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Just exactly how JFK and relatives felt about being the first "First Family" to be parodied before millions is not certain. Unlike today, elected leaders and entertainers maintained a healthy distance in the early 1960s.
But so popular was Vaughn Meader's impression of him, that the question of the family's feelings came up at one of President Kenendy's press conferences, resulting in a short and typically glib Kennedy answer.
"I've heard Mr. Meader's album. I thought he sounded more like Teddy," JFK said to laughter, perhaps revealing some uneasiness. In a more serious vein, about a year after tragedy ended Meader's act, the entertainer received a note from Bobby Kennedy thanking him for agreeing to end his JFK impression, Meader said. But evidence of greater discomfort surfaced in 1969. Reporters Vera Glaser and Malvina Stephenson reported for Knight Newspapers on a memo written by Jackie Kennedy in January 1963.
In it, the First Lady directed an aide to call Meader to say that, while Mrs. Kennedy did not mind the parodies of herself or her husband, she considered Meader "a rat" for parodying their children's voices. She believed Meader included the children only to boost sales. (Cartoon voice specialist Norma MacMillan did Caroline's voice and John Jr.'s baby talk). Mrs. Kennedy's memo said she found it "in appalling taste that he should make money out of a 5-year-old child."
Meader said recently he does not remember receiving any such call.
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