Vacation Special: Robert and Bobby Kennedy
Published June 10th, 2008 in Obligations, Treasure Tags: History, Kitsch, Personal.
Happy fucking fortieth anniversary, America.
I can still remember clearly the 6th of June, 1968. That’s the day I learned that “Bob” was short for “Robert.” To my mind, there were two Kennedy brothers running for president that year. I knew the Kennedys were a big family, and they all seemed to be in politics. So, to my seven-year-old mind, it followed. It was incredible to me, then, that not one but both of them managed to get shot in the aftermath of the June 5th California primary. And the next morning, when it was announced that Robert F. Kennedy had died in the early hours of June 6th, I remarked, “Boy. I wonder how Bobby’s doing.”
It wasn’t until years later that I also discovered “Jack” was a nickname for “John.” Politics was confusing to me back then. But ultimately it didn’t matter so much in 1968, since our family was actually Clean For Gene that year. All the same, these two pieces of Kennedy kitsch adorn my walls to this day, as a remembrance of days gone by and in celebration of a time when we enshrined our beloved martyred leaders in terry cloth.
The nostalgic wonder of terry cloth is fantastic.
I’ve managed to hold on to a vintage pool-side shirt made of terry cloth, which features a ringed zipper all the way down the front and stripes down the sides. It was one of my favorites when it was new. Although it’s a bit tight these days, I still put it on occasionally, when I am in an extra ridiculous mood.
I have seen the first one, the one with the White House/eagle motif. An identical one is hanging in a bar in Tucson.
The bar that I’m thinking of is a treasure trove of JFK/RFK/MLK memorabilia. There’s even a 48″ x 24″ electric sign with Kennedy’s bust projecting from it in 3-D. JFK’s grin lights up and flashes red like a malfunctioning stoplight.