Charm bracelet from the 1960 campaign featuring a PT-109 boat

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Charm bracelet from the 1960 campaign featuring a PT-109 boat

A charm bracelet designed by Frank Allen for the 1960 presidential campaign. A gold-colored circular link bracelet features a single blue and gold charm with a gold model of a Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 on it. The charm has an inscription that reads "Kennedy 60". On the back of the charm, there is a small inscription at the top that reads "Jolle".PT-109 was the boat that Lieutenant Kennedy and his men were on when a Japanese destroyer fired upon them during World War II. Kennedy assisted members of his crew in the swim to safety after their boat was destroyed. The PT-109 boat became symbolic of Kennedy's war heroism and leadership. Both the story and the symbol of the boat were part of his political persona.There were a number of different PT-109 tie clips produced at different times throughout Kennedy's candidacy and presidency. If the clip slogan reads "Kennedy 60" it was used during the presidential campaign. If the slogan only includes Kennedy's name, it was used after the election, often as a token of the president's appreciation.

Object Details
Object title:

Charm bracelet from the 1960 campaign featuring a PT-109 boat

Date:

1960 - 1963

Medium:

Metal

Credit line:

R. Lee and Rose Huffman Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Object number:

2008.031.0001

Charm bracelet from the 1960 campaign featuring a PT-109 boat

A charm bracelet designed by Frank Allen for the 1960 presidential campaign. A gold-colored circular link bracelet features a single blue and gold charm with a gold model of a Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 on it. The charm has an inscription that reads "Kennedy 60". On the back of the charm, there is a small inscription at the top that reads "Jolle".PT-109 was the boat that Lieutenant Kennedy and his men were on when a Japanese destroyer fired upon them during World War II. Kennedy assisted members of his crew in the swim to safety after their boat was destroyed. The PT-109 boat became symbolic of Kennedy's war heroism and leadership. Both the story and the symbol of the boat were part of his political persona.There were a number of different PT-109 tie clips produced at different times throughout Kennedy's candidacy and presidency. If the clip slogan reads "Kennedy 60" it was used during the presidential campaign. If the slogan only includes Kennedy's name, it was used after the election, often as a token of the president's appreciation.

Object Details
Object title:

Charm bracelet from the 1960 campaign featuring a PT-109 boat

Date:

1960 - 1963

Terms:

1960 presidential election

Presidential campaign

PT-109

Jewelry

Kennedy, John F.

Medium:

Metal

Credit line:

R. Lee and Rose Huffman Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Object number:

2008.031.0001