50th Anniversary on May 29 - JFK'S Spencer Carbine in the Oval Office

[Perseo]

Spencer Folks:

I want to present information to the Society about a very historically significant Spencer.  I don't see any previous posts on this here.

On May 29, 1963 (50 years ago this Wednesday), President John F. Kennedy celebrated his birthday.  For the occassion, the U.S. Army presented him with a Model 1860 Spencer Carbine.  JFK had it mounted and displayed in the Oval Office.

Somewhere on the Internet I saw a picture of the 1963 Oval Office, with folks speculating what the rifle was that was in the background.  Like others, I thought that it looked like a Spencer carbine.  Someone then confirmed with the Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum that indeed it was a Spencer.

I followed up with the Library, which provided me with photographs of the May 29, 2963 presentation, attached (these are nice versions of photos that others had obtained).

I sought some additional information from the Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, and received this email reply:

"Our Museum folks had to do a little digging, but here is the information that they brought back to me:

"Here is the inscription of the plaque that came with the rifle:

'Spencer Carbine - Civil War
To President John F. Kennedy on his birthday, 29 May 1963'

'During the Civil War President Lincoln personally approved the adoption of this repeating carbine, the first of its kind, for issue to units of the United States Army, it is presented to John F. Kennedy by the United States Army in recognition of his continuing interest in the American Soldier.
      Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of the Army
      General Earle G. Wheeler, Chief of Staff '

The serial number is 44066.
The rifle is now stored here at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum."

I have not been able to find the presentation letter, if there was one, although presumably the situation was as you suggest.

Sincerely,

Stephen Plotkin
Reference Archivist
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library"


It is well known that JFK was a firearms enthusiast. 

Two Flints was kind enough to check the serial number (44066) for me.  He advised:

"Did a check for you ASSUMING that the Spencer is original and not a Burnside.  Serial # 44066 may have  been issued to a member of Company G, 3rd Iowa Volunteer Cavalry.  No issue date is given for that particular unit.  But, if you do a Google search for the 3rd Iowa, you may find a reference to Spencers."

I would hazard to guess that this carbine is one of the top 20 most historically significant Spencers, and is unusual in that it became historically significant due to events in the 20th Century.

Perseo

[Two Flints]

Perseo,

Outstanding thread, thanks for posting the information and photos.

Just great

Two Flints

[Eggman]

COOL!!!!

[G.W. Strong]

This is excellent! thanks for sharing this bit of history.