JFK Visit to Miami in November of 1963
The story of President John F. Kennedy's last visit to Florida in November 1963.
On the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, many people pause to recall exactly where they were when they first heard the news. From that moment on, Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, became permanently tied to the events of Friday, November 22, 1963. Just days before traveling to Texas, Kennedy had been in Florida, visiting the family compound in Palm Beach and making scheduled stops in Tampa and Miami before returning to Washington, D.C.
The week of November 18 began with a packed itinerary as the president embarked on a tour of key southern states in preparation for his 1964 reelection campaign. In addition to campaign appearances, he delivered a significant policy address in Bal Harbour, Florida, at the Inter American Press Association dinner on Monday evening. It would be his final trip to Florida and by the end of the week, the nation would be grappling with an unimaginable tragedy.
Stay in Palm Beach
On Friday, November 15, President John F. Kennedy departed Washington, D.C., for a weekend retreat at La Querida, the family compound located at 1095 North Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach, Florida. Designed in 1923 by architect Addison Mizner for Rodman Wanamaker of the Wanamaker’s Department Store family, the estate was later purchased by Joseph P. Kennedy in June 1933 for $120,000, following its restoration after severe damage from the 1928 hurricane.
After Joseph Kennedy acquired the property, it became a favored family retreat and remained in their possession until its sale in 1995. During John F. Kennedy’s presidency, the Palm Beach estate served as his “Winter White House,” a place he visited frequently throughout his time in office.
During his mid-November 1963 visit, President Kennedy met with several of his top aides to strategize for his 1964 reelection campaign. He was also preparing remarks for an appearance at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa and a scheduled speech in the Greater Miami area the following week. The weekend in Palm Beach offered him time to gather his thoughts and finalize both addresses.
On Sunday morning, November 17, Kennedy attended Mass at St. Ann Catholic Church at 310 Olive Avenue in West Palm Beach. Security was tight throughout his visit as Secret Service agents closely monitored the church and its surroundings in response to threats received prior to the president’s trip to Florida.
MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa
President John F. Kennedy’s first trip of the week was to MacDill Air Force Base on November 18, 1963, and was part of a larger visit that included a motorcade through Tampa and several speeches. He arrived at MacDill, toured the base, had lunch at the Officer’s Club, and met with military leaders before departing for events in the city. The visit was marked by large, enthusiastic crowds and significant security measures given the threats that the Secret Service was monitoring prior to his visit to Florida.
From the base, he took a motorcade in an open-top convertible through downtown Tampa, where thousands of people lined the streets to see him. The tour included a visit to the International Inn and speeches at Al Lopez Field and the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, where he addressed various groups including the Florida Chamber of Commerce. After the events in Tampa, he returned to MacDill before flying to Miami to complete his Florida visit.
The visit was notable for its security preparations, which included an advance team from the Secret Service and a large deployment of local and base law enforcement. The trip also produced iconic photographs of the president interacting with the public, which were scrutinized later given his death in Dallas just four days later.
Speech at the Americana Hotel in Bal Harbour
Kennedy’s trip to Miami was also marked by heightened security measures. In the days leading up to his arrival, the Secret Service conducted an extensive sweep of Miami International Airport, the planned motorcade route to Bal Harbour, and the Americana Hotel, where the president was scheduled to address the Inter American Press Association on the evening of Monday, November 18.
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