Pierre Salinger, press secretary to the late President Kennedy, arrived in Honolulu yesterday following a four-week business trip through the Orient.
It was just two years and one day after Salinger touched down in Hawaii aboard an Air Force jet, stunned by the news that Kennedy had been shot to death in Dallas.
He was high over the Pacific along with six Cabinet officers when the tragic radio message was received: "President John F. Kennedy was shot by an assassin in Dallas."
Seconds later, Admiral Harry D. Felt, then Pacific commander-in-chief, called the plane from Camp Smith.
The jet, halfway to Wake Island enroute to Japan, turned back immediately but pressed for word from the White House nerve center.
The dreaded message came 42 minutes later: "The President is dead."
Salinger recalled today the tragic assassination anniversary.
"I’ve thought about it very often in the last 24 hours. I don’t think there will ever be another November 22nd when I don’t remember it," he said.
The day prompted especially strong memories, too, because he was in Japan this time where the Cabinet was headed at the time of the President’s death, he said.
"The memory of Kennedy is very much alive in Japan today," he said.
Salinger participated in some commemorative programs there in connection with the President’s death two years ago.
On that day the jet touched down in Hono-lulu for refueling and took off again about a half-hour later for the non-stop trip to Washington, D.C., and the turn of events which changed their lives.
Today Salinger has a new wife and many new jobs.
He is now vice-president for international affairs of Continental Airlines and also heads a new company known as Fox Overseas Theatres.
Salinger says he is enjoying his new business life but frankly admits that it is extremely difficult to "put politics behind you" once you’ve been active in it. …
