The Kennedys' Moment of Glory

Photograph by Larry Sharkey / Los Angeles Times July 15, 1960: Preceded by photographers, John F. Kennedy leads his entourage into the Coliseum. I believe the fellow in the lower left is Stanley Tretick, who frequently photographed Kennedy.  Los Angeles Times file photo The convention meets at the Coliseum to hear Kennedy. Notice the Dodgers’ baseball diamond.

On the jump, photos of Kennedy’s acceptance speech, Rose Kennedy and a fellow I believe is Edward Kennedy, although he isn’t identified in the caption information – and I can’t imagine what he was doing with the Wyoming delegation.

Photograph by Nelson Tiffany / Los Angeles Times July 13, 1960: Rose Kennedy talks to reporters at the Biltmore Hotel. Los Angeles Times file photo July 13, 1960: Tracy McCracken of Wyoming with … is that Edward Kennedy? Los Angeles Times file photo Delegates and Democratic supporters at the Coliseum. Photograph by Wayne Kelly / Los Angeles Times July 15, 1960: Lyndon Johnson, Kennedy, Stuart Symington,  Hubert Humphrey, House Speaker Sam Rayburn and Rep. James Roosevelt. Conspicuously missing: Adlai Stevenson, who received a standing ovation when he introduced Kennedy. Photograph by the Los Angeles Times John F. Kennedy addresses the crowd at the Coliseum.

Comments

[Paul M. Mock]

How prophetic it is to see JFK in that photo walking with maybe two bodyguards around him and the public at each elbow! It gives me chills to look at that picture and think of what was to come.

[Chris Morales]

Yes, that is Ted Kennedy; there are other photos of him
with the Wyoming delegates.

[Melody Miller]

It's wonderful to see these photographs of a historic convention and the beginning of the challenge to do something for our country. That is Stan Tretick with the cameras, and those are fellow Senators walking with JFK followed by his sisters, and yes Ted Kennedy was in the Wyoming delegation because he was in charge of the western states for the convention and the campaign. It was the Wyoming delegation votes that put JFK over the top to win the nomination and lead to his winning the presidency in 1960. When you see the pictures it doesn't seem that long ago because in so many ways he is ageless. He is still the yardstick by whom all other candidates and presidents are measured -- whether they are Kennedyesque.

[Native Angeleno]

Ted was working the floor for his bro's organization, and so was with with Wyoming as that delegation put Jack over the top.

[BartA58]

FYI...Ted Kennedy had been put in charge of the western states by Joe Kennedy...Colorado, Wyoming etc. That is why he is seen in this picture with the members of the Wyoming delgation.

[Sandy]

In his autobiography "True Compass," Edward Kennedy tells the story of convincing the Wyoming delegation to cast its votes for JFK, in exchange for arranging the count to allow Wyoming to be the state to put JFK over the top. He said he was standing next to Tracy McCracken to ensure that screaming Lyndon Johnson delegates, to whom Wyoming had previously pledged support, didn't sway McCracken to waver. After McCracken delivered the state to JFK, Edward Kennedy wrote, "Then we all yelled and cheered again, and I waved the Wyoming standard alongside people who'd been strangers just weels earlier, but were now dear friends."

[KMDawson]

This is one of the reasons the news media is in disrepute--the answer to why Ted Kennedy was with the Wyoming delegation was easily answered--I remember reading the story in T.H.White's "Making of a President 1960"--but a reporter either didn't know who to do a little research or couldn't be bothered. (My local paper once ran a picture of a farmer wearing a hat saying "Allis Chalmers" and the caption read "wearing his John Deere hat.")

I am a lot less worried about bias in the news these days than I am about simple incompetence or laziness.