhere, but she wanted to help humanity."

But how did York's celebrity Special Olympian get involved with those games to begin with? ... .

The whereabouts of this York County, Pa.-made statue has been unknown locally for years. But it recently became public, on eBay of all places. (See photo of the artist and statue below.) Background posts: Wago Club prez: 'You've gotta respect the (snapping) turtles' and Church's landmark: 'A man named Beech carving a beech tree, it seemed too perfect' and Why did JFK lose to Nixon in York County?.

The Craigslist ad read like this:

"Life-size basswood statue of John F. Kennedy, carved by local woodcarver Walter S. Langhine. Included with the statue are letters to and from Jacqueline Kennedy. Email to above address or phone calls accepted at 717-793-0650 or 717-235-2543. Best offer."

Langhine's hand-carved statue of JFK had been missing in plain view for years.

Most recently, it has been in the JFK memorabilia collector Clyde Smith's New Freedom basement, York Daily Record /Sunday News columnist Mike Argento discovered.

Smith is moving to smaller quarters, Argento wrote, so JFK has to go.

And hence the ad... .

The Gazette and Daily, no fan of Richard Nixon, reported on a gaffe during the vice-presidents 1960 visit to York County. Background posts: Washington Township, Jefferson Borough, Madison Avenue. How about an Obama Street in York County? and Exhibit features artifacts detailing presidential visits to York County and In 2008, 8 top candidates or their families campaigned in York County.

Richard Nixon was on the last stages of a last-ditch American campaign tour in October 1960 when brought his campaign against Democratic challenger John F. Kennedy to York.

On the platform at a York railroad station rally, someone asked him to plug GOP congressional candidate George Goodling.

The vice-president slapped legislative candidate Stanley H. Gross on the back and said, "Here he is, George M. Goodling." ...

Noted 19th-century York, Pa., artist Lewis Miller captures George Washington in this drawing that is part of the York County Heritage Trust's collection. The trust is displaying presidential artifacts in connection with the inauguration of President Barack Obama at its 250 E. Market St., York, museum. Background posts: Additional posts on presidential visits and Where was Thomas Jefferson when Congress met in York? and President of Congress Henry Laurens kept Congress together in Valley Forge winter.

For example, post-Civil War presidents often visited the battlefield in Gettysburg, and most got there by rail before the days of air travel. They sometimes would travel unannounced on the Northern Central Railroad, later the Pennsylvania Railroad, to Hanover Junction and then head along the line from there to Gettysburg.

Hanover's Mother Smith -- Mrs. M.O. Smith -- joined presidents Abraham Lincoln, Herbert Hoover, Calvin Coolidge and Franklin D. Roosevelt on the rostrum during presidential speeches in Gettysburg.

"I would not compare the men or their remarks," she told a newspaper after other media had pestered her for such. "I feel it my patriotic duty to refrain from comparing any one president with another."

Indeed, the Northern Central Railroad probably carried many chief executives through York County in the dead of night, unknown to local residents.

Here is a sampling of visits to York and Adams counties from those who occupied the White House (search on this blog for additional information):

Nancy Smith, to the left of the president, delivered red roses on behalf of the Girl Scouts to Harry S. Truman during a York, Pa., campaign stop in 1948. Truman made sure that the 11-year-old girl stood near him so she would appear in photographs. This photo is among many that are part of the York County Heritage Trust's collection documenting presidential stops in York. (See additional photo below.) Background posts: Harry S. Truman's first York visit: 'A statesman is only a dead politician' and Crowd to Truman on second York visit: 'Give 'em h---, Harry' and Harry Truman to York countians: 'And you got exactly what you deserved' and Other presidential visits listed.

The York County Heritage Trust, 250 E. Market St., is presenting a case exhibit displaying artifacts linked to presidential visits to York County.

The exhibit, to be unveiled on Saturday, is tied to next week's inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama.

The library at the trust has a large collection of presidential-related artifacts, including newspaper clippings, photographs and campaign posters... .

Sarah Palin was the last candidate to set foot on a York County stage in the election 2008 season. Here, she speaks to a crowd on Oct. 31 at the York Expo Center. Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge is seen at right. (See photo of Barack Obama's visit to York below.) Background posts: Hillary Clinton apparently closer to middle than Obama in minds of York County Dems, York-area woodcarver made life-size JFK statue. But where is it now? and Bobby Kennedy spoke to Foremen's Club in York about labor racketeering.

The canon is sealed on candidate visits to York for Election 2008.

Chelsea Clinton was the first dignitary to stump way back in April when her mother was still a candidate.

Veep candidate Sarah Palin was the last, appearing Friday, Oct. 31. Joe Biden was the only candidate among the four presidential and vice presidential entries not to show.

Here's the complete list of visits by candidates or their families:

This poster helped draw people to the York Fair to hear Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy speak in 1960. But Republican Richard Nixon drew more votes from York countians than Kennedy. Background posts: Ted Kennedy's visit to York comes almost 50 years after JFK's, Richard Nixon's visit to his namesake park sparks memories and Richard Nixon's visits seared into York countians' minds.

York County solidly backed Republican Richard M. Nixon over John F. Kennedy in 1960, with the tally coming in at 55,109 to 38,710.

That came after Kennedy made a hit with his York Fair visit just before the election. JFK won the nationally televised debate, the debate some say was decided by Nixon's 5 o'clock shadow and choice of a gray suit on black and white TV.

So why the Nixon win in York County? ...

Walter S. Langhine of Weigelstown, Pa., spent four months carving this wooden statue of John F. Kennedy in 1964. Jacqueline Kennedy's staff supplied him with JFK's dimensions. Background posts: JFK's visit to York a long-remembered event, Bob Yost: 'King of real estate in York County' and 20 questions and answers to prove your York County smarts, Part II

York countian Walter S. Langhine sought to memoralize slain U.S. president John F. Kennedy.

He planned to do this in the way he knew best.

The employee of Red Lion's Bethlehem Furniture Co. was a professional woodcarver. His off-work specialties included cigar store Indians and and full-size horses.

Now, in the year after the chief executive's death in 1963, Langhine would make an image of the late president out of wood... .

Robert F. Kennedy, signing autographs at an unspecified location on the campaign trail in 1964, was following in his assassinated brother's footsteps. Lyndon Johnson received received his party's nod that year and eventually served a full term as president. Bobby Kennedy, assassinated while campaigning in 1968, gave a speech in York in 1959. Background posts: Lady Bird Johnson visits York, LBJ: In small towns, girls are fonder; dinner pails fuller and 'Poor Phil Livingston ... so Honest a Man'.

Robert Kennedy told a large gathering of the Foreman's Club in September 1959 that new legislation in Congress would slow down alleged racketeering by Teamsters head Jimmy Hoffa.

Kennedy was speaking from the vantage point as counsel for the Senate Labor Rackets Committee... .

York Fairgoers give presidential candidate John F. Kennedy a warmer reception than York County, Pa., voters in 1960. Richard M. Nixon outpolled Kennedy in the county by 16,000 votes. His younger brother, Ted, is scheduled to appears in York today on behalf of Dem presidential candidate Barack Obama. Background posts: Ted Kennedy's visit to York comes almost 50 years after JFK's, U.S. Army Field Band: Live at Farquhar Park and Hillary Clinton's rally site in York a little odd.

Confronted with an opportunity to buy a brick for the York Salvation Army's new building, John F. Kennedy reached for his wallet.

As nearby newsmen covering the presidential candidate at the York Fair looked on, the multi-millionaire Kennedy searched his wallet for a $10 bill.

But he found it empty, a common occurrence, according to his aides... .

Bob Yost, left, seen with Bill Schintz were longtime members of the Breakfast Club at the Yorktowne Hotel grills, operating under various names. Yost died this week, and Schintz assessed his contributions this way: "Bob Yost put more people in homes than anyone in York County history. He has been the king of real estate in York County for at least the last 30 years... ." (To see Yost's office earlier in his career, see photograph below.) Background posts: Who will lead York County in the future? and Glatfelter, Morgan Smith head industrial legacy list.

This leader in the real estate community leaves behind many accomplishments, including a story (see below) about his pluck earlier in life... .

John F. Kennedy campaigns in 1960 for the presidency in York. (See list of known presidential visits below.) Background post: Ted Kennedy's visit to York comes almost 50 years after JFK's and Hillary Clinton's rally site in York, Pa., a little odd.

There is a telling story about President James Buchanan, who regularly passed through York County on his way to his home, Wheatland, in Lancaster County.

His practice was to leave his conveyance and walk across the mile-long covered bridge connecting York County and Lancaster. One trip in 1859, he slipped, fell, got up and, unfazed, continued his walk.

Some would say there was a certain poetic justice in his fall. His inability as president, and as a particularly weak president to boot, to hold the union together ultimately resulted in the Civil War and the rebel army's visit to York County in late June 1863. The very bridge itself slipped into the Susquehanna River after Union troops torched it to stop the Confederates from crossing.

After his fall, Buchanan returned through York "in excellent health and fine spirits," a newspaper reported. Too bad, many Americans then believed, that he didn't depart from office with his country in similar circumstances.

Buchanan's links to York made his excursions through the region public, even down to coverage of his slips. But it's impossible to pin down a complete list of prospective, actual or former presidents who visited York and Adams counties.

Here is a sampling of visits to York and Adams counties from those who occupied the White House: