I didn’t expect to have any more celebrity encounters this late in the year, but when Bob sent me an email and the subject was “Caroline Kennedy book signing get your ass there!” – I knew that I better make my best effort to cross paths with her. Caroline is of course the daughter and only remaining living child of President John F. Kennedy. She lived in the White House from just after her third birthday until just after her sixth – when her father was assassinated in Dallas. She herself went on to become a successful attorney and author, and I might I add, quite a natural beauty.
She was doing a small book-signing tour for A Family Christmas, a nice collection of song lyrics, poetry, short stories, and observations relating to the holiday, compiled by and with a forward by Caroline. Since she only made rare public appearances, Bob had only had the chance to see Caroline Kennedy from afar on one occasion – the opening of the Bill Clinton Presidential Library. Her book tour was confined mostly to the midwest and the closest she was coming to me was the Joseph-Beth Booksellers from 3-5pm at the Rookwood Commons in Cincinnati on Friday, December 14, 2007.
I had picked up my books and a line number in advance and ended up in section Letter I (each section had 25 people). My boss let me off at 2:30 to head over there. The parking lot was a zoo and I ended up parking at the Starbucks at the opposite end of the mall. I arrived just as Caroline made her first appearance. She only addressed the crowd momentarily, stating that she was thrilled to be in Cincinnati, where she had never been before. She stressed the importance that both reading and the holiday spirit had had in her young family life. She then began the book signing and the store began lining us up.
While it was stated in the rules that she was only signing copies of this current book, I saw many people get past the initial employee with copies of her other books, and at least one copy of her Dad’s book Profiles in Courage. Whether she signed them or not, I do not know, but I sort of wish I had attempted to bring along some other memorabilia.
I faced another dilemma in getting a photo taken with her. At my Jenna Bush signing a few weeks ago, I had passed my camera off to an incompetent fool who bothced the job. This time I decided on a different route. I overheard a lady pass off her camera to another patron to get a photo for Caroline, so I asked this lady if she had a ticket to get up to see Caroline Kennedy – and she responded no. Since we were permitted to bring our ‘family’ along with our line letter, I offered to let her go through the line with me (ostensibly as my mother) and meet Caroline with my line pass – if she could successfully take a photo of me with Caroline. She checked with her husband to see if she could hang around and he permitted her. This time I made sure she knew how to operate the camera.
The practice photo
After about a half-hour wait, we had made it to the top of the stairs where Caroline was signing the books. As I approached her, I snapped a couple of photos and then passed my camera off to the nice lady. As usual, I had a fool in front of me who was trying to take up more of Caroline’s time by having her sign the cover of the book with a Sharpie – so she was already signing my three books while dealing with him. This limited the time I had to get a photo. Fortunately, my new friend did manage to get one okay photo of me with Caroline Kennedy, but the second one somehow cropped me out. Oh well, beggars can’t be choosers and at least I got one.
Still beautiful at 50
Caroline signing the book
Me and Caroline Kennedy
The autographed book
It was a thrill to meet Caroline Kennedy – and be one up on Bob! But of course, one of the books I got signed was earmarked for him.
Return to Christmas Prep ’07…
I was at Arlington National Cemetery on the Anniversary of Bobby Kennedy’s Assassination, this summer. They roped off the Kennedy Gravesites for awhile that day to allow Senator Ted Kennedy to visit and place a wreath on his brother’s grave. We could see a group of people heading up the stairs to the Memorials. I guess the Senator was in the middle of the crowd. That is the closest I have ever been to a living Kennedy. You have actually met one and obtained her autograph. You’re one up on me!
Dave Chasteen
December 15th, 2007
Wow – I had to do a double take when I read the date of these events! You certainly wrote and posted this very quickly! Thanks for sharing another great story.
Peter
December 15th, 2007
Glad it worked out. Since she and I are the same age, I remembered thinking of her when her dad was murdered too. She and John were favorites of mine. It looks like the two kids got their autograph lessons from the President as you can not read the names well. Jackie’s is much more readable. Anyway, way cool, maybe the Nixon library will have the balls to invite her out here.
Bob
December 20th, 2007