By DARLENE SUPERVILLE By DARLENE SUPERVILLE ADVERTISING Associated Press WASHINGTON — Honoring the legacy of John F. Kennedy, President Barack Obama laid a wreath at the assassinated president’s gravesite as a nation remembers the terrible day in Dallas a half-century
By DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Honoring the legacy of John F. Kennedy, President Barack Obama laid a wreath at the assassinated president’s gravesite as a nation remembers the terrible day in Dallas a half-century ago Friday. Obama also recognized a group of distinguished Americans — including Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey — with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an award created by Kennedy.
Obama was joined Wednesday at Arlington National Cemetery by Clinton, and each president held hands with Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy, as they climbed a flight of stairs to the burial site on a steep hillside overlooking the nation’s capital.
First lady Michelle Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton helped their husbands place a large wreath of white flowers in front of the roped-off gravesite of America’s 35th president, which is marked by an ever-burning flame.
Both couples placed their hands over their hearts as taps sounded near a U.S. flag at half-staff before greeting Kennedy relatives, including some who arrived in Obama’s motorcade, before Friday’s 50th anniversary of the assassination.
The day of tributes began at the White House, where Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 16 living and deceased Americans — including Bill Clinton — for their contributions in fields ranging from sports and entertainment to science and public service.
Kennedy established the modern version of the medal but was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald on Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas, weeks before he was to honor the inaugural group of recipients. Hundreds of notable figures since have received the honor.
As a teenager, Bill Clinton shook hands with Kennedy in the Rose Garden the summer before the assassination when he and other high school students in the Boys Nation program came to Washington.
Obama gave an evening speech at a dinner at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History honoring the medal recipients. Among those expected to attend were baseball’s Hank Aaron, singer Aretha Franklin, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, activist Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
Kennedy’s grandson Jack Schlossberg, son of Kennedy’s only surviving child, Caroline, was introduced Obama at the dinner. Caroline Kennedy recently was sworn in as the newest U.S. ambassador to Japan.
Another Kennedy relative who attended the dinner was former diplomat Jean Kennedy Smith, also past medal recipient and John F. Kennedy’s only surviving sibling.
On Friday’s assassination anniversary, Obama plans to meet privately at the White House with leaders and volunteers from the Peace Corps program, also established by Kennedy.
The Clintons’ presence at Kennedy’s gravesite was sure to spark speculation about whether Obama has a favorite in the 2016 race to succeed him.
Every move by the former secretary of state is being scrutinized for signs of whether she’ll run. Vice President Joe Biden, another potential candidate, attended only the White House ceremony.
