The Rest of the Story

I don't mean to steal any thunder from the late Paul Harvey, but it seems particularly apropos, given the things revealed in a news article today.

As many of us are aware, the Dallas Morning News is this year running a series of articles focusing on the Kennedy Assassination and its effects on Texas and Dallas. That sea change event made the year 1963 at least doubly important to us. While the News’s series is inevitably uneven in its ability to pique interest (like this blog, probably), today’s installment contains many items previously unknown to me, and perhaps others.

John F. Kennedy’s Presidency had a special meaning to us as Jesuit students. We were the cusp if the so-called Boomer generation, or the last of the prior one, depending on criteria used. And we (most of us anyway) were Catholics who grew up at a time when no Catholic had ever been President, and, until Kennedy’s victory in 1960, was still considered unlikely. While it was gratifying to most of us that a Catholic could be elected President, not all were JFK fans. Dallas, like most of Texas was then conservative in politics, and Dallas was a Republican bastion in the midst of a Democrat state. Kennedy’s perceived leftist political tendencies did not go over well here. Nevertheless, most respected the man and the office, and all were shocked and dismayed at his murder – in the midst of our city, no less.

Today’s feature focused on John Connally’s connection with President Kennedy. As the article reveals, that connection was much more than being the second victim of Lee Harvey Oswald’s rifle. Connally was the head of Lyndon Johnson’s 1960 campaign for the nomination, which one might have thought, would not have endeared him to the Kennedy camp. JFK, ever the pragmatist, selected Johnson as his running mate, and, thereby won Texas – barely – and thus the Presidency. When choosing his cabinet, Kennedy picked Robert McNamara as his Secretary of Defense and, probably to induce McNamara to accept, gave him free hand in choosing his subordinates. The Democrats at the time were grooming Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr. as a potential 1968 Presidential candidate, and were hoping that Kennedy would appoint him Secretary of the Navy, which was FDR senior’s stepping stone to national politics. McNamara would not have it, and, probably at LBJ’s urging, selected Connally. Connally served for slightly less than a year, and then came home to run for Governor, which he won handily.

So handily that it impressed Kennedy, who knew he had to carry Texas to gain re-election. Given the closeness of the 1960 vote here, the help of a popular governor would be invaluable for the 1964 election. Thus, throughout 1963, the Kennedy camp focused on a Presidential tour of major Texas cities featuring Governor Connally visage at every stop. They ultimately agreed on a five city visit in November of that year, and the rest, as we say, is history.

Connally survived his wounds and served three terms as governor through 1968 (they were two year terms until 1974). He developed a relationship with Richard Nixon and, still a Democrat, became Nixon’s Treasury Secretary. Connally switched to the GOP after Nixon’s re-election and became number one the short list for Vice-President to succeed Spiro Agnew, who resigned in disgrace in 1973. Believing that Connally could not be confirmed as VP by the Democratic Senate, who viewed him as a turncoat, and that numbers two and three, Nelson Rockefeller and Ronald Reagan, would be too formidable as GOP candidates in 1976 (this was before Watergate hit heavily), Nixon nominated his fourth choice Gerald Ford. Again, the rest . . ..

A Really Sloooow News Day

Today's Dallas Morning News (p.7E) reports that on this day in 1963, singer Lesley Gore, age 16, recorded her hit "It's My Party" for Mercury Records in New York. She cried as she wanted to all -- the way to the bank.

Related to that, I also read the that Rolling Stones will embark on an 18 city concert tour in May. The core of that band (Jagger, Richards, and Watts) have been together playing rock 'n' roll for 50 years. Look for some original fans to be there with their great-grandkids. Hey, we're just getting better.

No Place Like Dallas

The following link was provided by Lou Ann Huffhines.

http://centraltrack.com/Culture/3137/Fun-Facts/50-Interesting-Things-You-Probably-Didnt-Know-About-Dallas


A few comments:

1. The lowest grossing film of all time had its premiere in Dallas in 2006. Zyzzyx Road, starring Katherine Heigl and Tom Sizemore, had only six paying customers and earned only $30 at the box office.

I wasn't one of those customers. But it reminds me of the early 1960s when Gordon McLendon, who was famous for KLIF radio, produced at least two movies that were films at White Rock Lake, The Killer Shrews and The Giant Gila Monster. Both were really Grade D, and deserved as many paying customers.

11. In 1944, White Rock Lake served as a Prisoner-of-War camp for German non-commissioned officers captured during Erwin "The Desert Fox" Rommel's North African campaign. They were treat so well, though, that at least one POW wrote a letter to the Dallas Morning News to ask if they could sponsor him and his family in their bid to move to Dallas.

The camp was located where the baseball sandlots are behind Winfrey Point. I believe the barracks were originally constructed for the Civilian Conservation Corps, one of the New Deal programs.  There is a commemorative statue honoring the CCC at the nearby park offices. No reminder of the POW camp.

16. Before making his State Fair of Texas debut in 1952, Big Tex served for two years as the world's largest paper mache Santa Claus in Kerens, Texas. May he rest in peace.

As most of us know, Big Tex burned down during last year's Fair. At this writing, I understand he will be back up at the State Fair this October.


28. The first publicized account of the legend of the Lady of White Rock Lake was Anne Clark's "The Ghost of White Rock," which was included in the Texas Folklore Society's 1943 publication Backwoods to Border. Since, dozens of similar tales about the Lady have spawned.

During the late 1960s, a radio talk show host on KLIF nearly caused a riot when he claimed a spotting of the Lady of the Lake and urged listeners to go out and look. Don't remember his name or any details. Anyone who does, I'm sure everyone would like to know.

One item not mentioned was that during our senior year, State Fair with Pat Boone, Ann-Margret, Bobby Darin, and was filmed at the State Fair's grounds, had its world premiere at the Majestic Theater in Dallas.  Wasn't all that good of a flick, but it starred some of the then current heartthrobs. 

A Good Time was Had by All

Last Wednesday classmate John Cuellar hosted members of the Class of 1963 at the new El Corazon de Tejas on Davis St. in Oak Cliff. Here is a photo of that crew:

As everyone in our class knows, John’s family established and operated the successful El Chico chain of restaurants in Dallas and elsewhere for many decades. John served as a vice-president and general counsel of El Chico after high school, college, and law school. This new restaurant carries on the Cuellars' tradition of tradition of good food and a festive atmosphere.

The dinner meeting was scheduled from 6 - 7:30 p.m., but some hung around until after 9. With a few exceptions, I had not kept up with the class much over the decades. The conversations and fellowship made me wonder what I've missed.

There were a few new old faces at this get-together. Hope to see more in the future and in October.

Still looking for stories about the class and class members, both at school and the last half century.

March Madness

Been behind the curve for the past several weeks. Mostly the press of work. Went to a new restaurant (or fairly so – I really stay behind the curve as far as that goes) called "Oak" on Oak Lawn a block off of Stemmons in the Design District. I recommend it. Food was good and not too pricey.

Received a comment from Gary Caffo about his remembering the debate team’s victory at the Cherry Blossom Tournament, to wit:

"I remember that Jesuit called a special assembly in the basement after the debate team returned to Dallas to announce their win. I'll never forget that and have told that story many times."

Tom Land sent a link to old pop music hits:

"This is neat. It's sort of a time machine of music. Each of the years below connect to the best 20 hits of that year. Pick a year, wait a few seconds, and the Juke Box will show you the 20 hits to select from. You can play all 20 hits, or just those that you like."

See http://upchucky.org/JukeCity/1963/OldJukes/player.htm

In that vein, here are the Billboard No. 1 hits for this time 50 years ago:

Feb. 9 - Mar. 1 Mar. 2 - Mar. 22 Mar. 23 - Mar. 29 Mar. 30 - Apr. 26

Hey Paula Walk Like A Man Our Day Will Come He's So Fine

Paul & Paula The Four Seasons Ruby & The Romantics The Chiffons

Movies opening at Dallas theaters in the coming week were:

At the Majestic, "Days of Wine and Roses" billed as "This, in its own terrifying way. Is a love story." Terrifying? They got that right.

At the Palace, "To Kill a Mockingbird" amazingly faithful to the novel. Timely for what was happening in the country at that time. An interesting fact, author Harper Lee modeled the character Dill after her friend (at the time, they later had a falling out) Truman Capote. And her sister Alice Finch Lee is, as this is written in 2013, the oldest practicing lawyer in Alabama, at age 100.

Ongoing movies were:

At the Tower, "Mutiny on the Bounty" an ongoing roadshow. Memorable scene was Fletcher Christian, played by Marlon Brando, goes ashore in a boat to the strains of "Rule Britannia" to – ahem – do his duty toward the Tahitians.

At the Esquire, "Lawrence of Arabia" which went on to win Best Picture of the Year Academy Award (back then the presentation was held in April). Some say it was the best of all time. I guess that's for each one of us to decide for ourselves.

Send some news!