A program from the June 27, 1959, Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, signed by both Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy, was recently donated to the Bellaire Public Library by Christine DeMarco. The program had been owned by her uncle, Anthony DeMarco, the mayor at the time of the Kennedys’ visit.
Kristina Estle, a public historian, wrote the following story inspired by this recent donation:
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was one of the United States’ favorite presidents. Prior to his election as president, he served as senator for the state of Massachusetts. During his time as a senator, he published his book Profiles in Courage, winning him the Pulitzer Prize. A quote from his book . . .
“In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces if he follows his conscience — the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow men — each man must decide for himself the course he will follow. The stories of past courage can define that ingredient — they can teach, they can offer hope, and they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this, each man must look into his own soul.”
Most people know of his accomplishments during the Civil Rights Movement as president and his tragic assassination in 1963. But most do not know much about his time in the Senate. Nor do people know that JFK and his wife, Jacqueline attended the 4th Annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner Saturday, June 27th, 1959, at the St. John’s Auditorium in Bellaire, Ohio. The Jefferson-Jackson Dinner was an annual fundraising dinner put together by the Democratic Party. The program highlights some pivotal moments and accomplishments during his time as a senator.
The Times Leader, accessed through the Bellaire Public Library’s Digital online collection, dated June 29th, 1959, the article reads:
The nation needs a Democratic administration in 1960 to cope successfully with the “peaceful revolutions” which are rocking the world today, Sen. John Kennedy of Massachusetts told a capacity audience of 500 at the Belmont County Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner in St. John’s Church auditorium Saturday night. [Read the whole speech on the John F. Kennedy Library’s website.]
The Senator, referred to by other speakers as the “next president of the United States,” was given the White House by county Democrats at the session and said that he would give it to his 18-months-old daughter Caroline. The “White House” turned out to be a plastic miniature manufactured by the Marx Toy Company. [Photographs of the Kennedys with this Marx Toy Co. White House – along with other scenes from the 1959 Bellaire visit – are available to view in the book “The John F. Kennedys” by Mark Shaw.]
Sen. Kennedy and his wife were presented with a set of Imperial Glass products, and earlier, Mrs. Kennedy was given a little ruby bell and a green crackled tumbler during her tour of the Imperial plant Saturday afternoon. . . Sen. Kennedy said he had come to Ohio to pay off a political debt to the state. He said that had the Ohio delegation went for him for the vice presidency in 1956, he might have been nominated, and today “my political career would have been over.”
The first Catholic President of the United States, it was likely no coincidence the dinner was hosted in the auditorium of St. John’s in Bellaire.
Christine DeMarco, the niece of Anthony DeMarco, the mayor at the time, had attended the dinner as a server. She was a sophomore going into her junior year. She recalls serving spaghetti at the dinner. She also remembers watching John Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline walking into the event.
They both descended the ramp into the basement of St. Johns. Regarding JFK, she stated.
“I remember that smile. He definitely had that John Kennedy smile.” Reflecting upon Jacqueline, she stated, “All I can remember is thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, how sheek!’”
Johanna DeMarco, daughter of Anthony DeMarco, remembers the event quite vividly. She recalls calling the Shady Bell Hotel, where the Kennedys were staying, to let them know that the parade was ready for them. She remembers all of the local and county dignitaries being present at the event and everyone being in awe of JFK’s handsomeness and Jacqueline’s glamour. She also remembers her father recounting the story many times about how her father was so proud that he got to ride with the Kennedys to the airport and how he got to buy them a Coke and a bowl of soup. She even remembers small details of the day, such as watching Jacqueline balance a lit cigarette on her lap. She said she will never forget that day, and it must have been the most excitement the town had ever seen.
