Riley Museum Home and Billie Lou Wood Visitor Center
Searching for a beautiful event space in downtown Indianapolis? Look no further than the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home and Billie Lou Wood Visitor Center located in the historic Lockerbie Square neighborhood. Visit RileyMuseumHome.org for more information.
Eiteljorg Museum
Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The home of the famous poet James Whitcomb Rieley
James Whitcomb Rieley's home.. a famous poet.
James Whitcomb Riley Statue unveiling at Riley Days 2016
Victorian Christmas Cards JW Riley Museum Indianapolis, IN
James Whitcomb Riley was much beloved as a performing poet. He received hundreds of Christmas cards at his home (now a museum) in Lockerbie Square (near downtown Indianapolis).
James Whitcomb Riley Little Orphant Annie Poem animation
Here's a virtual movie of the great James Whitcomb Riley The Hoosier poet from Greenfield Indiana USA. Who wrote in the distinctive dialect of his region. This sweet little offering is amongs his most popular poems Little Orphant Annie written in 1885.
Little Orphant Annie is an 1885 poem written by James Whitcomb Riley and published by the Bowen-Merrill Company. First titled The Elf Child, Riley changed the name to Little Orphant Allie at its third printing; however, a typecasting error during printing renamed the poem to its current form. Known as the Hoosier poet, Riley wrote the rhymes in nineteenth century Hoosier dialect. As one of his most well known poems, it served as the inspiration for the character Little Orphan Annie upon whom was based a comic strip, plays, radio programs, television shows, and movies.
The subject was inspired by Mary Alice Allie Smith, an orphan living in the Riley home during his childhood. The poem contains four stanzas; the first introduces Annie and the following three are stories she is telling to young children. The stories each tell of a bad child who is snatched away by goblins as a result of their misbehavior. The underlying moral and warning is announced in the final stanza, telling children that they should obey their parents and be kind to the unfortunate, lest they suffer the same fate. Riley recorded readings of several of his poems for the phonograph during the early twentieth century. Only four of the readings were ever released to the public; one was Little Orphant Annie. Written in nineteenth century Hoosier dialect, the words can be difficult to read in modern times; however, its style helped feed its popularity at the time of its composition.[8] Riley achieved fame not just for writing poetry, but also from his readings. Like most of his poetry, Little Orphant Annie was written to achieve the best effect when read aloud
James Whitcomb Riley was a poet who achieved national fame in the United States during late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Little Orphant Annie is one of Whitcomb's most well known poems.[1] Originally published in the Indianapolis Journal on November 15, 1885 under the title The Elf Child, the poem was inspired by a girl named Mary Alice Allie Smith. She was orphaned at age twelve when her father was killed in the American Civil War. Smith lived near the Riley's home, and they learned of her plight through a family member. Riley's father was also a soldier in the war, leaving his wife Elizabeth to manage the household affairs in his absence. She brought Smith into their home in Greenfield, Indiana. As was customary at that time, she worked alongside the family to earn her board.[2] In the evening hours she often told stories to the younger children, including Riley. Smith did not learn she was the inspiration for the character until the 1910s when she visited with Riley.[3]
The piece kept its original title in its first two printings, but Riley decided to change its title to Little Orphant Allie in a 1897 printing. The printing house incorrectly cast the typeset during the printing, unintentionally renaming the poem to Little Orphant Annie. Riley at first contacted the printing house to have the error corrected, but decided to keep the misprint because of the poem's growing popularity.[3]
During the 1920s, the title became the inspiration for the names of Little Orphan Annie and the Raggedy Ann doll, created by fellow Indiana native Johnny Gruelle.[4][5] The rhyme's popularity led it to being reprinted many times. It was later compiled with a number of other children's poems in a illustrated book and sold.[6]
The verses of the poem detail the scary stories told by Annie when her housework was done, repeating the phrase An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you ef you don't watch out!. [sic] It was popular among children, and many of the letters Whitcomb received from children commented on the poem. It remains a favorite among children in Indiana and is often associated with Halloween celebrations.
Kind Regards
Jim Clark
All rights are reserrved on this video recording copyright Jim Clark 2012
TOP 12. Best Museums in Indianapolis, Indiana
group facebook -
TOP 12. Best Museums in Indianapolis, Indiana: Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indiana War Memorial, Rhythm! Discovery Center, The Eiteljorg Museum, Indiana State Museum, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana Medical History Museum, Oldfields-Lilly House and Gardens, NCAA Hall of Champions, James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home
Historic Lockerbie Square
Nationally recognized as one of the successful renovations of an Historic neighborhood. Walk the cobblestone streets of Lockerbie Square in Indianapolis and marvel at the beautiful restored homes.
Ghost railroad tracks of Monon and PRR RR's at Munster, IN
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As my father and I began our railfanning trip to Indiana and Ohio, we stopped at Munster, Indiana, which was once a very busy location with plenty of history.
0:00-0:38- We are looking north, and then south on the abandoned ROW of the Monon's mainline that heading north to State Line Junction in Hammond.
0:38-0:54 We are then looking south at Arline Junction, where the Pennsylvania Railroad's Panhandle mainline once crossed the Monon. Note that the tracks are gone, but the diamond remains! Beginning in February, 1972, Amtrak's FLORIDIAN began using the PRR through here to reach Logansport and Indianapolis. The JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY joined in October, 1973. Both trains were routed off this line in 1974 after the FRA condemned it due to unsafe track conditions. Amtrak service returned in 1975, when the FLORIDAN was rerouted through on the Monon until it was discontinued in Fiscal Year 1979. On October 1,1980, Amtrak service again returned with the HOOSIER STATE taking the PRR Bernice Cutoff to reach the Panhandle line. The Panhandle was used for a few miles to this location, where the train used a southwest connecting track to reach the Monon. This connecting track ran where the new strip of gravel is located at 0:48. Does anyone know when Conrail stopped using this line? The tracks did pick up to the east a few miles, and I know they are still in use at Hartsdale.
In 1994, The HOOSIER STATE was rerouted off the Panhandle Line and onto the L&N line through Dolton and down to Thornton Junction, where it swings onto the Grand Trunk Western to reach the Monon at 1:04. Note the diamond sitting off to the side. This location was known as Manyard. Note the abandoned signals still sanding sentinel along the overgrown rails.
The reason for the Monon ROW remaining intact, is because the Indiana suburbs intend on reactivating it for commuter service. Does anyone know when the last CSX train used the Monon through here?
Monon Route
Hoosier Line
railroad junction
conjunction junction what's your function?
overgrown railroad tracks
bad railroad tracks
dangerous railroad tracks
abandoned railroad junction
Indianapolis Museum of Art Wedding | Jason + Jane
|Copyright Northernlight Filmworks|
Jason and Jane's Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) wedding was such a beautiful day and full of laughter. We started off at the Conrad with Jane as she and her bridesmaids got ready and Jason and Jane's house in the Lockerbie area with Jason and the groomsmen. Both locations were buzzing with activity and anticipation for the day. I just loved when Jane's father saw her for the first time in her dress and they both had an emotional moment together then quickly turned it into laughter.
We then headed to Lockerbie for the the 1st look which took place in front of the James Whitcomb Riley House. Like mentioned in the post for their trailer it was a MOVE THAT BUS moment. After a photo session we then moved to the IMA for a photo session around the gardens. With all the rain that hit the area, the ground was a little soggy but nothing bad enough to move things inside.
It had been cloudy most all of the morning and as the ceremony started and the processional song Here Comes The Sun by the Beatles started playing the sun popped out and was shining brightly. Such a beautiful wedding with the grounds of the IMA providing an intimate back drop.
Jane's sisters speech was amazing. Probably one of the best wedding speeches we have heard.
Thank you Jason and Jane for having us film your wedding.
The amazing vendor team!
Planner: Eventfull Planning
Venue: Indianapolis Museum of Art
Caterer: Kahn’s Catering
Decor: JP Parker Flowers & WOW Factors
Photo: Meg Miller Photography
Photo Booth: Still Memories Photo Booth
Music: The Sly Band
Papery: KB Designs
Transportation: Antique Limousine and Star of America
Music Licences from Music Bed
You Found Me First by Jake Etheridge
You Found Me First Instrumental by Jake Etheridge
I Know You Will Instrumental by JJ Heller
Life's What You Make It by Graham Colton
Life's What You Make It Instrumental by Graham Colton
Indianapolis (USA) : Itinéraire de visite touristique par vue aérienne de la ville en 3D
aircitytour.com, l'itinéraire de vos visites touristiques et culturelles en vidéo en 3D (visite virtuelle). D'autres visites sont disponibles sur aircitytour.com
Visite virtuelle de la ville d'Indianapolis (USA), par vue aérienne en 3D, à partir du logiciel Google Earth.
Détail de la visite par lieux :
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park
- Garfield Park Conservatory & Garfield Park
- Museum of Psychphonics
- Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art
- Rolls-Royce Allison Heritage Trust Museum
- The HandleBar
- Rhodius Park
- Indiana Medical History Museum
- Indianapolis Zoo Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center & Zoo d'Indianapolis
- White River Gardens
- White River State Park
- NCAA Hall of Champions
- Indiana State Museum
- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
- Medal of Honor Memorial
- Military Park
- Indiana Historical Society
- Capitole de l'État de l'Indiana
- Rhythm! Discovery Center
- Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
- Indianapolis Catacombs
- Indiana World War Memorial Plaza
- Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum
- American Legion Mall
- James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home
- The USS INDIANAPOLIS National Memorial
- Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
- Ellenberger Park
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Children's Museum of Indianapolis
- 100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park
- Oldfields–Lilly House & Gardens
- Tarkington Park
- Fort Harrison State Park
- Broad Ripple Park
- Holliday Park
- Conner Prairie
- Museum of Miniature Houses
- The Waterpark at the Monon Community Center
- Williams Park
- Avon Town Hall Park
- Washington Township Park
- Hummel Park
DITL: State Fair check in, & learning about a Hoosier Poet
Join us for a day of adventure in Indianapolis, Indiana.
We drop off an Open Class entry that my Dad, Lester, who is in many of our videos. It is a house model he made this past winter out of corn cobs, stalks etc. A literal corn house.
Then we take you along to visit Crown Hill Cemetery. This cemetery is one that area folks need to plan as a free sight-seeing adventure. Pick up a brochure or print one off their website and see the final resting place of many notable Hoosiers.
We then tour the home where Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley lived the last 23 years of his life. It is an amazing home for folks who enjoy Victorian era history and architecture. The family who owned the home had 'modern' convenience that was state of the art for the entire state at that time. Every room is in-tact as it was when Riley lived there, except the kitchen and carriage house. For less than $10 an adult and 2 youth can learn an enormous amount of information.
We finish up our day with a meal at Steak-and-Shake... Yum!
Filmed by Thursa and also many clips filmed by Theron, the co-pilot for the day.
Filmed on my iPhone6.
I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (
I know a lot of the video seems hazy or blurry. I am not sure if it's my iPhone, fingerprints, or the lens of the camera on the phone damaged. I didn't want to totally toss out the video clips so please bear with us :) Thanks for understanding.
Riley with Kids on Lockerbie Street
In 1916, the Selig Polyscope Company was hired to produce a film about Indiana's origins for the state's centennial celebration.
Though that 1916 film (known variously as Indiana, The Birth of Indiana, Historic Indiana and Indiana: The Chronicle of Your State in Pictures) may be lost, several scenes including poet James Whitcomb Riley appear to have been reused by Selig Polyscope for their 1918 movie inspired by Riley's poem, Little Orphant Annie—a DVD of which may be purchased here:
Locomotive in Greensburg, IN....
I'm not exactly sure what engine class this is.... or who owns it.... but it was in Greensburg, IN from a distance. Must be Central Railroad of Indiana, but who knows. If you wondered what I was doing there, I was driving back home from Indianapolis. I'm back in Richmond now, and I hope I can railfan NS soon. I know this wasn't the best shot, but still, hope you like it.
Circa 1995 - The Medical History Museum in Indianapolis
Debby Knox takes us inside this museum to old fashioned medicine, located on the grounds of Central State Hospital, and talks with its director, Virginia Terpening. From the archives of Indianapolis TV news photographer Ken Lavenberg.
It's the only 19th Century pathology building in the United States.
James Whitcomb Riley - Out To Old Aunt Mary's 1912
Victor 70078 - James Whitcomb Riley - Out To Old Aunt Mary's 1912 - This record was recorded 06-05-1912 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
James Whitcomb Riley (October 7, 1849 -- July 22, 1916) was an American writer, poet, and best selling author. During his lifetime he was known as the Hoosier Poet and Children's Poet for his dialect works and his children's poetry respectively. His poems tended to be humorous or sentimental, and of the approximately one thousand poems that Riley authored, the majority are in dialect. His famous works include Little Orphant Annie and The Raggedy Man.
Quality Inn Greenfield Indiana
Welcome to Quality Inn and Suites Greenfield
The Quality Inn & Suites hotel is conveniently located just minutes away from exciting downtown Indianapolis. This Greenfield, IN hotel is just minutes from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil Stadium, Bankers Life Fieldhouse and the Indiana Convention Center. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis and Indianapolis Zoo in White River State Park are also in the area. We can have children's museum and zoo tickets ready for you at check-in if you call ahead.
Visitors will enjoy browsing the wide variety of nearby specialty shops or playing a round at one of the many local golf courses. Several restaurants and cocktail lounges are located close by for your dining pleasure.
Guests of this Greenfield, IN hotel are invited to enjoy cookies and popcorn offered in the lobby, while also taking full advantage of the additional amenities and features, including:
Free wireless high-speed Internet access Free hot breakfast buffet Free newspaper Free local calls Pet-friendly hotel (nightly fee)
Enjoy a workout in our well-equipped fitness center. After a long day at work or play, relax in our outdoor pool or sit in our beautiful lobby and enjoy our 24-hour coffee service. Business travelers will appreciate the convenience of the business center in the lobby.
All of our exquisitely appointed and spacious guest rooms have coffee makers, microwaves, refrigerators, hair dryers, irons, ironing boards and cable television.
Stay at the Quality Inn & Suites hotel in Greenfield when your travels bring you to the Indianapolis, Indiana area. Our friendly and professional staff looks forward to seeing you soon and making your stay an enjoyable experience.
EVENTS IN GREENFIELD INDIANA SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING
Riley Festival 312 E. Main Street, Suite C, Greenfield, IN 46140 Phone: 317.462.2141 Email: info@rileyfestival.com
Creative Arts and Event Center 2 West Main Street Greenfield, IN 46140 317-477-2288 info@artsandevent.com Hancock County Fairgrounds , Greenfield, Indiana
Hancock County Veterans Park , Greenfield, Indiana
Pennsy Trail Art Fair , Greenfield, Indiana
Branch Gordon Fortville, IN Fox Gardin, Fortville, IN Category: Arts and Entertainment
James Whitcomb Riley Home Museum , Indianapolis, Indiana
Irvington Folk Festival , Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis Museum of Art , Indianapolis, Indiana
Indiana War Memorial Museum , Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis Art Center , Indianapolis, Indiana
Indiana State Fairgrounds , Indianapolis, Indiana
IDADA First Friday , Indianapolis, Indiana
Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center , Indianapolis, Indiana
Devour Downtown Winterfest , Indianapolis, Indiana
Circle City Classic Parade , Indianapolis, Indiana
Biltwell Event Center , Indianapolis, Indiana
Farmers Market at The Fairgrounds Farmers Market at The Fairgrounds Category: Clubs and Organizations Greenfield, Indiana
THIS LAND OF OURS INDIANA 1950s LOOK AT THE HOOSIER STATE 60774
This film, of the This Land of Ours educational series from Dudley Pictures and presented by Official Films will give a tour of Indiana (:09). The state is centered in the heart of the American Midwest (:35). Part of it's rich history includes being home to Abraham Lincoln (:57), the plot of land his family’s log cabin once stood is shown (1:04). In addition is the old swimming hole that had inspired writing's from James Whitcomb Riley (1:19). The George Rogers Clark Memorial stands as homage to the man credited with playing a major role in the acquisition of the northwest territory (1:40). The state's capital is Indianapolis (1:54). The Soldier's and Sailor's monument rests at the hub of the business district and is almost 300 feet high (2:05). The state was admitted to the Union in 1816 and present capitol constructed in 1868 (2:30). Areas including Hammond, East Chicago, Whiting and parts of Gary make up the bulk of its manufacturing center (2:42). Indiana’s port city is South Bend on the St. Joseph River (3:17). Many famed universities include Notre Dame; the world's largest campus (3:28), in Bloomington, Indiana University (3:59) and located in West Lafayette, Purdue University (4:18). Agriculture is substantially important to the state's industry and corn is it’s main crop (4:55). Limestone is incredibly abundant and after being lifted from one of the states many quarries it is used for buildings (5:17). One of the most famous constructed with Indiana limestone is the Empire State Building in New York (5:29). The Indiana State Fair held annually in Indianapolis (6:04). The Memorial Day Classic at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (6:50) is one of the most well known. A summary of the Hoosier State wraps up the film and it’s many diverse qualities (8:44).
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: 01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit
Indianapolis | Wikipedia audio article
This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
00:03:14 1 History
00:03:23 1.1 Etymology
00:03:54 1.2 Founding
00:07:26 1.3 Civil War and Gilded Age
00:10:36 1.4 Modern Indianapolis
00:14:44 2 Geography
00:16:47 2.1 Cityscape
00:20:32 2.2 Neighborhoods
00:22:58 2.3 Climate
00:25:37 3 Demographics
00:31:21 3.1 Religion
00:33:36 4 Economy
00:40:38 5 Culture and contemporary life
00:42:08 5.1 Visual arts
00:44:15 5.2 Performing arts
00:47:38 5.3 Literature
00:49:22 5.4 Attractions
00:52:52 5.5 Cuisine
00:55:53 6 Sports
01:01:47 6.1 Motorsports
01:03:18 7 Parks and recreation
01:06:14 8 Government and politics
01:09:05 8.1 Public safety
01:11:23 8.2 Crime
01:12:40 8.3 Politics
01:14:28 9 Education
01:14:37 9.1 Colleges and universities
01:16:43 9.2 Schools and libraries
01:17:50 10 Media
01:20:34 11 Transportation
01:22:00 11.1 Roads and highways
01:22:55 11.2 Mass transit
01:24:57 11.3 Airports
01:26:09 11.4 Active and shared mobility
01:27:38 12 Healthcare
01:30:49 13 Utilities
01:32:34 14 Notable people
01:32:43 15 International relations
01:32:53 15.1 Sister cities
01:34:06 15.2 Consulates
01:34:28 16 See also
Listening is a more natural way of learning, when compared to reading. Written language only began at around 3200 BC, but spoken language has existed long ago.
Learning by listening is a great way to:
- increases imagination and understanding
- improves your listening skills
- improves your own spoken accent
- learn while on the move
- reduce eye strain
Now learn the vast amount of general knowledge available on Wikipedia through audio (audio article). You could even learn subconsciously by playing the audio while you are sleeping! If you are planning to listen a lot, you could try using a bone conduction headphone, or a standard speaker instead of an earphone.
Listen on Google Assistant through Extra Audio:
Other Wikipedia audio articles at:
Upload your own Wikipedia articles through:
Speaking Rate: 0.9511706340493914
Voice name: en-US-Wavenet-A
I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.
- Socrates
SUMMARY
=======
Indianapolis (), often shortened to Indy, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. As of 2017, Indianapolis is the third most populous city in the American Midwest and 16th most populous in the U.S., with an estimated population of 863,002. The Indianapolis metropolitan area is the 34th most populous metropolitan statistical area in the U.S., with 2,028,614 residents. Its combined statistical area ranks 27th, with a population of 2,411,086. Indianapolis covers 368 square miles (950 km2), making it the 16th largest city by land area in the U.S.
Indigenous peoples inhabited the area dating to approximately 2000 BC. In 1818, the Delaware relinquished title to their tribal lands in the Treaty of St. Mary's. In 1821, Indianapolis was founded as a planned city for the new seat of Indiana's state government. The city was platted by Alexander Ralston and Elias Pym Fordham on a 1 square mile (2.6 km2) grid adjacent to the White River. Completion of the National and Michigan roads and arrival of rail (1847) later solidified the city's position as a manufacturing and transportation hub. Two of the city's nicknames originate from its historical ties to transportation—the Crossroads of America and Railroad City.Indianapolis anchors the 27th largest economic region in the U.S., based primarily on the sectors of finance and insurance, manufacturing, professional and business services, education and health care, government, and wholesale trade. Indianapolis has developed niche markets in amateur sports and auto racing. The city is perhaps best known for annually hosting the world's largest single-day sporting event, the Indianapolis 500. Indianapolis has hosted international multi-sport events such as the 1987 Pan American Games and 2001 World Police and Fire Games.
Indianapolis is home to two major sports clubs, the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. The city's philanthropic community has helped develop its cultural institutions and collections, including the world's largest children's museum, one of the nation's largest privately funded zoos,
historic buildings and sites, and public art. Indianapolis is home to a significant collection of monuments dedicated to veterans and war casualties, the most in the U.S. outside of Washington, D.C. Since the 1970 city-county consolidation, known as Unigov, local government administration operates under the direction of an elected 25-member city-county council headed by the mayor. Indianapolis is considered a high sufficiency world city.
Meaning It: Sen. Robert F. Kennedy Visits an Indianapolis Daycare
On April 30, 1968, New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who was running for the Democratic party's presidential nomination, interrupted his Indiana campaign schedule to visit the Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis at 542 Lockerbie St., near the museum home of poet James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier Keats.
Kennedy had an extraordinary relationship with children and his poignant interaction with those at the daycare was filmed by NBC News and described by David Murray in The Chicago Sun-Times on May 2, 1968, excerpted below:
At first, there was no joy at all on the faces of the dozen or so five year olds in the tiny, dirty playground at the day nursery.
They stared with wide, solemn eyes through the old Cyclone fence topped with drooping barbed wire at Robert F. Kennedy, who had walked a hundred feet down the street Tuesday to see them as they stood in their cage.
Tentatively, they poked their fingers at him through the fence, and he pushed his fingers back at them and there was a smile or two, on both sides. But the children didn't quite know what to make of this man who was surrounded by all the other people with the cameras and microphones and tape recorders and notebooks.
When he started talking to them, you could hardly hear what he said, it was so soft, and his eyes changed from those of a presidential candidate to something else. And he kept talking and stroking their fingers with his, and then one little boy said: 'Hey, you're on television, aren't you?' and Kennedy nodded and said yes, he was.
The place was the Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis, and it lies in a grubby section only a few steps away from James Whitcomb Riley's house. Kennedy had gone to the Riley house as part of his campaign for the presidency. ...
Kennedy ... walked in the bright sunlight to the day nursery and talked for a minute with the women who run it. They said it was mostly for children of broken homes and that the ones here were all five-year-olds from different parts of the city.
So Kennedy stopped with the children for a minute, and after they got to know him a bit better, the man who wants to be president pushed open a gate and went inside and hunkered down and talked to them some more. The television cameras and microphones were there, but that didn't make any difference to the children.
Some of them continued to slide down the sliding board or climb on the jungle gym, but the others clustered around Kennedy, not saying much, some of them, but just trying to hold on to him.
Two little girls came up and put their heads against his waist and he put his hands on their heads. And suddenly it was hard to watch, because he had become in that moment the father they did no know or the elder brother who couldn't talk to them or, more important, listen to them, because most elder brothers and most fathers don't know how to listen to five year olds without thinking about other things. ...
Gone, for just a moment, was the rhetoric and the playing with audiences and the motorcades and the adulation and the criticism.
The word that came on strongest as he sat and listened to the children and made a quiet remark now and then, was the word 'compassion.' This is because — and anyone who has ever dealt with five-year-olds knows this — you can fool a lot of people in a campaign, and you can create phony issues if you want to, and you can build an image with a lot of sharpsters around you with their computers and their press releases. But lonely little children don't come up and put their heads on your lap unless you mean it.
Among the reporters covering Kennedy's visit was Newsweek general editor and writer Peter Goldman, who could be seen wearing sunglasses and a bow-tie at left. Kennedy was assassinated at Los Angeles, Calif., five weeks later.
NOTE: An informative and insightful response to this video by Peter Goldman, who was present when it was filmed and appears briefly in it, could be found in five parts in my Channel Comments, posted by me on July 4, 2010.
(NBC News video courtesy ThoughtEquity.com)