eBay Of Pigs

‘WHAT is the difference between President Kennedy’s boxer shorts and President Bush’s head? There’s a lot more going on in one than the other.

‘Whoops! I think I might have followed through there…’

But there is also an important similarity – both have a price on them.

But while evil folks plot to destroy George W Bush, any one of us could become the proud owner of JFK’s underwear, which goes under the hammer on Saturday.

Lot 173, for instance, is described as World War II Navy-issue white cotton boxer shorts with snap closures and drawstring waist and label ‘Jack Kennedy’ sewn in red.

And, according to the Times, Lot 175 is also a pair of JFK’s boxer shorts, these described as ‘soiled front and back’.

Soiled with what exactly we do not know, and nor do we know why.

Perhaps they were the pants that the President wore during the Cuban Missile Crisis or perhaps he was wearing them when Jackie came home unexpectedly early one evening.

Whatever, they are among a selection of intimate objects owned by the Kennedys and collected by Mary Gallagher, JFK’s personal assistant and Providencia Paredes, Mrs Kennedy’s private attendant until her death.

‘So many people were asking Providencia what the Kennedys were like as people,’ says auctioneer Paula Hantman.

‘This gives every American the chance to find out by owning something belonging to them.’

After all, nothing says more about a man than a skidmark or two…

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Posted: 15th, July 2003 | In: Broadsheets Comment | TrackBack | Permalink