Summer White Houses: The Kennedy Compound
For much of his presidency, John F. Kennedy used his family property, known as the Kennedy Compound, located on Cape Cod along Nantucket Sound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, as his "summer white house." The six acre property was once the home of his father, former Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and his wife Rose. Even before his presidency, Kennedy used the compound as a base for his successful 1960 U.S. Presidential campaign.
This home's history in the Kennedy family dates back to 1926, when Joseph P. Kennedy rented a summer cottage at 50 Marchant Avenue in Hyannis Port. Two years later, he purchased the cottage, which had been built in 1904. Joe Kennedy Sr.remodeled the home and built on to it, in order to suit his family's needs and tastes. It was here that Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine children spent their summers, and cultivated their interest in sailing.
In 1956, Senator John F. Kennedy bought a smaller home of his own at 111 Irving Avenue, close to his father's home. In 1959 his younger brother Edward Kennedy bought the residence at 28 Marchant Avenue, selling it to his brother Robert and his wife Ethel in 1961.
All three buildings are white-frame clapboard structures, typical of vacation residences on Cape Cod.
Joe Kennedy's home became known as the Main House and is the largest of the three buildings. It is surrounded by well-tended lawns and gardens and it has an expansive view of the ocean from its long porches. On the main floor of the home are a living room, dining room, sun room, television room, the bedroom that John F. Kennedy used before he purchased his own house in the compound, the kitchen, and various pantries and utility rooms. The second floor contains six bedrooms, a sewing room, packing room, and four servants' bedrooms. The house has a full attic. The basement contains a motion-picture theater and a hall covered with dolls from all around the world, as well as a wine cellar.
The home has two circular driveways with flagpoles standing in the middle, as well as a boathouse and several large stretches of lawn area where the family played their famous touch football games.
On October 18, 1963, John F. Kennedy made his final visit to Hyannis Port. He began the day in Boston with Sunday Mass at St. Francis Xavier chapel on Newbury Street. A crowd outside the church of about 150 people grew to nearly 500 when word spread that JFK was in attendance. From Boston, Kennedy went to Hyannis Port. This was also for what would be his final visit with his father, Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy. He is reported to have said that he was happiest of all when he was in Hyannis Port. On that final visit there, the president kept a low profile. He was spotted taking a short cruise aboard a powerboat with his father and cousin. He then spent the rest of his time inside, visiting with family and friends. After one more night, the presidential helicopter landed on the lawn of the compound, waiting to whisk President Kennedy to Otis Air Force Base for the flight back to Washington.
On the visit, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. was suffering the after-effects of a severe stroke. JFK was said to have touched his father on the shoulder and he said, "Look who’s here, Dad" before kissing his father on the top of his head. As he was leaving, he whispered to his father's nurse, "Take good care of Dad before I come back." But President Kennedy never did come back. Less than five weeks later, on Nov. 22, 1963, he was assassinated in Dallas.
In 2012 the main house was donated by the Kennedy family to the Edward Kennedy Institute for the US Senate, which said it would host educational seminars in the house and that it will open it to the public at specific times. On the grounds are an enclosed swimming pool, tennis court, a four-car garage, and two guest houses.
This home's history in the Kennedy family dates back to 1926, when Joseph P. Kennedy rented a summer cottage at 50 Marchant Avenue in Hyannis Port. Two years later, he purchased the cottage, which had been built in 1904. Joe Kennedy Sr.remodeled the home and built on to it, in order to suit his family's needs and tastes. It was here that Joe and Rose Kennedy and their nine children spent their summers, and cultivated their interest in sailing.
In 1956, Senator John F. Kennedy bought a smaller home of his own at 111 Irving Avenue, close to his father's home. In 1959 his younger brother Edward Kennedy bought the residence at 28 Marchant Avenue, selling it to his brother Robert and his wife Ethel in 1961.
All three buildings are white-frame clapboard structures, typical of vacation residences on Cape Cod.
Joe Kennedy's home became known as the Main House and is the largest of the three buildings. It is surrounded by well-tended lawns and gardens and it has an expansive view of the ocean from its long porches. On the main floor of the home are a living room, dining room, sun room, television room, the bedroom that John F. Kennedy used before he purchased his own house in the compound, the kitchen, and various pantries and utility rooms. The second floor contains six bedrooms, a sewing room, packing room, and four servants' bedrooms. The house has a full attic. The basement contains a motion-picture theater and a hall covered with dolls from all around the world, as well as a wine cellar.
The home has two circular driveways with flagpoles standing in the middle, as well as a boathouse and several large stretches of lawn area where the family played their famous touch football games.
On October 18, 1963, John F. Kennedy made his final visit to Hyannis Port. He began the day in Boston with Sunday Mass at St. Francis Xavier chapel on Newbury Street. A crowd outside the church of about 150 people grew to nearly 500 when word spread that JFK was in attendance. From Boston, Kennedy went to Hyannis Port. This was also for what would be his final visit with his father, Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy. He is reported to have said that he was happiest of all when he was in Hyannis Port. On that final visit there, the president kept a low profile. He was spotted taking a short cruise aboard a powerboat with his father and cousin. He then spent the rest of his time inside, visiting with family and friends. After one more night, the presidential helicopter landed on the lawn of the compound, waiting to whisk President Kennedy to Otis Air Force Base for the flight back to Washington.
On the visit, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. was suffering the after-effects of a severe stroke. JFK was said to have touched his father on the shoulder and he said, "Look who’s here, Dad" before kissing his father on the top of his head. As he was leaving, he whispered to his father's nurse, "Take good care of Dad before I come back." But President Kennedy never did come back. Less than five weeks later, on Nov. 22, 1963, he was assassinated in Dallas.
In 2012 the main house was donated by the Kennedy family to the Edward Kennedy Institute for the US Senate, which said it would host educational seminars in the house and that it will open it to the public at specific times. On the grounds are an enclosed swimming pool, tennis court, a four-car garage, and two guest houses.