kennedy rocking chairs: 50th Anniversary

Kennedy Rocking Chairs

The history of the Kennedy Rocker goes back to 1953. In that year, Dr. Janet Travell purchased what she called her “Carolina Rocker” for her office. A patient of Dr. Travell's was a young senator from Massachusetts, suffering from chronic back pain. She prescribed the use of a rocking chair to alleviate his pain. The rocking motion would help relieve pain in his lower back by stretching and contracting those muscles. This young senator went on to become our 34th president. The rest, they say, is history. During his presidency, President Kennedy had been photographed several times in the Oval Office discussing world affairs while sitting in a rocker that is the model for this one.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

50th Anniversary

The year 2010 will be the 50th anniversary of JFK winning the White House and bringing the then obscure Carolina Rocker into national attention. Anything having to do with the popular new president elect was going to have a national following. When asked by a reporter if he was taking his rocker to the White House if you’re elected President, JFK replied, "Whither I goest - it goes."