JFK's Arizona retreat: How former president became a 'cowboy' while trying to restore his health
BENSON, ARIZONA: John F Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, had a unique connection to Arizona. He apparently had a touch of the state's cowboy spirit within him.
Arizona, with its long-standing reputation as a haven for those seeking health benefits, reportedly became a sanctuary for JFK when he fell gravely ill in 1935.
Recognizing the restorative potential of the state, his father, Joseph Kennedy, deemed it the ideal location for his son's recovery.
Consequently, in the spring of 1936, a 19-year-old JFK and his brother Joe Jr were sent to the J-6 ranch near Benson, owned by Jack Speiden, per 12 News.
JFK's Arizona connection
Jack Speiden, who was a stockbroker, found himself among the many who lost their fortunes in the 1929 stock market crash. However, upon a friend’s advice, he ventured into ranching in Arizona, where he found considerable success.
The Kennedy brothers weren’t the only notable guests at his J-6 ranch — statesman Barry Goldwater was also a frequent visitor.
John and Joe Jr arrived at the ranch with tasks such as fence riding, cattle wrangling, and constructing an adobe office on the property. This office was affectionately referred to as "the house that Jack built" by Speiden, in recognition of JFK's efforts.
"I thought that was really cute. We had Jack Speiden and Jack Kennedy," Arizona historian Jim Turner stated. "He was an actual cowboy. He did that kind of work."
According to historian Michael O'Brien, author of 'John F Kennedy: A Biography', this was the first job that either of the Kennedy brothers had ever undertaken.
Despite their modest salary of a dollar a day during their four-month stay, the brothers managed to find their fair share of mischief.
JFK's return to Arizona
After undergoing treatment for his back injury at the Chelsea Naval Hospital in Massachusetts from May to December 1944, Kennedy was discharged from active duty.
His recovery journey continued in January 1945, when he spent an additional three months at Castle Hot Springs in Arizona.
This resort, which also served as a temporary military hospital, reportedly provided the ideal environment for Kennedy to recuperate from his back injury.
What did JFK do in Arizona?
In one of JFK's letters, he reportedly mentions visiting a local establishment of ill repute, but Turner is skeptical about this.
What is more certain, and less controversial, is JFK’s regular attendance at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Benson during his ranch stay. On one occasion, he is said to have generously left $20 in the collection plate, an amount equivalent to approximately $443 today.
Turner humorously suggests, "I'm sure he got an allowance."
Following his injury during World War II service aboard PT-109, Kennedy chose to return to Castle Hot Springs in Arizona for his recovery. Today, the majority of the ranch has been transformed into a housing development, but the influence of Arizona on JFK remains evident.
Kennedy’s final visit to Arizona took place in 1961 when he attended a dinner at the Westward Ho in Phoenix, held in honor of Arizona Senator Carl Hayden. Tragically, just two years later, on November 22, 1963, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
In his leisure time, Kennedy likely engaged in conversations and spent quality time with the vibrant local cowboy, Pete Haverty. Haverty was a notable figure known for his captivating stories and his distinctive missing left leg, per Daily JFK.