We all have been poring over the death of John Kennedy, and all its attendant sadness.

My wife and I have a different Kennedy memory, not about the president, but about the first lady, who in my wife’s eyes was just another mother hoping her daughter would do well at the horse show at Cape Cod.

Well, the show didn’t go well for the Kennedys, and our daughter, Holly, as the saying swept the boards, beating their very expensive horse and trainer.

Mrs. Kennedy, to our amazement, came over and congratulated our daughter and her trainer (my wife). I’m going back decades now and I’m in my 80s, but I seem to remember the first lady asked if my wife would sell her horse that took all the ribbons. My wife declined, and I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t remind her that her horse cost just $100.

Of course, that daughter was Carolyn Kennedy, who is now our ambassador to Japan. Perhaps she remembers?

Frank SlasonSomerville


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