When I think back about my career, one theme that emerges is my good fortune. I have so many memories about stories that begin with being there, seeing things first hand, experiencing the world from an amazing vantage point. Twenty-five years ago today was such a story. I wrote a special section for The Arizona Republic on 25 years after JFKs assassination. We think of our political divide today as unique, the Obama presidency a case in point. But fifty years ago it was the same for Kennedy in many parts of the country including Dallas. Many saw Kennedy as a traitor, a deeply divisive political figure. One way that surfaced even after his death is that 25 years ago there was not a single school named John F. Kennedy Elementary in Dallas. Fort Worth, yes, virtually every other city in the country, but not Dallas. Thats no longer true. Another interesting memory from my Republic series: Dallas went on a massive building boom after Kennedys death. DFW airport, Texas stadium; a collective response to build a new city (for a time it was even called the metroplex, I suppose as a way to downplay Dallas as the city of hate). That did not work. Dallas reputation was cast globally as the city that killed Kennedy. But what did change that image? The success of the Dallas Cowboys and a prime time television soap opera called Dallas. The point of this story (other thinking how fast 25 years zoomed by) is how time changes perceptions. Today JFK is admired (and often quoted on policy) by conservatives as well as liberals. The divisions from that time are nearly forgotten. Even our perception of Kennedy has changed. The image of him, then and now, was a man of vigor when the truth is Kennedy had serious health issues that limited what he could do. So fifty years from now how will we see Obama, the Affordable Care Act, and out deep divisions as a country? Are they really worse now? Or is this just a chapter in a long national narrative? My favorite personal memory from this experience -- beyond being there. I interviewed Arthur Schlesinger Jr for this project. After it was published, he took the time to write me a wonderful thank you letter. I am the one grateful.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 20:22:39 +0000
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