Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-01-21

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Below-freezing temperatur,
doris and a patriotic red-white-
and-blue shade to the legs Of
baton twirlers.
It also cleared out most Of
the near-million crowd before
the parade was half over.
Spectators who stayed had
the residence of the last bands
men, who seemed louder and
snapper than others, although
barely visible outside the
lightened glow Of the reviewing
stand.
At $40 PM. two minutes
before the end, the remaining
crowd Of kids. mothers, fathers
and dogs huddled with the
press directly opposite the
stand. squirting at the shadow
who could be President John
IF. Kennedy or his brother
Bobby or both. It turned out
to be both.
Call for Speech
And then it was over and
everyone streamed past the
wall Of Secret Service men and
policemen to cross the street
and stand in front Of the
President. They clamored
speech, speech" and sang
For He's q Jolly Good Eel
low"
Mr.. Kennedy seemed flat
tered, pleased and glad that
someone else had stayed to the
end. But since there was no
mike he waved his hands,
smiled and turned toward the
car that would take him
through the gates to his new
white home on 1900 Pennsyl-
vania Avenue.
In an inaugural week of
marathonS and endurance
tests-the long Gala. the long
storm-the parade fell right in
line, but 1t was q handsome
thing and Mr.. Kennedy seemed
to enjoy every minute of it.
Standing in the heated box,
he handled the uncustomary
topper well, doffing it to Gov
errors. flags. bands, soldiers.
Only occasionally did he brush
at his forehead and familiar
lock Of hair as he removed it.
The famous smile, charming
and glistening in the sun,
spread when he saw the Mas
sachusetts Governor, John A.
Volpe. and he shouted greetings
across the frozen air to other
personal friends in the parade.
Catches Each Feature
Although his back was turned
often to the bone-dry street as
he talked to Adlai Stevenson,
Harry s. Truman, cabinet
members and family. Mr.. Ken
nedy almost always managed
to face front when o new band
or float went past.
When from out Of the West
came q charging, saddled
buffalo, ridden by q man with
q flowing name, the President
seemed startled at first and
then delighted. The crowd went
wild and reporters muttered,
1.-THE paper'll never believe this. I"
But it was the coming of the
PIT boat that brought an urgent
and wistful look to the Presi-
dent. He beckoned with his
right hand. which had spent
its time alternately in his
pocket and waving. to the other
reviewing stand inhabitants as
he peered down the street.
He grinned and waved as the
huge float. its top touching
the trees, approached the
stand. The men who had been
his crew in those days, stared
solemnly back.
AS the boat continued down
the street, Mr.. Kennedy fol-
lowed it not only with his eyes,
but his head as well and a soft
smile broke as someone in the
boat changed a bell.
The First Frontier
In a parade that stepped
along, but for a few noticeable
gaps there were Chinese girls
playing when Irish Eyes are
Smiling" Indians who proudly
and irrefutably claimed 1.-The
first new frontier" and an ice
skater twirling on a small rink
on one float.
There were girls in short
skirts and ear muffs and flesh
colored leotards.
There were the glistening but
grim reminders of war-tanks,
soldiers. rockets, a self-propel-
ling gun.
There were little boys grimly
fighting the battle of carrying
large signs in strong winds.