Young Man in the White House [antikvár]

1THE TORCH IS PASSEDThe morning of January 20, 1961, dawned clear and cold. A biting wind knifed through the flag-bedecked streets of Washington, D.C. The city itself lay under a gleaming white blanket of snow. Reflected from the domed and turreted buildings of the capital, the glaring rays of the sun created a jeweled effect that seemed entirely in keeping with the ceremonial atmosphere.Along the broad expanse of Pennsylvania Avenue more than a million people lined the street. They shivered good-naturedly as they waited for the parade that was to culminate in the inauguration of John Fitzgerald Kennedy as the thirty-fifth President of the United States.The route itself had been cleared of the eight-inch snow which had fallen during the previous day and night. The blizzardthe worst the capital had seen in almost a decade had dampened the Inauguration Eve festivities. However, just before dawn the snow had miraculously stopped falling. Now, in spite of the intense cold, a warm excitement gripped the city as the ceremony was about to get under way.In front of the White House grounds, knots of people clustered anxiously, straining to catch a glimpse of the dignitaries whose automobiles were entering the gates leading to the executive mansion.Shortly after 11:00 a.m. a buzz of anticipation greeted the approach of a familiar vehicle. It was the presidential automobile, sent by retiring President Dwight D. Eisenhower to pick up his successor. Guarded by an escort of Secret Service