Christmas Morning 1964

White House

Because it was Christmas Eve, Jack wanted to sleep in beside Jackie. When they woke up on Christmas morning, Caroline and John burst into their room and jumped on them. "Mommy! Daddy!" they squeaked as they wriggled around. Jack woke up followed by Jackie as they hugged their children tightly. 

They made their way through to the Yellow Oval room where they tore open the gifts and sat and played. Jackie took pictures with her camera and she also used the family's movie camera to film a bit of video. 

Jack's bedroom

Jack was fixing his tie before there was a pounding on his door. "Come in?" Jack called. Pierre burst through the door. "Merry Christmas Mr President. I know this is unexpected but the Press want a message from the First Family" Pierre said. Jack was confused. "About what? There's no crisis. There is nothing important to give a message OR a statement about" Jack replied fixing his cufflinks.

"Well obviously they want a message about Christmas!" Pierre stated the obvious. "Well give me a minute, I'll be down at the Oval". Pierre understood and he left. Jack sat down to write this speech. Jackie walked in.

"What you doing bunny?" Jackie bent over and looked at the empty sheet of paper. "Well the nation wants a Christmas message from the First family and I have to write something down. I can't give a speech and look at nothing" Jack was stressed when it came to writing speeches. "Can I help?" Jackie asked. Jack nodded. 

"Kids!" Jackie quickly dashed out the room. The kids came in and Jack hugged them. "What are you doing here?" Jack asked with a grin. "Helping you with your speech" Caroline grinned. Jack couldn't be happier. He lifted his kids up on his lap and Jackie took the pen. They penned a speech from the First Family. 

John-John wanted them to put it that he was awesome but they explained it had to be sort of formal as it would be going on television. "Yeah but then the whole country will know that I am awesome" John-John joked.  "The whole country knows your awesome already" Jack messed his son's hair. John-John laughed.

They finished the speech before Jack headed down to the Oval. 

Oval Office

Pierre read over Jack's speech and he loved it. "I love it!" Pierre jumped around like a child. "I love how it's personal and how it's been written by the First family" Pierre handed the copy back to Jack. "The nation will love it!". 

While the TV camera was being assembled in front of the Resoulute desk, Jack slipped into the Cabinet Room to phone Jackie upstairs. 

Cabinet Room

Phone call between Jack and Jackie:

Jack - "Hey Jackie" 

Jackie - "Hey bunny. How's it going?"

Jack - "Well the TV camera is being assembled and I'm in the Cabinet Room as it's too noisy next door"

Jackie - "Oh ok then" 

Jack - "So what are you and the kids doing?"

Jackie - "Well we've got the TV on the channel that is scheduled to do your speech. And I'm also reading while I'm waiting" 

Jack - "What are you reading?"

Jackie - "Just one of my old books on de Gaulle. In case we have to go back to Paris next year as you got re-elected" 

Jack - "Let's hope so" (laughs)

Jackie - (laughs) "Yes. Well I won't miss it for the world. Caroline says she'll scream at the top of her voice and get me through there" 

Jack - (laughs) "Tell her that daddy says scream afterwards 'I love you daddy!' and I'll be happy" 

Jackie - (laughs) "I will"

Jack - "Well I think I have to go" 

Jackie - "Ok then. Love you" 

Jack - "Love you too"

Call ended

Pierre was ready for Jack. He made his way through to the Oval and looked over his speech. Pierre had quickly typed it out neatly for him to read. 

He waited for the red light on the camera to turn read. It blinked three times before staying red. It was recording. 

Yellow Oval Room

When the National Anthem started playing, Caroline called for Jackie. Jackie came through and sat on the floor with her children. Eventually Jack came on TV. He started speaking. 

Jack's speech:

Good morning my fellow American citizens. I am here to wish and say thank you to all of you Americans for several things. First of all, I wish to say thank you for voting me in a second term as President of our historic country of the United States of America. Second of all, I want to wish all of you in your homes and to our troops in Vietnam, a merry Christmas. 

On behalf of the First Family, we have sent our troops induvidual gifts and we as well as the Vietnamese, have called off fighting for this one day. It will be the same on New Year's Eve and Day. I am also speaking to you to wish you a merry Christmas from each member of the First Family. 

My wife Jacqueline wishes the Americans who may not have a loved one with them to celebrate the holidays with, a merry Christmas. Even though their loved ones may be in Vietnam or in another part of the country or the world, they can still have a cheerful Christmas. My wife also sends her greatest sympathy to the people who may be suffering in poverty or may not have money. 

My children Caroline and John are also wanting to wish their family in Massachusetts and their friends a merry Christmas. I wish you well over this special time of year. Thank you. Goodbye.

Oval Office

The camera stopped filming and everyone clapped. Jack smiled and shook hands with the team before gathering his papers and deciding to go back upstairs. He decided to go via the underpass. 

He saw Mr Hill outside the Oval Office. "Clint?" Jack asked. Clint Hill turned around. "Mr President" he bowed. "What are you doing here on Christmas day?" Jack asked. He knew Clint had a wife and kids, why wasn't he at home. "I was stationed to be out here in case anything happened outside the Oval" Clint explained. 

Jack shook his head. "It's Christmas. Go home" Jack smiled. "Mr President are you sure?" Clint couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Go home. See your wife and children. You deserve to be with them rather than be at work" Jack smiled. Clint nodded. "Very well then sir" Clint nodded before heading inside to get out his uniform. 

The Yellow Oval Room

When Jack got into Central Hall he wiped the snow off his shoes before going into the Yellow Oval Room. As soon as he opened the door, Jackie and the children ran towards him. Jackie was thrown into a tight hug by Jack. "Oh you were wonderful bunny" Jackie smiled. Jack kissed her neck. "Thanks kid" Jack smiled. 

He then bent down and hugged his kids. "Thanks for mentioning us daddy!" John-John grinned. Jack laughed. "It wasn't a problem" Jack hugged them again. 

Jack went to his bedroom to get changed into something comfier. He got into a T-shirt with some loose trousers. He joined Jackie and the children in the Yellow Oval Room to watch It's a Wonderful Life. 

This really was the best Christmas the Kennedys had seen these many years.