6 Comments

Andrew, as always, great perspective and piece. I was 'back east' when you issued this one. I just returned and am catching up. I love this piece and had not seen that painting previously and it really hit home. I think I mentioned (when you started issuing your series on Sara Jane Moore) that I was also just starting to listen to the Who Killed JFK? podcast by Reiner and O'Brien. Coincidentally, the last thing I did before jumping in the car to head east was to listen to JFK's speech on Civil Rights given on 6/11/63, the day after he gave his more famous Peace speech. I had never heard the 6/11 speech before and, as it wasn't fully written when JFK was compelled to give it, the last part of it is some of his most extemporaneous and effective speeches I thought. Your piece fit right into a topic I have been keenly interested in of late. Thanks so much! Biz

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Thanks so much, Biz. I really appreciate it. Yes, you did mention that you'd been listening to the JFK podcast. I haven't gotten there yet, but it's on my list. Speaking of my Sara Jane Moore book, I'll have an update about it in a few days. Thanks again for your encouragement and support. It means a lot.

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Nice! Good to know about Elaine, and this is a good one.

Love your 'art drop' feature. I'll be keeping an eye out some poetic inspiration.

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Many thanks! I’m delighted to hear it. I admire your work and look forward to seeing more of your poems inspired by works of art. It’s quite an undertaking, and it would be wonderful if you found poetic inspiration here as well.

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Thank you, I had never seen this portrait before. He was the President of my youth. I was too young to be able to vote for him but admired him and regretted that. The day of his death will be forever imprinted on my memory. A great loss for all of us.

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Yes it was. When I learned that Elaine de Kooning was too distraught to work on his portrait for months ater the assassination, I completely understood. Even people who didn’t especially like his policies were overcome with grief. Like you, I can never forget that day, though I too was just a kid.

Thanks for reading today’s art drop and sharing your reaction.

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