Robert Frost -- sporting a little-commented-upon Mohawk -- battles the elements as he tries to read his poem, while President Kennedy sneezes, alarming freshly former-President Eisenhower. In the background, Mr. Peanut.

The first ever inaugural poetry reading occurred when John F. Kennedy invited Robert Frost, the mighty Patrician of New England, to do the honors. Frost, it seems, had been an early endorser of Kennedy, campaigning for him throughout the New England states and prophesying to the press about the next President of the United States: “He’s a Puritan named Kennedy. The only Puritans left these days are the Roman Catholics.” “Puritan” is not exactly the kind of adjective that comes to mind for JFK. Regardless, Frost wrote a poem specifically for the occasion, “The Dedication“, which he was unable to actually read because of the glare of the bright winter sun on his typescript. So, after a fumbling beginning, he aborted the plan, and in a clear resonnant voice recited from memory his older poem “The Gift Outright.” The complete episode can be heard at the United States Government library site.