The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. I have a sinking feeling that once it is closed for "renovation" on July 5, this beautiful building will go the way of The East Wing. I fear we will never be able to recover what this President has taken us. So I'm taking a moment to focus on that jewel on The Potomac.
1. In 1958, President Eisenhower signed legislation authorizing a National Cultural Center in the nation's capital. The bill allowed for partial federal funding, but private donors were needed. Fundraising was not successful.
2. In 1962, John and Jacqueline Kennedy used the White House bully pulpit and their personal star power to bring attention to the project. They were able to raise $30,000,000 in private funds ($320,000,000 in today's dollars).
3. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was the Honorary Chairman and, in civility unimaginable today, invited her predecessor Mamie Eisenhower to join her on the board.
4. The Center's stated mission has always been to "meet the highest level of excellence and reflect the cultural diversity of the United States."
5. After JFK's assassination, Congress changed the name from the National Cultural Center to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
6. This could be the most important sentence of this post: Congress designated it a memorial to John F. Kennedy. This means that, legally, it is the same as the Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln Memorials. Donald Trump had no right to add his name, anymore than he could carve the T-R-U-M-P down the side of the Washington Memorial. Yet he did it anyway. Congress does not have the spine to stop him, anymore than it stopped him from demolishing The East Wing.
7. The groundbreaking took place on December 2, 1964, with the first shovel of dirt being dug by President Lyndon Johnson. The Center was first open to the public in 1971.
8. Nations from all over the world donated works to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts out of respect for the late President. A Hall of Nations thanks these countries by displaying their flags. When I visited The Center, I found this very moving. Countries the world over wanted to honor our fallen President in a tangible way.
9. I've toured the Center twice and thought the most breathtaking gift came from Austria. It's the crystal chandelier in the opera house. It's both huge and delicate and looks like edelweiss. I hope it's handled with care as the Trump Administration "renovates" the Center.
10. Jacqueline Kennedy commissioned Leonard Bernstein to create "an original musical theater work" for the The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. When Mass premiered in 1972, she attended on Bernstein's arm.
11. There's a permanent exhibit dedicated to The Arts and Ideals of President John F. Kennedy. Aimed at schoolchildren, this immersive program reflects JFK's belief that "there is a connection – difficult to explain but easy to feel – between achievement in public life and progress in the arts." (Yeah, we once had a President who spoke like that.)
12. A medallion commemorating Eisenhower's early role in the establishment of the Center is displayed on the box tier of the theater.
13. I've dined twice at The KC Cafe. Not the more glam sitdown restaurant (that's the Roof Terrace), the KC Cafe is a more affordable cafeteria with absolutely breathtaking views of The Potomac.
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It is really sad! 😢
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