Funeral Services for Kenhedy Aide Dave Powers

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ii L4 /I exact number of votes JFK got in each election. On Nov. 22, 1963, Powers was riding in the presidential motorcade in Dallas when Kennedy was shot. When the president's limousine reached Parkland Hos- pital, Powers helped remove vave Powers, Kennedy aide and Kennedy and put him on a Camelot defender, dies at 85 stretcher. By AUSON FITZGERALD That afternoon he accompa- Associated Press nied Jacqueline Kennedy back to Washington, next to the casket BOSTON — Dave Powers, the on Air Force One. Boston Irishman who was John 'FoWers tecalled the trip back F. Kennedy's famously devoted to Washington in an article for aide every step of the way to the Life magazine. White House and served after "On that long, sad ride home, JFK's assassination as the keep- Jackie sat next to the casket. She er of the Camelot legend, died was so brave on the trip back to Friday, March 27, 1998, at 86, Washington. At one point she 'Powers came to be known as turned to me and said, `Oh, Dave, Kennedy's "coatholder" and 'San- you've been with him all these cho Panze" because he spent his years. What will you do now?'" life tending to,JFK'S censer: his recalled Powers. "I choked up - I widow and children, and finally couldn't answer her." his legacy, as curator of the John In "Johnny, We Hardly Knew F. Kennedy Library museum. Ye," the book Powers wrote with "Jack loved Dave Powers like Kennedy appointment secretary a brother, and so did all of us in Kenneth P. O'Donnell in 1972. the Kennedy family. Jack the writers recalled Powers was couldn't have had the New Fron- so upset he "drew the priest aside tier without him, and we will when they were leaving the trau- miss him very much," Sen. ma room and asked Father Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., Huber to hear his confession. He said in a statement. thought he was having a heart The man who called himself attack." "just a newsboy who met a presi- Following the assassination, dent" had been sought out by the Kennedy's widow sought solace wealthy Kennedys in the early for her son by having Powers days of JFK's political career come to her house in Georgetown because he was closely connected every day for lunch with John F. to Boston's blue-collar Irish- Kennedy Jr. American families. "Dave Powers was a loyal and The child of Irish immigrants, devoted friend whom my mother Powers had an Irish-Catholic and father adored," said JFK's upbringing in the Charlestown daughter Caroline Kennedy, President of the Kennedy Library section of Boston. He hawked be newspapers on the waterfront, Foundation. "I will always spent Sundays at the church grateful for his personal kindness assisting at five Masses, and and for his tireless efforts on knew everyone in the neighbor- behalf of the Kennedy Library' hood. Powers went on to help in for- Because of that, a campaign mer Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's worker directed Kennedy to Pow- campaigns. He also began work ers' door when the future presi- assembling records and memora- dent was campaigning for bilia for the JFK Library in 1964. Congress in 1946. Powers had He served as its museum curator been supporting the rival candi- from its opening in 1979 until he date, but he was so taken by the retired in 1994. young Kennedy that he changed In 1976, JFK's legacy came camps forever. under serious fire when Judith Powers initiated JFK into the Campbell Exner claimed that she rough and tumble of Boston cam- had been both Kennedy's White paigning and in how to deal with House mistress and the girlfriend the ordinary folk of the city. At of a Chicago mobster and that one rally, ho persuaded Kennedy Powers had arranged meetings to improve the impact of a high- between her and the president. toned speech by emphasizing Powers denied knowing Exner that his parents were natives of and once said "the only Campbell the district. I know is chunky vegetable In later years, Powers traveled tent in the White House. soup.' thousands of miles with Kennedy Powers served as an unofficial Powers served in the Army Air on various campaigns and mis- greeter at White House functions Force in China, Burma and India sions. and as a full-time friend to the during World War II. Before After Kennedy was elected president. going into politics, he worked in president in 1960, the man who Kennedy, he said, "was the publishing and was director of called himself a "three-decker geatest man I ever met and the the Boston Housing Authority's Irishman," referring to the hous- best friend I ever had." recreation department in South es of Boston's Irish-American "Powers, a leprechaun-like Boston. He later became a mem- enclaves, became a special assis- figure with twinkly eyes, was ber of the State Housing Board. known for his humor and his Powers died at a hospital in is toward those with suburban Arlington. lofty titles. He once told the visit- He is survived by his wife, Jo, ing shah of Iran, "I want you to a son, two daughters and three kiow you're my kind of shah." grandchildren. Friends said Powers remem- Funeral arrangements were bered all of Kennedy's campaigns incomplete. so well he could rattle off the -2Q-4 0.xc

411

' '

Dvarve' Powers Dvarve'

After Kennedy Kennedy After

miles with Kennedy on campaigns and missions. missions. and campaigns on Kennedy with miles

dy that that dy

of Boston. Boston. of

to Mr. Powers' door when Kennedy was campaigning campaigning was Kennedy when door Powers' Mr. to

for Congress in 1946. Mr. Powers had been support- been had Powers Mr. 1946. in Congress for

Because of that, a campaign worker directed Kennedy Kennedy directed worker campaign a that, of Because

ing the rival candidate, but he was so taken by Kenne- by taken so was he but candidate, rival the ing

Irish-Catholic upbringing in the Charlestown section section Charlestown the in upbringing Irish-Catholic

all of us in the Kennedy family," Sen. Edward M. M. Edward Sen. family," Kennedy the in us of all

Kennedy (D-Mass.) said in a statement. statement. a in said (D-Mass.) Kennedy

finally his legacy, as curator of the John F. Kennedy Kennedy F. John the of curator as legacy, his finally

step of the way to the White House and served after after served and House White the to way the of step tending to JFK's career, his widow and children, and and children, and widow his career, JFK's to tending

JFK's assassination as the keeper of the Camelot leg- Camelot the of keeper the as assassination JFK's

holder" and "Sancho Panza" because he spent his life life his spent he because Panza" "Sancho and holder"

end, died Friday at 85. 85. at Friday died end, Library museum. museum. Library

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PRESS ASSOCIATED THE

was John F. Kennedy's famously devoted aide every every aide devoted famously Kennedy's F. John was

In later years, Mr. Powers traveled thousands Of thousands traveled Powers Mr. years, later In

The child of Irish immigrants, Mr. Powers had an an had Powers Mr. immigrants, Irish of child The

"Jack loved Dave Powers like a brother, and so did did so and brother, a like Powers Dave loved "Jack

Mr. Powers came to be known as Kennedy's "coat- Kennedy's as known be to came Powers Mr.

Boston — Dave Powers, the Boston Irishman who who Irishman Boston the Powers, Dave — Boston

he he

changed camps. camps. changed

He He

knew everyone in the neighborhood. neighborhood. the in everyone knew

was was

elected president in 1960, he be- be- he 1960, in president elected

4FICa 4FICa

-- --

complete. complete.

survived by his wife, Jo, a son, two daughters and and daughters two son, a Jo, wife, his by survived

three grandchildren. Funeral arrangements were in- were arrangements Funeral grandchildren. three

you do now?' " recalled Mr. Powers. "I choked up — I I — up choked "I Powers. Mr. recalled " now?' do you

couldn't answfr her." her." answfr couldn't

Burma and India during World War II. II. War World during India and Burma

casket. She She casket.

ton. At one point she turned to me and said, 'Oh, 'Oh, said, and me to turned she point one At ton.

an article for Life magazine. magazine. Life for article an

Dave, you've been with him all these years. What will will What years. these all him with been you've Dave,

and put him on a stretcher. That afternoon afternoon That stretcher. a on him put and shot. When the president's limousine reached Park- reached limousine president's the When shot.

panied Jacqueline Kennedy back to Washington, next next Washington, to back Kennedy Jacqueline panied

to the casket on Air Force One. He recalled the trip in in trip the recalled He One. Force Air on casket the to

served as an unofficial greeter at White House func- House White at greeter unofficial an as served

land Hospital, Mr. Powers helped remove Kennedy Kennedy remove helped Powers Mr. Hospital, land

presidential motorcade in Dallas when Kennedy was was Kennedy when Dallas in motorcade presidential

the best friend I ever had." had." ever I friend best the

tions and as a full-time friend to the president. Ken- president. the to friend full-time a as and tions

came a special assistant in the White House. He He House. White the in assistant special a came

nedy, he said, "was the greatest man I ever met and and met ever I man greatest the "was said, he nedy,

Mr. Powers served in the Army Air Force in China, China, in Force Air Army the in served Powers Mr.

He died at at died He

"On that long, sad ride home, Jackie sat next to the the to next sat Jackie home, ride sad long, that "On

On Nov. 22, 1963, Mr. Powers was riding in the the in riding was Powers Mr. 1963, 22, Nov. On

was was

a a

hospital in suburban Arlington. He is is He Arlington. suburban in hospital

so brave on the trip back to Washing- to back trip the on brave so

Loyal Aide Aide Loyal

he he accom- Funeral Services for Kenhedy Aide Dave Powers REUTERS Members of the Kennedy family, in- Boston — The Kennedy clan gathered cluding the president's children, John yesterday to remember the "keeper of Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Kennedy the flame," Mr. Dave Powers, a former Schlossberg, and Rep. Joseph Kennedy aide to President John F. Kennedy. and his wife Beth, joined about 250 Mr. Powers, the first curator to the mourners at St. Catherine of Siena late president's library in Boston, died Church in Charlestown. last week at age 85 from heart disease Mr. Powers was an unemployed veter- complications. an living with his widowed sister and her In a eulogy at a closed funeral in the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown, 10 children when he first met Kennedy Sen. Edward Kennedy said Mr. Powers after World War II. /1/ was "like a brother, a close friend and The man who would become president adviser who will be deeply missed." was looking for help in running his first He added, "In a very real sense, Jack's political campaign for the House of Re- library became Dave's library too. The presentatives. torch may have beeti'passed but Dave Mr. Powers signed on and campaigned Powers was always the keeper of the with Kennedy in every political contest. flame. When Kennedy won the presidency, Mr. Powers went to Washington as his special assistant. rr It was Mr. Pow- ers who was instru- mental in making arrangements for Kennedy's state funeral after the assassination in No- vember, 1963. In 1965 he became curator of the John F. Kennedy Library, a post he held until 1994. Mr. Powers was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Arlington. He is survived by his wife, Jo, two AP File Photo. 1984 daughters, a son AP Photo Dave Powers, a former Kennedy aide, was the first curator of the late and three grand- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, left, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, center, John president's Boston library, a position he held until 1994. children. Kennedy Jr., and Sen. Edward Kennedy, leave Powers' funeral yesterday.