Back on the Course

THE PRESIDENCY

Ever since May 1961, when he aggravated his old back ailment while lifting a spadeful of soil at a tree-planting ceremony in Canada, John F. Kennedy has stayed off the golf course. So it came as a surprise when, early this month, newsmen spotted the President swinging vigorously away on the course at Hyannis Port.

The President's return to the game prompted a question at his press conference last week. "I wonder," asked a reporter, "if you could tell us how you feel and how you enjoyed returning to what has been reported one of your favorite sports?" The rambling and somewhat cryptic reply: "I like it. I was--didn't think I was going to play golf again until my trip--I don't want to get into a discussion of back difficulties--but my trip to Europe, I think, helped--getting out of that office did something. So I enjoy it."

To help his ailing back, Kennedy has for two years been doing special calisthenics under the guidance of Dr. Hans Kraus, a Vienna-trained New York physician who thinks that much back trouble is related to muscular weakness.* On his recent trip to Europe, Kennedy noted how greatly his back had improved in the course of those two years. He endured the jostling and the strenuous pace without noticing any pains, and upon his return he exultantly told friends that his back was no longer troubling him. With Dr. Kraus's O.K., he decided to take up golf again. Last week at Hyannis Port, he got out on the course again and swung away.

After the President returned to Washington, his back got a severe test right on the White House lawn. He made a little speech to 2,500 foreign high school students, in the U.S. under an exchange program, and then made the mistake of approaching the rope barriers that held back the kids. Suddenly the screeching mob surged past the ropes and swarmed upon him. Rescued by policemen and Secret Service agents after a riotous struggle, the President retreated to his office shorn of at least two possessions, a handkerchief and a tie clasp. But next day the two Indonesian students who had grabbed the souvenirs did their part for U.S.-Indonesian relations by returning their loot to the President.

* The President has been under the care of a new personal physician for more than a year. He is Rear Admiral George G. Burkley, 60, who took over the job from Dr. Janet G. Travell of rocking chair fame. First official notice of Burkley's new title as White House Physician came last week with the publication of the latest edition of the U.S. Government Organization Manual. Dr. Travell, whose name appeared in the manual last year, is not listed this time, but still remains on the White House payroll as consultant.

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