3. Master Bedroom

The president was born in the twin bed, near the window, on May 29th, 1917, at three oclock in the afternoon. They always used the bed near the window so that if the baby were born in the daytime the light would be the best for the doctor. When you hold your baby in your arms for the first time and you think of all the things you can say and do to influence him its a tremendous responsibility. What you do with him and for him can influence not only him, but everyone he meets and not for a day or a month or a year but for time and eternity. Years later, when Jack was elected president, I thought how fortunate I was out of all the millions of mothers in the United States to be one to have her son inaugurated president on that cold, cold day. The pictures over the beds are copies of Italian paintings of the Madonna and Child I had seen and liked. My mother and father gave us Irish linen bedspreads, which were hand-embroidered with shamrocks, thistles and other Irish symbols and were great treasures. The photograph on Mr. Kennedys dresser is of his mother and father. On the far wall are the traditional six-month pictures of Joe Jr., Jack, Rosemary and Kathleen. Some people say that all babies look alike, but I can tell the difference even at that age. The nursery is just across the hall.