Evening star., 1963-02-11
President Takes Wife on Short Hikes;
Brother Robert Tramps for SO Miles
BY the Associated Press

1t was a vigorous week end
on the New Frontier.
President Kennedy took his
wife on three short hikes. and
Attorney General Robert F.
Kennedy walked so miles in II
hours-all in the cause of
physical fitness.
Ethel Kennedy, the Attorney
Generals wife, added to the
aura Of vitality by declaring
she'd welcome twins to the
busy routine Of her family of
seven.
But Ethel, who is expecting
her eighth child in June, added
there is no medical evidence to
indicate twins are in the offing.
The one discordant note was
sounded by Joan Kennedy, wife
of Senator Edward M. Ken
nedy Of Massachusetts,. Joan
wrote in Look magazine that
the President, because of per-
sistent back trouble, can bare
ly pick up his 2-year-old son,
John, jr.
Reporting that young John
now weighs about 35 pounds,
the White House said, "the
Presidents back is improving
but his son is getting heavier"
Isn't Slowed Down
If President Kennedy's back
is slowing him down, this
wasn't evident yesterday dur
ing his three walks with the
First Lady.
Mr.. Kennedy set such a brisk,
erect pace that it almost
seemed he was training for a
50-mile hike of his own.
Fifty miles became a magic
number on the New Frontier
after the President learned
about a 1908 executive order
in which President Theodore
Roosevelt proclaimed this dis
tance an appropriate fitness
test for Marine officers.
At the Presidents suggestion,
20 Marines will take the Roose-
velt test at Camp Lejeune to-
morrow. And on Friday, volun-
teers from the White House
staff and press corps will en-
bark on a similar expedition. !
Robert Kennedy jumped the
gun on these endeavors Satur-
day by walking so miles from
Washington toward Thurmont,
Md. The 37-year-old Attorney
General was accompanied by
four aides who faltered before
the finish line.
The Attorney General reached
his destination at IL pm, at
tended a 9 am. Roman Catho-
lie mass the next morning, and
then went ice skating.
Started in New York
President Kennedy and the
First Lady started their walk
ing binge in New York, where
they spent a week end of thea
ter-going, fancy eating and
partying.
The President did his first
walking about IL am, when he
went from the Hotel Carlyle,
where he was staying. to the
apartment of his brother-in-
law and sister, Mr.. and Mrs.
Stephen Smith, a block away. !
After spending a few min
utes in the building. he en-
erged with Caroline and her |
cousin, Stephen Smith. jr., in
tow.
The two youngsters, both
5-year-olds, carried toy car
bine rifles which they play
fully poked against the Presi-
dents legs as he led the way
toward Central Park across
Fifth avenue.
Mr.. Kennedy Immediately
turned around and headed back
for the apartment building when
he saw a gathering crowd.
Caroline, obviously disap-
pointed, asked:
why are we going back.
Daddy?"
The Presidents reply was not
audible as he re-entered the
building.
After the Kennedys and her
sister, Mrs. Lee Radziwill, at
tended a 1890 pm. mass at
st. Ignatius of Loyola Church
at Eighty-fourth street and
Park avenue, they drove to
Sixty-sixth street, where they
left the car and hiked three
blocks down Park avenue to a
fashionable French restaurant, /
Voisin. Mrs. Radziwill had to
trot at one point to keep the
pace.
At one point, they came
upon a French-speaking friend,
who stopped to chat with them
briefly. The man declined to
identify himself to newsmen.
The President had a train
ing-table portion of steak at
the restaurant and Mrs. Ken
nedy dined on eggs benedict. [
Then the threesome set out
again, this time walking five
blocks up Park avenue.
Returning to Washington