Pressing the Flesh

 

March 12, 1960, Twin City News-Record

A few days ago, we teased Senator John F. Kennedy's campaign stops in Appleton and Menasha in early March of the 1960 election year.  Neenah was to be included as well, but had to be scrapped at the last minute due to time constraints, disappointing many Neenah voters and Kennedy supporters.  

Many thanks to Larry F. who cued me in to this story.  He remembered, as a young boy, picking up his dad at American Can and seeing JFK shaking hands with the workers at the shift change at 3.  Although his thought was that this occurred the previous year, his memories otherwise were spot on, to include knowledge of a plaque that commemorated the event.  Today, you can find the plaque at the marina in Menasha, as the surrounding landscape has evolved dramatically in 60 years.  The union hall is long gone, but the plaque remains, and so do the memories.  See the link below:

https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMCZKG_JFK_campaigned_here_Menasha_WI

Many thanks to waymarking.com.