It’s all over the news. Everybody is talking about it. What could possibly happen next? What is behind all of these twists and turns? The part of the building where HIS name was added and then removed is still covered by scaffolding and tarps. Why is this happening? More significantly, why is it happening NOW?!
(The next part is where I usually digress.)
I graduated from The George Washington University (Say it like THE Ohio State University) in 1976. Having spent 4 years of my life living and breathing in the “feel” of being in the Nation’s Capital, I have many strong memories of being there. School was great, (really!), but living in Foggy Bottom was an unmatchable experience in my life, at least so far.
The White House (East Wing and all) was just a few blocks down Pennsylvania Avenue. At the time, you could just take a stroll by the North Portico and look through the black wrought iron fence and wonder if Richard Nixon was inside. (Can’t do that anymore – at least it would be foolish to do so!) In the evening (before the 10PM curfew), I could hear and watch the commercial jets coming in for a landing following the Potomac River to National (No Reagan yet) airport every 5 or 6 minutes like clockwork. If I didn’t have classes or too much studying to do, I could take a walk (the bus cost money!) up Pennsylvania Avenue to Capitol Hill and sit in the gallery (usually the Senate) and watch government work (or not work). All you had to do was go to your Senator’s office across the street in the Rayburn office building and ask for a pass. I usually went to Edward Brooke’s office after which I could walk in (through some but not much security) and have a seat in the gallery. At the time, there was almost total access to the Capitol building and I could wander around freely. There were some back stairs I liked to use to get up to the Rotunda level. Try doing that today!
There were two places I especially loved to go on a warm fall or spring evening to get some exercise and gather my thoughts. To be “honest”, the Lincoln Memorial was my favorite, despite the steps. The solemnity of being up there looking at Abe from every angle (he never flinched) was unbeatable. On top of that, the view he had looking out toward the Washington Monument and further down The Mall, the Capitol building never got old. Coming in a close second was The Kennedy Center. Relatively new back in 1972, this was (and still is) an awesome piece of architecture. It was like they took Lincoln Center from NYC, added a bunch of marble and pillars, plunked it down next to the Potomac River and added extraordinary flood lighting as a final touch. I only remember seeing one show there (with my Mom) – “Pajama Games” with Cab Calloway and Barbara McNair – but it was spectacular.
One strong remembrance I have was a celebrity siting of sorts I had one afternoon. This was on a later visit, after college, checking out some of my old haunts. (I know, I’m getting way off track here but bear with me,) At the time, I had one of those clunky VHS cameras you held on your shoulder (like a real TV camera guy!), taking some shots around town. As was my luck, they were having a luncheon event in the conference center on the upper floor (probably for charity) and rumor had it that Barbara Bush (then First Lady) was going to be there. Somehow I managed to be near the bank of elevators being used by the important people of the day. And then…there she was (Not Farrah Fawcett, but still exciting!), full head of perfectly quaffed white hair heading toward the elevator. I can still picture her face as she waited for the elevator doors to close. Of course, the ONLY picture I have of this IS in my head, since I was too excited to remember to turn on the camera! The cool part, however, was that the Secret Service agents saw me there with the video camera and asked if I was press and wanted to go up with them. Honest to God! Of course, I nervously responded with a clear, “No” and backed off. Another brush with greatness squandered!
Anyway, my fondest memories of The Kennedy Center involve the perfectly positioned and lit bust of JFK in the main lobby and the observation deck on the rooftop. The sculpture insists that you stop and stare and contemplate what could have been. Time on the rooftop observation deck, which winds around the entire building inspires simple appreciation of the sights and sounds of this great city and creates time to think about what could be. I would invite anyone who has the time to take that walk around up there in the early evening to consider their proper place in the universe.
Obviously, the destruction of such an attraction, not to mention what goes on (or at least what USED TO go on) inside, is unthinkable. As with all other monuments in DC, this is a cherished venue which deserves protection from the whims and desires of someone who can’t stand to NOT be the center of attention. There are innumerable more critical issues that deserve our attention. Let’s protect the Kennedy Center now and then focus on what really needs to be fixed.
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