Roots of president and his men run deep

White House planners did not include Cork in the first draft itinerary they prepared for President Kennedy’s visit to Ireland.

But that was quickly changed one day after the President called his cigar-smoking press secretary Pierre Salinger into his office in Washington.

Kennedy, who had earlier overruled his aides who did not want him to visit Ireland at all during his 10-day European tour, told him he must visit Cork.