An American Pageant of the Arts (1962)

An historic release from the Kennedy Center's archives -- Presidents John F. Kennedy and Dwight D. Eisenhower are special guests at "An American Pageant of the Arts" -- a fundraising event for the National Cultural Center, on November 29, 1962.

The main stage was at the D.C. National Guard Armory, where five thousand attendees paid $100 a plate to attend the black tie event. Other performances were beamed in from Chicago, Illinois, and President Eisenhower attended from Augusta, Georgia.

Leonard Bernstein hosted the evening, expounding on the significance and importance of the arts, while introducing some of the nation's top performers across music, dance and theater.

The lineup included actor/comedian Danny Kaye, singer Marian Anderson, poet Robert Frost, dancer Maria Tallchief, pianists Andre Previn and Van Cliburn, seven-year-old cellist Yo-Yo Ma and sister Yeou-Cheng Ma on piano, actor Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain, comedian Bob Newhart, singer Harry Belafonte, actors Frederic March, Florence Eldridge, Bradford Dillman, Colleen Dewhurst, and Jason Robards Jr. under the direction of Jose Quintero, soprano Dorothy Kiersten and tenor Richard Tucker, the United States Navy Band, the National Symphony Orchestra, and more.

The purpose of the event was to raise funds for the National Cultural Center, begun under Eisenhower's administration and encouraged under Kennedy's. First Ladies Jacqueline Kennedy and Mamie Eisenhower were particularly involved as Honorary Chairs of the institution.

Two months after President Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, Congress passed and President Johnson signed into law legislation renaming the National Cultural Center (designed by Edward Durell Stone) as a "living memorial" to John F. Kennedy.

Watch Specific Performances

JFK's Iconic Speech on Arts and Politics (1962) | The Kennedy Center
- Discussion/Spoken Word
Jackie Kennedy's speech at "An American Pageant of the Arts"
Leonard Bernstein introduces 7-year-old Yo-Yo Ma at the American Pageant for the Arts
Andre Previn Performs "America" from West Side Story
Bob Newhart’s “Tobacco” Sketch

Comedic legend Bob Newhart performs for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Dwight D. Eisenhower during “An American Pageant of the Arts,” on November 29, 1962.
Watch Now
Danny Kaye hilariously conducts the National Symphony Orchestra
Harry Belafonte performs “Try to Remember” and “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”
- Folk
Ballerina Maria Tallchief performs for President John F. Kennedy
Marian Anderson performs "Didn't It Rain" and "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands"
Robert Frost Recites 4 of His Poems
Van Cliburn performs Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-Sharp Minor
Danny Kaye's "I Was Born to Be a Dancer" Sketch
President Eisenhower Shares His Vision for a National Cultural Center
Watch the Full Broadcast

è��AV

An American Pageant of the Arts

Share This Video

Watch Specific Performances

JFK's Iconic Speech on Arts and Politics (1962) | The Kennedy Center

Jackie Kennedy's speech at "An American Pageant of the Arts"

Leonard Bernstein introduces 7-year-old Yo-Yo Ma at the American Pageant for the Arts

Andre Previn Performs "America" from West Side Story

Bob Newhart’s “Tobacco” Sketch

Danny Kaye hilariously conducts the National Symphony Orchestra

Harry Belafonte performs “Try to Remember” and “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”

Ballerina Maria Tallchief performs for President John F. Kennedy

Marian Anderson performs "Didn't It Rain" and "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands"

Robert Frost Recites 4 of His Poems

Van Cliburn performs Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-Sharp Minor

Danny Kaye's "I Was Born to Be a Dancer" Sketch

President Eisenhower Shares His Vision for a National Cultural Center

Honoring President John F. Kennedy’s Birthday

Including Archival JFK Speeches, Tribute Performances, and more.

Share This Video

Carousel Controls