The Ghost of JFK
We just returned from a fabulous weekend getaway in Cape Cod where in addition to gorging on lobster and watching whales frolic in the Atlantic, we went in search of the Kennedy compound in Hyannis port and found it by way of a path to the beach through a public park. The compound consists of about 5 houses on 6 acres of waterfront land on Nantucket sound and is marked by two giant American flags flying at full mast in front of the main cottage- house built by JFK’s father Joe.
Having just watched the full Kennedy T.V. series that characterized the compound as the place that grounded him and the beach strip in the picture below as the sacred ground to walk when troubled or faced with tough decisions, I could eerily sense his presence or at least place myself in his footsteps. It was here that he played with his family and children, walked and worried about issues including nuclear war and soviet response during the Cuban missile crisis.
With the tourist season over, there was no one around. No guards, no fences, (apart from signs that barbed wire once lined the sand dunes preventing any access to the grounds from the beach) but today I found myself alone standing where I imagine secret service agents once patrolled. With no one there to stop me, I climbed a 6 – 7 step wood stair-way from the beach to a narrow wood planked board-walk that led towards the main house.
Photo by: John Stall
Photo by: John Stall
Now, have a look at this photo I found from the public on-line archives of JFK walking the same board walk with his defense secretary Robert McNamara. 
As I say, it was spooky to walk that beach this weekend but emotionally moving as well, partly because of the profound place the Kennedy family holds in history, and partly because we have a family compound as well on Georgian Bay Ontario. It began with a modest cabin purchased by my Italian immigrant grandfather in the 40″s but has evolved over time to five cottage houses side by side where three generations of cousins, aunts, uncles and friends come together regularily on weekends and holidays – especially on Thanksgiving weekend. I too, am most grounded when there , strolling the beach in both joyful and troubling times.
As a side bar, I am in the process of preparing to interview a former girl friend/ lover of Lee Harvey Oswald who claims Oswald was in Dallas to prevent the assassination of JFK.
Stay tuned…