Though Georgetowners often leave pondering the neighborhood's historic residents to the tourists, today is a good time to take a moment to remember one of the neighborhood's best-known residents, President John F. Kennedy. 

Today marks the 50^th anniversary of his inauguration. On this morning, 50 years ago, President-elect John F. Kennedy left his Georgetown home at 3307 N St. Kennedy was driven the short four miles the U.S. Capitol for his inauguration as the 35^th President of the United States; he remains the youngest elected president to this day. Georgetowners can remember Kennedy not only as the Nation’s 35^th president, but also as a vital member of the Georgetown community.

While serving in Congress, Kennedy lived just a few steps away from Billy Martin’s Tavern an Irish pub on N Street at Wisconsin Ave. The booth he sat in to read the paper and have brunch on Sunday’s after church is referred to as the Rumble Seat. He frequently attended mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and a plaque in front of the church commemorates Kennedy’s life. Kennedy also proposed to Jackie O in Martin’s Tavern in what is now known as the Proposal Booth.

There are several opportunities for you to celebrate the memory of this former Georgetowner. Today marks the opening of a new Kennedy collection at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on 901 G St., NW. The special exhibit offers rare images of the Kennedys as well as inauguration memorabilia.

Also, the Smithsonian Museum of National History offers a small exhibit,  “The Kennedys 50 Years Ago,” composed of nine photographs of the Kennedys. The images were taken by Richard Avedon for “Harpers Bazaar” and are part of the only photo session to have taken place between the election and the inauguration. The photos are on view for the first time at the museum since their donation in 1966.