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 17, 2010

Kennedy Rocking Chair Trivia

Kennedy Rocking Chair Trivia

Q: Who manufactured the original famous Kennedy Rocking Chair?                                                                                                                       
A: P & P Chair Company of Asheboro, NC                                                                                                        

Q: Who manufactures them now?                                                                                                                                                                             A:  Troutman Chair Company, they bought P & P in 2008 and now produce the chair.

Q: Who suggested the rocking chair to the future President?                                                                                                                     
A: Dr. Janet Travell of NYC

Q: How many of these rocking chairs did Kennedy own?                                                                                                                           
A: Over a dozen.

Q: Where did he place all those rockers?                                                                                                                                                         A: In the White House Oval Office, in his White House bedroom, Air Force 1, Camp David, his suite at the Carlisle Hotel, as well as the Kennedy estates in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts and Palm Beach, Florida.  Plus he bought dozens as gifts to heads of state and friends.

Q: When asked by a reporter if he was taking his rocker to the White House if you’re elected President, what was JFK’s reply?                               
A: Kennedy responded, "Whither I goest - it goes."

Q: What was the original name of the Kennedy Rocker?                                                                                                                            
A: The Carolina Rocker but once JFK became associated with it all that changed and Kennedy Rocker was coined.

Q: What did he originally pay for the rockers?                                                                                                                                                  
A:$30.00                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Q: What was the winning bid for the Kennedy Rocker for the Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis Estate auctioned by Southerby?            
A: $453,000 but you can purchase one from us for only $375.00 (watch the skit on the blog it’s pretty funny)

Q: So if I buy one of these today, is it the same as the one Kennedy owned?                                                                                        
A: Yes, built exactly as the original.
Posted by rocking chairs at 8:30 AM

2 comments:

  1. gretastipsJanuary 17, 2010 at 1:48 PM

    P&P Chair Company sold out in 2009 or so to a company in Iredell County, near Statesville. That particular firm has made rocking chairs for a long time, so when the Page family decided to sell, the new owner was a perfect match. I love my Kennedy rocker!

    ReplyDelete
  2. rocking chairsJanuary 26, 2010 at 5:57 AM

    Greta,
    Thanks for your comments...kennedyrockingchairs.com

    ReplyDelete

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