Of Christmas, Chanukah and Camelot!

Just as every winter season begins, many of us in and beyond our hometown celebrate major holidays which have now come and gone for 2011.  These annual celebrations of life and light often trigger in many of us happy and sometimes sweet memories of the times, people and places from our collective pasts.  Camelot, a legend about King Arthur that was first a book, became a play then made into movie explored, in part, memories of better times and our hopes for the future that we experience at this time of year.         

But did you know that for one brief shining moment, Morton Grove had its own brush with Camelot?  While it may be hard to fathom for many, the term Camelot was coined to admiringly represent John F. Kennedy’s presidency which began a half-century ago!  The person who drew this comparison with the legendary court of King Arthur was none other than Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy.  The lines "Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, for one brief shining moment, that was known as Camelot," from the musical and movie of that name were quoted by Jackie as being from President Kennedy’s favorite song from the show.  "There'll be great Presidents again," said Mrs. Kennedy, "but there'll never be another Camelot again, it will never be that way again."

Our first family back in the early 1960’s included JFK, Jackie, Caroline and John Junior.  Of this well photographed and documented family, only Caroline Kennedy is with us today.  She is also the only member of this historically significant first family to have visited Morton Grove!  Many years past her days as a child in the White House, after the turbulent years of student protests and an unpopular war into the Reagan era, Caroline Kennedy came for a visit to our village almost a quarter-century ago!

There are many wonders today that were only dreamed of in 1987 when Caroline came to visit.  One was the advent of online shopping where one day a Google alert popped up on my computer screen informing me of an eBay item related to Morton Grove was up for bid.  I opened it and instantly recognized Caroline Kennedy, wearing a polka dot jacket and wedding ring so (and looking every bit elegant and sophisticated as her mother). Being curious and the price right, I purchased the photo which arrived a week later.  The original black and white glossy portrait had a familiar background; the very unique brick found at Morton Grove’s village hall!  On the reverse of the photo were a number of stamps, markings and notes that indicated the picture was taken on Wednesday, August 12, 1987 and used several times until 1992 by the Sun-Times.  The hand-written note in blue pencil said she was in town interviewing folks for a book. 

The clipping taped to the back from the Sun-Times attributed to photographer Kathleen Reeve stated, “Caroline Kennedy pauses outside during avisit to the Morton Grove village hall Wednesday”.  Nothing more is noted about that summer visit or what book she was researching.

Today, Caroline Kennedy is an attorney and has been the editor for many of the New York Times best selling books, a number about her family.  She is the Vice-Chair of the Fund for Public Schools, a New York City non-profit organization that supports critical education reform efforts and encourages New Yorkers to get involved in the city’s schools.  Caroline is also President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and a member of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award Committee. 

Today, we can only wonder just how much, if any, of her stay in Morton Grove she would recall today.  I’d like to think the news of our being named the third best place to raise kids in the country might have jogged her memory from that long ago August visit.  It is also a nice thought that someone, who along with her family exemplified a profile in courage, had once visited our village.  As we all look ahead to ouradventures in the new year, let’s take a look back to remember where we or our families where a half century ago when the music of Camelot played on radios and record players when the Kennedy family lived in the White House and what our lives were back in 1987 when Caroline Kennedy visited our home town.