Description:

John F. Kennedy Signed Appointment, "Special Consultant'on Physical Fitness"

A 1p printed document signed by 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) as "John F. Kennedy" at lower right, and countersigned by U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk (1909-1994) as "Dean Rusk" at lower center. January 8, 1963. Washington, D.C. An embossed presidential seal is affixed at lower left. Laid down on cardboard. Scattered paper wrinkling and dimpling. Isolated edge darkening and a few closed tears at the edges. Else very good to near fine. The actual size of the document is 22.875" x 19" x .25." Ex-Estate of Bud Wilkinson and his second wife, Donna.

The document appointed Charles B. "Bud" Wilkinson (1916-1994) of Oklahoma as a "Special Consultant to the President of the United States of America on Physical Fitness." Bud Wilkinson would serve as director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness from 1961-1964, the majority of his tenure under Kennedy.

Bud Wilkinson had considerable experience as an all-around athlete and sports professional. Wilkinson played baseball, basketball, football, and ice hockey as an undergraduate. He served as the assistant football coach at his alma mater Syracuse University (1937-1940), as well as at the University of Oklahoma (1945-1947). He served as head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1947-1964, the last few years while also directing the President's Council on Physical Fitness. From 1965-1977, Wilkinson used his in-depth knowledge of football as a television sports analyst.

Dwight D. Eisenhower established the President's Council on Youth Fitness in July 1956 after testing revealed that American children were less physically fit than their international counterparts (tests included running, jumping, throwing, sit-ups, and pull-ups.) The program did not gain real traction however, until the Kennedy administration, when Kennedy, an avid athlete himself, personally advanced its initiatives. Kennedy frequently incorporated both juvenile health and the President's Council on Youth Fitness into his talking points. In late 1962, Kennedy presented the 50-Mile Hike Challenge to the American people: a goal of walking 50 miles within a 20-hour period. Kennedy's physical fitness campaign was marketed everywhere: television, radio, print journalism, display, even children's cartoons and popular music.

The idea of active and physically fit young Americans was more than just a national health concern: it had international political consequences. Cold War-era politicians worried that Americans were becoming soft and lazy, both physically and mentally. Kennedy argued that physical fitness directly translated into a country's sense of "vigor and vitality" in his widely read article "The Soft American," published in "Sports Illustrated Magazine" in late December 1960.

Kennedy's successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, introduced the Presidential Physical Fitness Award in 1966 to further incentivize physical training. The award recognized students who scored above the 85th percentile in multiple testing areas. The award was discontinued in the 2010s.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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October 18, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
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