Inside the JFK White House

Warfare

History Hit

History

4.5 • 943 Ratings

🗓️ 21 November 2022

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

November 22nd marks 59 years since the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. One of the most famous assassinations in history, JFK's death sent shockwaves not only through the United States, but across the world. However, before that fateful day in history, JFK was a journalist, a Senator, and finally President - but what do we know about his early political career? And what actually went on behind the closed doors of the Oval office?

Today James is joined by Deirdre Henderson, a former colleague and friend of JFK. Deirdre had worked with JFK when he was a senator, and played a significant role in helping to form a group of key advisors to secure his Presidential election. Not only that, but Deirdre went on to work in matters of defence and security for the state - and in the early years of their friendship, was gifted JFK's personal diary. Together, Deirdre and James talk about how Deirdre came to work for the then Senator, her experience at the 1961 Inauguration, and her final moments with JFK. Deirdre offers an unprecedented look inside JFK's White House, allowing for a new side of John F. Kennedy to be seen.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	On November 22nd, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a
0:08.1	motorcade through downtown Dallas, Texas.
0:10.8	Tomorrow marks 59 years since that fateful day, a day that changed the history of the United States,
0:15.5	and the lives of those around him forever.
0:18.0	One of those people was a young researcher named Deedry Henderson.
0:21.5	Now Deedry had been working for JFK since he'd been a senator.
0:25.0	She'd help to develop his famous brain trust of key advisors that in turn had helped him to get elected.
0:30.0	In fact Deedry would go on to work for the Kennedy administration on defense, security, and matters of state.
0:36.0	I'm your host James Rogers. This is the Warfare Podcast, and over many years now I've become good friends with Deedry,
0:42.0	and I've never failed to be astonished by her insights into that period
0:45.9	And so as we mark the anniversary of JFK's death I asked Deery if she wanted to come onto the podcast and she said yes
0:52.3	So I travel to her house not
0:54.7	far from Kennedy's old stomping ground in Boston, Massachusetts where Deedry
0:58.6	kindly gave us personal insights into key moments from the Kennedy years, from Kennedy's famous inauguration
1:05.2	which she attended through to the lows of the Cuba missile crisis, the Vietnam War
1:09.3	and the day that Kennedy was killed. These are truly rare and unique insights. And so here is
1:15.5	Deirdry Henderson on life inside the JFK White House. Didry, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us today. It is wonderful to be in your New England home.
1:38.0	I've got a book in my hand with the President himself, JFK on the front this was your book we have a glass of
1:45.4	wine in hand you are the best hosts possible cheers of course I've got coffee in my
1:50.6	hand yeah that is coffee yeah good save good and we're here
1:57.0	today to talk about President Kennedy someone who you worked closely with over a number of years.
2:05.0	So let's start at the start.
	...

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