John F. Kennedy was born on May 29th, 1917, in Brookline, Massachusetts.
John F. Kennedy’s father was Joseph P. Kennedy, who acquired a multimillion-dollar fortune as an American businessman, politician, and investor who had served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom. His mother, Rose, was the daughter of John F. Fitzgerald, who was once the Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts.
John F. Kennedy was the second of nine children and raised in a family that demanded intense competition among the children. It was also a family steeped in Democratic party politics. John would go on to study at Harvard, just as his father had done before him.
Early in his political career, the ‘Kennedy style’ was identified as key to the young politician’s identity. He was youthful and charismatic. Kennedy promised to “Get the country moving again” and bring a certain passionate idealism back to America. From the outside, his marriage with Jacqueline Kennedy was an iconic staple of American culture. Throughout his career, Jacqueline was an extremely important part of JFK’s political image. They had two kids - John. F. Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Kennedy.
The Kennedy brothers, John, Robert, and Ted Kennedy / Credit: Spiegel
John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy / Credit: Mary Evans
John F. Kennedy served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, represented the Massachusetts 11th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms from (1947–53), served two terms as a U.S. senator for Massachusetts (1953–60), and was the 35th president of the United States (1961–63).
It was during his tenure as President that he was involved in many conflicts, primarily from the Cold War which was ripe with foreign affairs. Although Kennedy was directly involved with these matters, he would not see the end of the Cold War as it lasted long past his death.
At the end of World War II, the main allied powers – United States, France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union – had divided Germany into two zones.
The Soviets occupied East Germany while the other three allies shared West Germany and helped rebuild the country. On August 13th, 1961, the construction of a wall between East and West Berlin began. Within a day, the opportunity for citizens to pass between East Berlin (communist) and West Berlin (democratic) was eradicated. After the wall went up, more than 260 people died attempting to flee to West Germany.
So, it was in this climate, during his time as President that he gave a speech titled ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’, on June 26th, 1963 in West Berlin. This translates to “I am a Berliner” . During this speech he presented a compelling message against the dangers of communism. He expressed that the Berlin wall was the most obvious and vivid demonstration of the failures of the communist system. It is considered one of the greatest Cold War speeches, and one of the most famous anti-communist speeches of all time. “As a free man, I take Pride in the words Ich bin ein Berliner! (I am a Berliner).”
John F. Kennedy giving famous ‘Ich Bin Ein Berliner’ speech in West Berlin, June 26th, 1963 / Credit: American Rhetoric
No other American politician had been met with such a vigour from the citizens of Germany. Whereupon his entrance to West Berlin he was met with a thunderous applause, and the crowds showered him with flowers, rice, and torn paper.
Following the speech, a clock was made by the German retailer and designer Heinz Wipperfeld as a gift from the people of West Berlin on June 26th, 1963. It was presented to Kennedy by the Mayor, Willy Brandt. The clock reflects the struggle between the Soviet Union and the West over the future of Berlin.
This was a Patek Philippe quartz clock displaying three time zones for Washington D.C., Moscow, and Berlin.
The clock was a very symbolic moniker of the times: it had the time of Washington D.C. (capital of America – democratic), the time in Moscow (capital of the Soviet Union - communist), and the time in Berlin (Germany, divided between democracy and communism).
Clock showcasing the times of Moscow, Washington D.C., and Berlin. / Credit: John F. Kennedy Library
The Patek Philippe clock consisted of a rectangular brass casing which had multiple time zones. The rectangular bronze casing was suspended by a curved bronze support attached to each side. The curved support was then mounted into a marble base and was ready to be parked in the oval office.
This clock designed for President Kennedy was to resemble a nautical instrument which recalled Kennedy's naval service. For his service in World War II, John F. Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal (the highest non-combat decoration awarded for heroism) and the Purple Heart. This was earned through his bravery by leading his troops to safety following a naval attack by a Japanese destroyer.
JFK as a naval Lieutenant in the South Pacific, 1943 / Credit: History
Another reason for this gift was the fact that on June 20th, 1963, just 6 days before Kennedy’s infamous speech in West Berlin, the U.S. and Soviet representatives to the ENDC completed negotiations and signed the "Memorandum of Understanding Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Regarding the Establishment of a Direct Communications Link.” This was a direct communication line between the heads of government of nuclear-weapons states so that they could communicate to one another, and reduce the risk of ‘accidental’ nuclear war.
The Patek Philippe desk clock was a symbol of Moscow, Washington, and Berlin working in unison, a visual representation of JFK’s time spent in WWII, and a reminder of the treaty signed between nations to de-escalate potential nuclear war.
What I see in Patek Philippe’s design of this clock for John F. Kennedy is “American Idealism”. Its that feeling that America was really trying to advertise during the 1950s’ and 1960s’ post-war boom. The golden age of American capitalism, the suburbs, pop culture, and the rise of rock 'n roll. An overall feeling of pleasantness and happiness - gaiety. During this period, as Kennedy was a politician moving up the political ranks, the Kennedy family was itself seen as the idealistic American family. As such, Patek’s design really captures the essence of America in the 1950s and 1960s and the Kennedy’s in a single clock – idealism. It is often said that the Kennedy family was the closest the U.S. has ever had to royalty in its lifetime. Well, John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22nd, 1963 in Dallas, Texas while riding in a motorcade. This was just five months after receiving this clock in West Berlin. It seems that this event not only claimed one more victim to the ‘Kennedy Curse’, but also did away with the idealism that the Patek Philippe was meant to represent.
By: Eric Mulder
Read more:
Manchester, William “John F. Kennedy.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-F-Kennedy.
“THE COLD WAR IN BERLIN.” John F. Kennedy Library, https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/the-cold-war-in-berlin.
Kennedy, John F. “John F. Kennedy - "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" Speech.” Youtube, uploaded by MCamericanpresident, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GKd50lrROc.
"The Kennedy Clock." John F. Kennedy Library, https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/jfk-meets-the-press-exhibit-highlights.
“John F. Kennedy: World War II Naval Hero to President.” National Park Service, https://www.nps.gov/articles/kennedyww2.htm.
“Memorandum of Understanding Between The United States of America and The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Regarding the Establishment of a Direct Communications Link.” US State Department, June 20, 1963, https://2009-2017.state.gov/t/isn/4785.htm.