CAROLJOYNT.COM

Amazing Vintage Video Of Jackie Kennedy: "I Love Living In Georgetown" UPDATED

THIS, THE DARK GRAY HOUSE, IS WHERE JACK AND JACKIE KENNEDY LIVED AT THE TIME OF THE TV INTERVIEW BELOW

 

Any Jackie Kennedy fan will enjoy watching this rare video, but it will have special meaning to residents of Georgetown. What it includes is B-roll of her walking around the neighborhood, including taking her dog to Rose Park (you'll recognize the steps and sandbox). Jack Kennedy appears in it, too, toward the end of the 9 minute clip. They both appear so young. Jackie has a stunning resemblance to the actress Rachel Weisz.

(Here is an analysis of the video I wrote for New York Social Diary.)

It shows Jackie coming and going from their home, visting the butcher and dry cleaner,  but I don't think it is the N Street house they lived in when JFK was elected President. Since it was taped in 1957, it could be their home on Dent. But then, it would be odd for her to walk the dog all the way over to Rose Park. Who knows? Maybe someone does and will let me know.  Subsequent to the first posting of this item I've been told the house was at 2808 P Street (photographed today 5/25/13 above) and that it was where Jack lived and Jackie moved in after their marriage. They did later live on N Street, which was their home at the time of the presidential election.

According to a friend of David Abrams (who sent the video to me initially):

"During their period (on P Street), the Democratic Party looked at Kennedy as a possible presidential candidate, after the success of Jack’s book, Profiles in Courage. On a sad note, during their time here, Jackie gave birth to their first child, who was stillborn. .."  

Georgetown looks much as it does today, with the exception of the cars. The program was called "Home" and was hosted by Arlene Francis. How about the crazy microphones? They are the size of juice boxes! 

As she walks along the path in Rose Park, overlooking Rock Creek Parkway, Jackie says, "I love living in Georgetown.

I'm very grateful to David Abrams for sending this to me. It's a gem. 

Cronkite, LBJ: Memories Are Made Of This

 

This is a clip of TV history I've never before seen, though I was there, and I thank my friend Shane Harris for unearthing and sending my way. It is Walter Cronkite reporting the death of President Lyndon B. Johnson "live" on the air. A writer, I sat off camera to his left. Across from me was the editor, John Merriman. On Cronkite's right were the two other writers, Raybun Matthews and Charles L. West. 

We were not many minutes into the show - maybe into the first commercial break - when the executive producer, Paul Greenberg, rushed out of his office, known as the "fishbowl," to tell Walter that Tom Johnson was on the phone and it was urgent, that LBJ had died. We came out of commercial and Walter took the call on the air. This clip underscores his professionalism and calm and journalistic grounding. Off camera, we scrambled, writing little bits of information that we slid to Walter below the shot. Very subtly, you can see him cooly referring to the little notes as we pass them to him -- from both directions. 

At the end of the clip, as we go to commercial, you see me, ready to pull copy from the wire machines that lined one wall of the studio. They were the Reuters, Associated Press and United Press International wires. They were our lifeblood back in those days before computers, tweets, email, text messages and so forth. We kept them in these big boxes so that while we were on the air the tick-tick-tick of the machines would be muffled, but you can hear them. You can hear our electric typewriters, too. 

This is just one of the most remarkable days in history but also in my professional life. I'd only joined the writing staff of The CBS Evening News in December of the year before. Cronkite hired me away from Time magazine, where I was a fledgling reporter. I was all of 22-years-old but a real hard-news Hannah about the business. This particular event, and the way Walter and the staff handled it, made me proud. We sprinted along until the end of the first 30-minute live 6:30 show, but while Walter talked we totally wrote a whole new show to do live at 7pm. We had all of five minutes to pull it together. The producers prepared clips and obit material. That night we did a network special. 

It was an exciting night. This was 1973, and Watergate was in full flower, so our days were routinely exciting. Still, this moment stood out. Not to get all gushy, but I watch and listen to the clip and it reminds me what a great front row seat I've had to so much history. I'm reminded, too, of what journalism was like before it got adorned with silly frills or sidetracked into meaninglessness. I miss the urgency of breaking news and being the broadcast to beat and, especially, the high standards. The standards were remarkable, compared to what passes for standards now - not only in television, but in all so-called news media. 

Because Shane mentioned it, here's a piece I wrote after Walter died: Remebering Old Iron Pants. The picture at the top is what we called the "bumper shot," which flashed on screen as went to commercial. I'm at my desk (Coca Cola and ash tray struck from the set).

 PS-The clip is in black and white, but we broadcast in color.

LATER: Afer posting, I received this wonderful message from a former colleague, Carolyn Terry Dorsett, who was Walter's executive assistant: 

 "Carol...thank you so much for sharing that clip! I remember that vividly as I took the call from Tom Johnson, put him on hold and contacted "the fishbowl". I, too, miss all the high standards of those days and count myself as most fortunate to have been at Walter's side from '63 to June, 1973. I still have the lovely note you wrote me the day I left."

Paying Respects

THE PENTAGON SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL, TODAY.

Bill Clinton vs Kenneth Starr: From The Q&A Cafe Archives

 

Back in February 2010, I found Ken Gormley's book riveting. The Death of American Virtue: Clinton vs Starr was an exhaustive review and analysis of everything "Clinton scandals," from Whitewater to Monica Lewinsky, and then some. Gormley interviewed all the principals, including President Clinton, Kenneth Starr and Lewinsky, and they were candid. The Susan McDougal parts are especially interesting. So, I was excited to have the chance to interview Gormley about the book. 

This was not a "household name," interview, but then some of my favorite interviews are with people who are not necessarily household names. Gormley had a good story to tell. That's what matters.

Robert Ballard Intends To Return To Titanic for A Fix-Up

MODEL OF TITANIC WRECKAGE USED IN THE FILM "TITANIC"

At the National Geographic Museum this evening Robert Ballard marked the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic by saying he intends to return to the ship to do some fix-up. We talked about his plans at a reception before a lecture he gave to an audience of invited guests. There was also an unveiling of a new Titanic exhibition, which features items from the film "Titanic." The whole story is here at washingtonian.com.

 

A Review of the new Bill Clinton film on PBS Feb 20-21

Tonight and tomorrow PBS will air an American Experience film examining the political era of Bill Clinton. The film, "Clinton," begins with his early life and his early attempts at political office and continues through to his leaving the White House after two terms as president. My review of the broadcast is here: The Good, The Bad and The Complicated Bill Clinton. 

Note: this weekend I screened the HBO film of the book "Game Change," and will have that review in the next week or so. Fans of the book will be surprised.  

Recognize This?

Spent my day at Mount Vernon, enjoying the beginning of George Washington's birthday. We previewed a new exhibition and had lunch with Mrs. Washington. Isn't that a typical day in this town? It was a beautiful and delicious occasion and there is a full report on washngtonian.com.