Kathleen Kennedy Townsend Discusses Her Uncle John
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Fifty years later. It's been an emotional time of remembrance as we continue honoring former President John F. Kennedy killed five decades ago.
Linh Bui sat down with his niece, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. She shared memories of her uncle and talked about his legacy.
A touching tribute at Arlington National Cemetery for the 50th Anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton joined members of the Kennedy family, including Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.
"It was moving that they decided to support and go there and pay tribute to President Kennedy," she said. "It's been an extraordinarily emotional week. It's so sad to see what we missed with John Kennedy being killed, my uncle dying."
She says there's been an outpouring of love and affection as Americans reflected on the country's loss.
Across the country. there were ceremonies and moments of silence to mark the anniversary. In Washington, flags flew at half staff over the White House and the Capitol.
Kennedy's legacy continues with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He established the highest award the US gives a civilian. This year's honorees included Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.
"It was a great gathering of what John Kennedy believed in. We can excel in all sorts of ways," she said. "My favorite ones are really before he was president because he loved to go sailing and that was so much fun to do off of Hyannis Port."
She shared memories of her Uncle Jack and says she's so glad so many others also remember him.
"You don't think about 50 years after Taft died or 50 years after McKinley but you do think about 50 years after Jack Kennedy," she said.
Kennedy Townsend also repeated what her father Robert said on the day of JFK's funeral: "Take care of your family. Be kind to others. Work for your country."
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