海角大神

笔谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟听Barack Obama聽joined with Bill and聽Hillary Clinton聽on Wednesday to recognize the legacy of聽John F. Kennedy, the president who inspired a generation until he was felled by an assassin's bullets 50 years ago this week.

Obama, former President Clinton and former Secretary of State聽Hillary Clinton聽laid a wreath and bowed their heads before Kennedy's grave at聽Arlington National Cemetery. As a bugler played "Taps," an eternal flame at the gravesite fluttered in a chilly autumn breeze and Kennedy family members stood nearby.

It was a remarkable meeting of Democratic heavyweights to mark the anniversary of Kennedy's death on November 22, 1963, an event that has spawned countless books and conspiracy theories on whether assassin聽Lee Harvey Oswald聽acted alone.

The day was steeped in powerful political imagery as Obama聽awarded the highest U.S. civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to聽Bill Clinton聽and 15 other Americans who have made significant contributions to U.S. culture, politics, sports and science.

罢丑别听White House聽event was intended as a testament to the memory of Kennedy, who signed an executive order shortly before his death creating the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Kennedy also established the聽Peace Corps聽and set the country on a path to landing humans on the moon.

Kennedy was shot to death as he and his wife,聽Jacqueline, rode in a motorcade in聽Dallas.聽America聽has been awash in televised remembrances of the death of the handsome, vigorous 46-year-old president and subsequent killing of Oswald by nightclub owner聽Jack Ruby.

White House聽officials decided to mark the occasion with the Medal of Freedom ceremony to remember Kennedy's life rather than the macabre circumstances of his death.

At a black-tie dinner for the award recipients at the聽Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Obama聽was introduced by Kennedy's grandson,聽Jack Schlossberg, the 20-year-old son of聽Caroline Kennedy.

Obama said that in Kennedy's "sober, square-jawed idealism we are reminded that the power to change this country is ours."

Those who had the Medal of Freedom medal draped around their necks by Obama聽included a wide range of American success stories, from TV talk show host聽Oprah Winfrey聽to former聽Chicago Cubs聽baseball star Ernie Banks, country singer聽Loretta Lynn聽and former聽Washington Post聽editor聽Ben Bradlee.

The event allowed Obama聽and Clinton to warm a relationship that has seen its share of strains and came as speculation mounts that聽Hillary Clinton聽might seek to succeed Obama聽as president in 2016.

Just last week聽Bill Clinton聽jumped into the political fight over Obama's healthcare law by telling a TV interviewer that Obama聽should "honor the commitment" he made that if people like their insurance plan, they can keep it.

Millions are seeing their insurance plans canceled despite Obama's pledge, and the resulting loss of trust in his leadership has contributed to a downward spiral in his job approval ratings, which have fallen to 37 percent in a new CBS News poll.

A new book, "Double Down," by journalists聽Mark Halperin聽and聽John Heilemann, said Obama聽in the past has found Clinton to be exhausting and that they were unable to complete 18 holes of golf. Obama聽was quoted as telling an aide, "I like him ... in doses."

Praise for Clinton聽

Perhaps mindful of that anecdote, Obama聽went out of his way to honor Clinton, who was president from 1993-2001 and heads the Clinton Global Initiative, a global charity organization.

Clinton's lifelong interest in public service dates back in part to a 1963 visit to the聽White House聽where he shook Kennedy's hand four months before the assassination.

Obama said he was grateful for the patience Clinton had shown during the travels of聽Hillary Clinton聽as the top U.S. diplomat.

"I'm grateful, Bill, as well for the advice and counsel you have offered me on and off the golf course, and most importantly for your life-saving work around the world, which represents what's very best in聽America," Obama聽said.

(Editing by Vicki Allen, Cynthia Osterman and Eric Walsh)