I was a big fan of John F. Kennedy during his presidential run. So, when my father learned that the senator would make a campaign stop at Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles, he decided that the whole family should attend the rally. I was ten years old.
Dad was a true-blue Democrat, and he believed seeing Kennedy would be plain cool. Olvera Street is the historic center of L.A., dating to the city’s founding before it was part of the U.S.
My father wore a suit for the event, and we arrived long before Kennedy’s appearance. I wormed my way through the crowd to make sure I had an up-close look at the future president.
To his surprise, Dad was pulled aside by Secret Service agents. JFK was to meet Latino VIPs, and my father, a car salesman, was mistaken for one. Kennedy met and shook hands with the dignataries. I was in awe of Kennedy. I don’t recall what he said, but he spoke passionately and movingly.
Later we had a good laugh at how my father was mistaken for a VIP just because he donned a suit.
Ricardo Chavira Chicano 