The Presidency: Matter of Health

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Shortly after the Indians invaded Goa three months ago, Jacqueline Kennedy postponed a scheduled trip to India; the illness of Father-in-Law Joseph P. Kennedy was her ostensible reason. Last week, Jackie's sinuses were acting up. Her condition, reported Presidential Press Secretary Pierre Salinger, made it necessary to postpone her scheduled departure for India until this week—and to reduce her visit from 22 days to 14. There was no lack of speculation in Washington and New Delhi that Jackie's sinus condition was a sensitive diplomatic barometer, affected by John Kennedy's pique at an intransigent Nehru. The First Lady had ridden to hounds a fortnight ago at her Virginia estate, and last week went water-skiing off Palm Beach while her husband watched from the presidential yacht Honey Fitz. But the fact remained: Jackie had been examined by White House Physician Janet Travell and a specialist at Bethesda Naval Medical Center—and the trouble was sinus.

Disturbed by the delay and the shortened itinerary—whatever its cause—U.S. Ambassador to India John Galbraith checked with the White House last week to find out what was going on. "Can't you just tell them," shouted John Kennedy over a weak transoceanic telephone hook up, "that it's a matter of her health?" Not bothering to pause very long for an answer, Kennedy continued: "And if this keeps on much longer, it's going to be a matter of my health too." Galbraith, who issued the original invitation last November, had to change signals diplomatically all around India. The Maharajah of Mysore, for example, stopped the training of an elephant that was to put a garland of flowers around the First Lady's neck with its trunk. Back to their stalls went the maharajah's performing horses.

Still, much of the visit would be salvaged. The dancing camels of Lahore were primed to do their act. The bazaars of Benares were being swept clean for her visit. Barges that will carry Mrs. Kennedy and some of her party of 80—mostly newsmen and newshens —down the Ganges awaited sailing orders. And the Taj Mahal, which she will view both by daylight and moonlight—well, the Taj Mahal, postponement or no, always lives up to its advance billing. For her part, the First Lady was packing trunkloads of clothes by Cassini, Chez Ninon and Tassell. She had got shots for cholera, smallpox, yellow fever, typhus, typhoid and tetanus—without getting sick. She had conscientiously boned up on the customs of India and Pakistan. Only one question remained: Would her health be up to it?