The weather than day was sunny, mild and clear…somewhere in the mid-70’s.  It was picture perfect Florida weather and perfect for pictures.  Despite the lack of any serious humidity that day, Kennedy changed his suit three times during his four-hour visit.  An aide carried extra clothes in a bag undetected by the press and the President was apparently a quick-change artist.  He made the changes of clothes in the helicopter on the way to Al Lopez Field, after his appearance at the International Inn and in an anteroom behind the speaker's platform at Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory.  If it was slightly cool in the shade, the adrenalin of JFK’s visit warmed the onlooker's body to a comfortable temperature. 

Air Force One set down precisely on schedule at 11:24 that morning. Members of the local press were bussed out to the tarmac and took their positions atop a flatbed truck loaned by the Florida Steel Corporation.  Things were fine until the national press corps stormed out of Air Force One to join us and more or less took over.  I learned the game really fast and edged them off to the side like I owned the place.

Less than a minute later the man I had wanted to see in person for so long walked out the rear exit and down the stairs.  He looked exactly like he did on TV, in films, in magazines and in the newspaper.  He carried a hat in his right hand and hardly let go of it the entire trip. 

JFK arrives at MacDill A.F.B.
                                                  (Photo: Tony Zappone)

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