New book reveals President Kennedy felt ‘really hurt' over ‘thoughtless' gift from then-R.I. Governor Chafee
It was September 1963, and the Kennedys were scheduled to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in
Get Rhode Map
A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Chafee, a Republican who would go on to serve as secretary of the Navy and then as a US senator, presented the president with a small silver bowl that included a card that read: 'The Governor of Rhode Island.'
Advertisement
In Taraborrelli's telling of the story, Kennedy handed the bowl to his mother-in-law, Janet Lee Bouvier, when he arrived in Newport.
'Mummy, here's a present for you from the people of Rhode Island,' Kennedy allegedly said. 'You can have it if you want. I don't want it. Don't you think it's a little strange for the governor to just hand me this bowl?'
Advertisement
According to Taraborrelli, Bouvier told the JFK Library that Kennedy was 'really hurt' by the gift not coming with a personal card or an engraving.
'I'm sure Governor Chafee didn't want to hurt his feelings, but it really was rather thoughtless, like sending someone flowers with nothing but a florist's card,' Bouvier recalled.
This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday,
.
Dan McGowan can be reached at
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
a minute ago
- Associated Press
Democrats launching summer blitz to press Republicans on Trump spending plan
NEW YORK (AP) — Democrats are launching a nationwide summer blitz designed to force vulnerable Republicans to defend President Donald Trump's big tax breaks and spending cuts bill — especially Medicaid cuts that will leave millions of Americans without health care coverage. Republican leaders in Washington, meanwhile, have encouraged their members to promote more popular aspects of the bill during smaller controlled appearances where GOP officials are less likely to face difficult questions or protests. The Democratic National Committee's so-called 'Organizing Summer' will feature events in all 50 states, beginning with Alaska, Texas, Colorado and California over the coming week. The party's message will be reinforced by online advertising and billboard trucks at state and county fairs in the coming days targeting vulnerable House Republicans in Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Jersey, among other states. 'As Democrats, our job is to ensure that every American across the country understands the devastating impacts of this bill,' DNC Chair Ken Martin said. 'Democrats will be holding events, highlighting Republican hypocrisy, and ensuring Americans across the country know exactly who is responsible for taking away health care, food, construction jobs, and nursing homes in order to give massive handouts to billionaires.' The massive Republican-backed tax and spending package that Trump called 'big, beautiful' and signed into law on July 4 may ultimately become the defining issue of next year's midterm elections, which will decide control of Congress for Trump's final two years in office. Republicans are touting the bill as a tax cut for all Americans, but polling suggests that voters have been slow to embrace the GOP's message. The new law will add $3.4 trillion to federal deficits through 2034, leave more than another 10 million people without health insurance and leave millions of others without food stamps, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. For much of the year, Republican officials have avoided town hall meetings with constituents or public appearances where they might face protesters or unscripted questions from voters. GOP members of Congress may be slightly more visible this summer, however, according to a memo distributed this week by the House Republican campaign arm. The memo encourages Republicans to be proactive in selling Trump's bill during the August recess, although the National Republican Campaign Committee suggests its members focus on tax cuts in smaller settings they can control. Among the NRCC's suggestions outlined in the memo: 'Visit a local hospital and discuss how you voted for no tax on overtime,' 'stop by a restaurant to highlight your vote on no tax on tips' and 'work the counter at a local store and chat about your work to lower costs.' The monthlong August break 'is a critical opportunity to continue to define how this legislation will help every voter and push back on Democrat fearmongering,' the Republican memo says. Democrats are planning a decidedly more public campaign this month than their Republican rivals, although they'll also offer 'multi-day intensive bootcamps' as part of a training program for political operatives and community leaders. Events are being planned for all 50 states with special focus on 35 of the most competitive congressional districts in the country. Current and former Democratic officials will be featured, including former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who emerged as a leader against gun violence since her 2011 assassination attempt. As part of the new effort, the Democratic National Committee is also launching a new digital advertising campaign initially targeting vulnerable Republicans in Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia. That's in addition to the DNC sending mobile billboard trucks to county fairs in the districts of Republicans in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 'Trump's big ugly bill: $4 trillion giveaway to billionaires. The rest of us pay the price,' read the billboards, which will feature the name and face of each Republican congressman. And as Republicans search for an effective message to sell Trump's bill, Democrats are increasingly confident. 'The big, ugly law is a political disaster,' said Viet Shelton, spokesman for the House Democrats campaign arm. 'Everyone hates it and vulnerable House Republicans know it, which is why they're scared to face their constituents in person during the August recess.'
Washington Post
a minute ago
- Washington Post
Democrats launching summer blitz to press Republicans on Trump spending plan
NEW YORK — Democrats are launching a nationwide summer blitz designed to force vulnerable Republicans to defend President Donald Trump's big tax breaks and spending cuts bill — especially Medicaid cuts that will leave millions of Americans without health care coverage. Republican leaders in Washington, meanwhile, have encouraged their members to promote more popular aspects of the bill during smaller controlled appearances where GOP officials are less likely to face difficult questions or protests.
The Hill
30 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump calls on Federal Reserve board to wrest full control of central bank from Fed Chair Powell
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday called for the Federal Reserve's board of governors to usurp the power of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, criticizing the head of the U.S. central bank for not cutting short-term interest rates. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump called Powell 'stubborn.' The Fed chair has been subjected to vicious verbal attacks by the Republican president over several months. The Fed has the responsibility of stabilizing prices and maximizing employment. Powell has held its benchmark rate for overnight loans constant this year, saying that Fed officials needed to see what impact Trump's massive tariffs had on inflation. If Powell doesn't 'substantially' lower rates, Trump said, 'THE BOARD SHOULD ASSUME CONTROL, AND DO WHAT EVERYONE KNOWS HAS TO BE DONE!' Trump sees the rate cuts as leading to stronger growth and lower debt servicing costs for the federal government and homebuyers. The president argues there is virtually no inflation, even though the Fed's preferred measure is running at an annual rate of 2.6%, slightly higher than the Fed's 2% target. Trump has called for slashing the Fed's benchmark rate by 3 percentage points, bringing it down dramatically from its current average of 4.33%. The risk is that a rate cut that large could cause more money to come into the economy than can be absorbed, possibly causing inflation to accelerate. The Supreme Court suggested in a May ruling that Trump could not remove Powell for policy disagreements. This led the White House to investigate whether the Fed chair could be fired for cause because of the cost overruns in its $2.5 billion renovation projects. Powell's term as chair ends in May 2026, at which point Trump can put his Senate-confirmed pick in the seat.
