We had so much Christmas news this year that it was necessary to set aside two editions to accommodate it. As a result, we accidently left two Ellsworth Elementary School classes out of the Dec. 19 edition. However, you’ll find them on this week’s pages, just in time for the holiday.

LMD

All my friends know that two of my favorite things are history and politics. I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to enjoy both several weeks ago.

The Ellis County Democrats recreated the dinner that was served 60 years ago when John Kennedy visited Hays on a campaign that would eventually take him in the White House. The menu was the same as six decades ago, right down to the green Jello. The slice of apple pie even had a small donkey cutout made of American cheese on top.

But here was the interesting thing for Garnell Hanson and I, who attended the event from Ellsworth, along with Fort Hays State University student Anna Hand.

The evening’s speaker, Thomas Oliphant, co-author of “The Road to Camelot: Inside JFK’s Five-Year Campaign,” talked about the 1960 nomination. As part of his presentation Oliphant mentioned the refusal of Ellsworth attorney Paul Aylward, a convention delegate from Kansas, to support the young senator.

Oliphant said he didn’t know the reason and someone speculated it was because Kennedy was Catholic, a major issue at the time.

However, Ron Svaty, who is in Ellsworth because of Aylward’s invitation to join his law firm, said the real reason for Aylward’s reluctance was his support of the American Legion. Stuart Symington, a Missouri senator who served as the first secretary of the U.S. Air Force, had the endorsement of the Kansas Legion and Aylward had no desire to ignore the organization’s wishes. The Ellsworth Legion chapter carries the late attorney’s name.

LMD