John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States. He served from 1961 to his assassination on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.
Endorsing 007[]
During his presidency, JFK considered one of Fleming's Bond Novels, From Russia with Love, one of his favorites of all time. Fleming had also met Kennedy in Washington, in 1960, discussing a way to overthrow Fidel Castro and about his novel. Their meetup is best described in John Pearson's Bio of Ian Fleming:
- "She introduced them. “Mr. Ian Fleming--Senator Kennedy.” Kennedy studied Fleming for a moment and said as they shook hands, “James Bond? But of course, by all means--do please come.” [Fleming later embellished the story by having Kennedy say “THE Ian Fleming?”]...Kennedy studied the handsome Englishman, rather as puzzled admirals used to study him in the days of Room 39. Was he an oddball or something more? What ideas had mister Fleming in mind?” “Ridicule, chiefly,” said Fleming. And with immense seriousness and confidence he developed a spoof proposal for giving Castro the James Bond treatment. There were, he said, three things which really mattered to the Cubans: money, religion, and sex."
- ― (Pearson pg 321) The Life of Ian Fleming
It also made From Russia with Love one of the US' best sales since they boomed as a result of Kennedy and Fleming's meetup. During the Cuban missile crisis JFK stated that he wished James Bond was on his staff, going off Bond's portrayal in Dr. No.
Video[]
Everything or Nothing- The Untold Story of 007-- Dr. No Gets A Presidential Endorsement - EPIX
JFK Endosrses Dr.No