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David Powers’ John F. Kennedy Archive of Letters, images, speeches Re: Football

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:260.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 600.00 USD
David Powers’ John F. Kennedy Archive of Letters, images, speeches Re: Football
Political
David Powers / John Kennedy Archive Relating to Football
(JOHN F. KENNEDY). Football-related Archive Built by David Powers, JFK’s Special Assistant and Long-Time Friend and Curator of the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum from 1964 to 1994.
This Archive consists of a number of letters, images, speeches, newspaper clippings, etc., mostly centered around football. Both Powers and Kennedy were avid sports fans, as can be seen in the contents of this archive. The prize in this archive is an original Photograph of John F. Kennedy meeting Ernie Davis, the First Black Man to win the Heisman Trophy. In 1961, Kennedy was in New York at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to receive a gold medal from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. Davis was at the Downtown Athletic Club awaiting a press luncheon. When Davis learned that Kennedy wanted to meet him, he went immediately to the Waldorf-Astoria, only to miss the President by a few minutes. After returning to his luncheon, Davis received another call from the President’s team. This time, the two men were able to meet as evidenced by the accompanying photo. Sadly, both men would be dead shortly thereafter, Davis by leukemia and Kennedy by gunshot. There are more than a dozen items in this archive plus the photo, making it a remarkable addition to any Kennedy-related collections. Pedigree: Sold by John McInnis Auctions, February 17, 2013, Lot 391, where it hammered at $1,000. (with lot image and description printout from that sale).
David Francis Powers (April 25, 1912 - March 28, 1998) was Special Assistant and assistant Appointments Secretary to President of the United States John F. Kennedy. Powers served as Museum Curator of the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum from 1964 until his retirement in May 1994. Powers was a military veteran who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II from 1942 to 1945. Powers was also a close friend of Kennedy.