{"id":41133,"date":"2025-01-22T11:08:36","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T11:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/american-history\/presidential-visits-to-johnson-county\/"},"modified":"2025-01-22T11:08:36","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T11:08:36","slug":"presidential-visits-to-johnson-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133","title":{"rendered":"Presidential Visits to Johnson County"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Kansas City, Missouri has hosted numerous presidential visits. Ulysses S. Grant visited in 1880, as did Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, Calvin Coolidge in 1926, Herbert Hoover in 1932, Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953, John F. Kennedy in 1960, Gerald Ford in 1976, Jimmy Carter in 1979, George W. Bush in 2007, Barack Obama in 2014, and Donald Trump in 2018. Although a resident of Independence, Harry S. Truman worked, dined, campaigned, and took piano lessons in Kansas City. But have any presidents ever visited Johnson County, Kansas?<\/p>\n<p>With the 2024 presidential election just around the corner, your friends at the Johnson County Museum dove into the archives to see if any presidents had visited Johnson County. As it turns out, several presidents have visited, and each for very unique reasons. Read on to learn more! <\/p>\n<p><strong>Grant Opened Merriam Park<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The first was former president Ulysses S. Grant (in office 1869 \u2013 1877), who visited in July 1880. What drew Former President Grant to Johnson County? The opening Merriam Park, a Victorian pleasure park (amusement park) located in Merriam, Kansas. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5302\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/2024\/10\/08\/presidential-visits-to-johnson-county\/2-pres-grant-loc\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2-pres.-grant-loc.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"516,640\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"2 Pres. Grant, LoC\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Chromolithograph of former president Ulysses S. Grant, dated 1879, one year before visiting Merriam, Kansas to officially open Merriam Park. Courtesy Library of Congress.&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Chromolithograph of former president Ulysses S. Grant, dated 1879, one year before visiting Merriam, Kansas to officially open Merriam Park. Courtesy Library of Congress.&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2-pres.-grant-loc.jpg?w=390\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2-pres.-grant-loc.jpg?w=390\" width=\"516\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2-pres.-grant-loc.jpg\" alt=\"Faintly colored, hand-tinted photograph of middle-aged man with a beard and 19th century bow tie. Bust portrait.\" class=\"wp-image-5302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2-pres.-grant-loc.jpg 516w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2-pres.-grant-loc.jpg?w=77&amp;h=96 77w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/2-pres.-grant-loc.jpg?w=390&amp;h=484 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 516px) 100vw, 516px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Chromolithograph of former president Ulysses S. Grant, dated 1879, one year before visiting Merriam, Kansas to officially open Merriam Park. Courtesy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loc.gov\/item\/2018697319\/\">Library of Congress<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Merriam Park was planned and operated by the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad. The opening ceremony was a don\u2019t-miss event. Although Grant was a distinguished guest, the press reported that the former president and retired Union general received a cold welcome from \u201cuncourteous Missourians\u201d who made a scene during the event. <\/p>\n<p>Neither jeers nor a torrential thunderstorm could dampen what was advertised as the \u201cgrandest picnic gathering Kansas has ever seen.\u201d Crowds in the thousands flocked to Merriam Park\u2019s opening day. Once he completed his duties, Grant continued on a busy trip around the region, stopping in Kansas City, Missouri and Leavenworth, Kansas, before going on by train to the New Mexico Territory to inspect mines. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5303\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/2024\/10\/08\/presidential-visits-to-johnson-county\/1-roosevelt-loc\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1-roosevelt-loc.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"640,592\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"1 Roosevelt LoC\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Although there are no images of President Roosevelt\u2019s \u201cwhistle-stop\u201d speech in Olathe, the scene would have looked much like this speech from Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1936. In Olathe, Roosevelt spoke from the back of the train at the intersection of Santa Fe Street and Kansas Avenue. Courtesy Library of Congress. &lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Although there are no images of President Roosevelt\u2019s \u201cwhistle-stop\u201d speech in Olathe, the scene would have looked much like this speech from Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1936. In Olathe, Roosevelt spoke from the back of the train at the intersection of Santa Fe Street and Kansas Avenue. Courtesy Library of Congress. &lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1-roosevelt-loc.jpg?w=390\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1-roosevelt-loc.jpg?w=390\" width=\"640\" height=\"592\" src=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1-roosevelt-loc.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white photo taken from the ground of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his son standing on the back of a train with 1930s microphones before them. The angle is upward and slightly dramatic. A police officer and a serious looking man in a hat stand between the photographer and the train.\" class=\"wp-image-5303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1-roosevelt-loc.jpg 640w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1-roosevelt-loc.jpg?w=104&amp;h=96 104w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1-roosevelt-loc.jpg?w=390&amp;h=361 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Although there are no images of President Roosevelt\u2019s \u201cwhistle-stop\u201d speech in Olathe, the scene would have looked much like this speech from Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1936. In Olathe, Roosevelt spoke from the back of the train at the intersection of Santa Fe Street and Kansas Avenue. Courtesy<a href=\"https:\/\/www.loc.gov\/resource\/fsa.8b28235\/\"> Library of Congress<\/a>. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>FDR\u2019s Olathe Whistle-Stop Speech<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On October 13, 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (in office 1933 \u2013 1945) became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Johnson County. Returning from a campaign tour in Colorado ahead of the November 1936 presidential election, Roosevelt\u2019s train made a stop in Olathe. The stop was arranged by former Kansas Governor and Olathe resident, George H. Hodges.<\/p>\n<p>When news of the president\u2019s visit was announced the night before his arrival, schools and stores closed. Newspapers reported thousands of people waited for the president to arrive at the station. Roosevelt delivered an extemporaneous speech from the back of the train before traveling back to Washington, D.C. No known photos of the Olathe stop exist but an interpretive sign marks the location today. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5306\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/2024\/10\/08\/presidential-visits-to-johnson-county\/3-1-barkley-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.1-barkley-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1266,826\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"3.1 Barkley 1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.1-barkley-1.jpg?w=390\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.1-barkley-1.jpg?w=390\" width=\"390\" height=\"254\" src=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.1-barkley-1.jpg?w=390\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.1-barkley-1.jpg?w=390 390w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.1-barkley-1.jpg?w=780 780w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.1-barkley-1.jpg?w=128 128w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.1-barkley-1.jpg?w=768 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 390px) 100vw, 390px\"\/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5308\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/2024\/10\/08\/presidential-visits-to-johnson-county\/3-2-barkley-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.2-barkley-2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"760,1083\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"3.2 Barkley 2\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;John Barkley and his wife, Marguerite Mullen Barkley, of Mission, Kansas, were invited to the inauguration festivities for President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington, D.C., in 1957. Barkley had served in World War I and was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions. Johnson County Museum, John Barkley Collection.&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;John Barkley and his wife, Marguerite Mullen Barkley, of Mission, Kansas, were invited to the inauguration festivities for President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington, D.C., in 1957. Barkley had served in World War I and was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions. Johnson County Museum, John Barkley Collection.&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.2-barkley-2.jpg?w=390\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.2-barkley-2.jpg?w=390\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"760\" height=\"1083\" src=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.2-barkley-2.jpg\" alt=\"Official-looking cursive printed invitation letter from &quot;The Inaugural Committee&quot; and an admission card for &quot;Mr. and Mrs. John L. Barkley&quot;. A gold seal of the capitol building in D.C. is on both documents.\" class=\"wp-image-5308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.2-barkley-2.jpg 760w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.2-barkley-2.jpg?w=67&amp;h=96 67w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/3.2-barkley-2.jpg?w=390&amp;h=556 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>John Barkley and his wife, Marguerite Mullen Barkley, of Mission, Kansas, were invited to the inauguration festivities for President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Washington, D.C., in 1957. Barkley had served in World War I and was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions. Johnson County Museum, John Barkley Collection.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Eisenhower\u2019s Unintended Visit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In January 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower\u2019s (in office 1953-1961) personal plane, the <em>Columbine III<\/em>, made an unplanned landing at the Olathe Naval Air Station (ONAS). Eisenhower was en route to the downtown Kansas City airport following the death of his brother, Arthur, when the pilots decided to land at the naval station due to dangerously heavy fog. The visit was documented in the president\u2019s appointment book, and the Museum\u2019s collection includes a photograph of the <em>Columbine III<\/em> and pilot on the tarmac at ONAS. Given the private nature of Eisenhower\u2019s visit to the area, it is not believed that he gave any public addresses while in Johnson County. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5309\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/2024\/10\/08\/presidential-visits-to-johnson-county\/4-jcm-1991037011\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/4-jcm-1991037011.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1485,1209\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"4 JCM 1991037011\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;President Eisenhower\u2019s personal plane, the Columbine III, on the tarmac at the Olathe Naval Air Station, near Olathe. It was the only Lockheed VC-121E aircraft ever built. Johnson County Museum. &lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;President Eisenhower\u2019s personal plane, the Columbine III, on the tarmac at the Olathe Naval Air Station, near Olathe. It was the only Lockheed VC-121E aircraft ever built. Johnson County Museum. &lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/4-jcm-1991037011.jpg?w=390\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/4-jcm-1991037011.jpg?w=390\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1485\" height=\"1209\" src=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/4-jcm-1991037011.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white photograph showing the nose of an airplane with its forward landing gear on the ground. A pilot in uniform and hat walks on the far side of the landing gear. The plane has a painted &quot;Columbine III&quot; and flower stem near the nose.\" class=\"wp-image-5309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/4-jcm-1991037011.jpg 1485w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/4-jcm-1991037011.jpg?w=118&amp;h=96 118w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/4-jcm-1991037011.jpg?w=390&amp;h=318 390w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/4-jcm-1991037011.jpg?w=768&amp;h=625 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1485px) 100vw, 1485px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>President Eisenhower\u2019s personal plane, the Columbine III, on the tarmac at the Olathe Naval Air Station, near Olathe. It was the only Lockheed VC-121E aircraft ever built. <a href=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.org\/digital\/collection\/jcm\/id\/2998\/rec\/1\">Johnson County Museum<\/a>.<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Campaign Stop for Presidential Hopeful, JFK<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On the night of Saturday, October 22, 1960, just one day after his final televised presidential debate with Vice President Richard Nixon, Senator John F. Kennedy (later in office 1961-1963) visited Prairie Village. Like Roosevelt\u2019s visit 24 years earlier, Kennedy\u2019s visit was political. He arrived in Prairie Village after a long day of plane hopping from St. Louis and Joplin, Missouri, to Wichita, Kansas, before setting down on the tarmac in Kansas City, Missouri. His motorcade buzzed as many as ten thousand people waiting to see him at Truman Corners Shopping Center in Grandview, MO, where he paused for a speech, before moving on to Prairie Village.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5312\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/2024\/10\/08\/presidential-visits-to-johnson-county\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"4032,3024\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"5 SM East JFK photo\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;1960 presidential candidate and U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy after his speech at Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village. Kennedy spoke in the school\u2019s cafeteria due to homecoming activities in the auditorium. Courtesy Shawnee Mission East High School.&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;1960 presidential candidate and U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy after his speech at Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village. Kennedy spoke in the school\u2019s cafeteria due to homecoming activities in the auditorium. Courtesy Shawnee Mission East High School.&lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg?w=390\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg?w=390\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4032\" height=\"3024\" src=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg\" alt=\"Sepia colored photo of Kennedy shaking hands with well-wishers in a doorway. Several folks are clapping and one is taking a photograph.\" class=\"wp-image-5312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg 4032w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg?w=128&amp;h=96 128w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg?w=390&amp;h=293 390w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg?w=768&amp;h=576 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>1960 presidential candidate and U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy after his speech at Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village. Kennedy spoke in the school\u2019s cafeteria due to homecoming activities in the auditorium. Courtesy Shawnee Mission East High School.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>More than 1,000 people crammed into the Shawnee Mission East High School cafeteria to hear Senator Kennedy deliver a well-rehearsed campaign speech in which he outlined his vision for the presidency and stumped for Kansas politicians. Interestingly, the cafeteria was chosen because the auditorium was being used for the school\u2019s homecoming activities. After his speech, Kennedy shook hands with supporters for 10 minutes before returning to the campaign trail. His next stop was in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Photos and a signed menu from the banquet exist as reminders of his visit, and today are a part of Shawnee Mission East High School\u2019s collection. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Truman Connections?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It is very likely that at some point in his career, Harry S. Truman, a resident of Independence, Missouri, visited Johnson County. Sadly, we have no record of such visits, so we reached out to the Truman Library for help. Although they, too, were stumped to find a JoCo connection, they did share a gem, a letter that Bess wrote to her husband Harry in November 1932 regarding a bridge club meeting with friends she was to attend in Overland Park: \u201cEdna is having the bridge club way out at West-Avery (near Overland Park) today. May asked her why she didn\u2019t go on to Colorado while she was doing it.\u201d <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5313\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/2024\/10\/08\/presidential-visits-to-johnson-county\/6-truman-with-pv-ridgeview-students-1962\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/6-truman-with-pv-ridgeview-students-1962.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"800,543\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"6 Truman with PV Ridgeview Students 1962\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Former president Harry S. Truman with Prairie Village\u2019s Ridgeview School students during their visit to Independence, Missouri, in 1962. &lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Former president Harry S. Truman with Prairie Village\u2019s Ridgeview School students during their visit to Independence, Missouri, in 1962. &lt;\/p&gt;&#10;\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/6-truman-with-pv-ridgeview-students-1962.jpg?w=390\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/6-truman-with-pv-ridgeview-students-1962.jpg?w=390\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"543\" src=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/6-truman-with-pv-ridgeview-students-1962.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white photograph of a class of children standing around Truman at the center.\" class=\"wp-image-5313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/6-truman-with-pv-ridgeview-students-1962.jpg 800w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/6-truman-with-pv-ridgeview-students-1962.jpg?w=128&amp;h=87 128w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/6-truman-with-pv-ridgeview-students-1962.jpg?w=390&amp;h=265 390w, https:\/\/jocohistory.wordpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/6-truman-with-pv-ridgeview-students-1962.jpg?w=768&amp;h=521 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Former president Harry S. Truman with Prairie Village\u2019s Ridgeview School students during their visit to Independence, Missouri, in 1962. Courtesy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trumanlibrary.gov\/photograph-records\/63-59-04\">Truman Presidential Library and Museum<\/a>.<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Johnson County is more connected to Kansas City today than in Truman\u2019s time. It is no longer \u201cjust\u201d a suburb of Kansas City, but a place in its own right. As the county continues to grow in population, diversity, and economy, it would not be a surprise to see presidential candidates and sitting presidents visit Johnson County more often in the future!<\/p>\n<p><em>Learn more about Johnson County\u2019s history by visiting the Johnson County Museum! Admission includes the signature exhibit, <\/em>Becoming Johnson County<em>, as well as the interactive children\u2019s exhibit KidScape and the Museum\u2019s special exhibition gallery. Plan your visit at <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jcprd.com\/museum\"><em>www.jcprd.com\/museum<\/em><\/a><em>!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kansas City, Missouri has hosted numerous presidential visits. Ulysses S. Grant visited in 1880, as did Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, Calvin Coolidge in 1926, Herbert Hoover in 1932, Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953, John F. Kennedy in 1960, Gerald Ford in 1976, Jimmy Carter in 1979, George W. Bush in 2007, Barack Obama in 2014, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41134,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12032],"tags":[15275,6923,20271,4780],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-41133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-history","tag-county","tag-johnson","tag-presidential","tag-visits"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Presidential Visits to Johnson County - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Presidential Visits to Johnson County - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Kansas City, Missouri has hosted numerous presidential visits. Ulysses S. Grant visited in 1880, as did Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, Calvin Coolidge in 1926, Herbert Hoover in 1932, Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953, John F. Kennedy in 1960, Gerald Ford in 1976, Jimmy Carter in 1979, George W. Bush in 2007, Barack Obama in 2014, [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-01-22T11:08:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b85e3c3dc0e1daea076524dc8810c371\"},\"headline\":\"Presidential Visits to Johnson County\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-01-22T11:08:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133\"},\"wordCount\":1189,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"County\",\"Johnson\",\"Presidential\",\"visits\"],\"articleSection\":[\"American History\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133\",\"name\":\"Presidential Visits to Johnson County - Som2ny Network\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-01-22T11:08:36+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":900},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?bp_activities=1\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Presidential Visits to Johnson County\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/\",\"name\":\"Som2ny Network\",\"description\":\"Daily Deals\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Som2ny Network\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4a0953c4-logo-300x86-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4a0953c4-logo-300x86-1.png\",\"width\":300,\"height\":86,\"caption\":\"Som2ny Network\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b85e3c3dc0e1daea076524dc8810c371\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/729ae85bf62b9917e93538db2f2688ca?s=96&r=g&default=https%3A%2F%2Ffivemor.com%2Fwp-content%2Fplugins%2Fbuddypress-first-letter-avatar%2Fimages%2Fdefault%2F96%2Flatin_a.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/729ae85bf62b9917e93538db2f2688ca?s=96&r=g&default=https%3A%2F%2Ffivemor.com%2Fwp-content%2Fplugins%2Fbuddypress-first-letter-avatar%2Fimages%2Fdefault%2F96%2Flatin_a.png\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Presidential Visits to Johnson County - Som2ny Network","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Presidential Visits to Johnson County - Som2ny Network","og_description":"Kansas City, Missouri has hosted numerous presidential visits. Ulysses S. Grant visited in 1880, as did Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, Calvin Coolidge in 1926, Herbert Hoover in 1932, Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953, John F. Kennedy in 1960, Gerald Ford in 1976, Jimmy Carter in 1979, George W. Bush in 2007, Barack Obama in 2014, [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133","og_site_name":"Som2ny Network","article_published_time":"2025-01-22T11:08:36+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":900,"url":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b85e3c3dc0e1daea076524dc8810c371"},"headline":"Presidential Visits to Johnson County","datePublished":"2025-01-22T11:08:36+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133"},"wordCount":1189,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg","keywords":["County","Johnson","Presidential","visits"],"articleSection":["American History"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133","url":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133","name":"Presidential Visits to Johnson County - Som2ny Network","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg","datePublished":"2025-01-22T11:08:36+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/5-sm-east-jfk-photo.jpg","width":1200,"height":900},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=41133#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?bp_activities=1"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Presidential Visits to Johnson County"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/","name":"Som2ny Network","description":"Daily Deals","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#organization","name":"Som2ny Network","url":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4a0953c4-logo-300x86-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4a0953c4-logo-300x86-1.png","width":300,"height":86,"caption":"Som2ny Network"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b85e3c3dc0e1daea076524dc8810c371","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/729ae85bf62b9917e93538db2f2688ca?s=96&r=g&default=https%3A%2F%2Ffivemor.com%2Fwp-content%2Fplugins%2Fbuddypress-first-letter-avatar%2Fimages%2Fdefault%2F96%2Flatin_a.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/729ae85bf62b9917e93538db2f2688ca?s=96&r=g&default=https%3A%2F%2Ffivemor.com%2Fwp-content%2Fplugins%2Fbuddypress-first-letter-avatar%2Fimages%2Fdefault%2F96%2Flatin_a.png","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/fivemor.com"],"url":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41133"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41133\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41133"},{"taxonomy":"dealstore","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fdealstore&post=41133"},{"taxonomy":"offerexpiration","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fofferexpiration&post=41133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}