David F. Powers
Special Assistant to the White House Office
David Powers was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts on April 25, 1912. Mr. Powers graduated from Charlestown High School in 1930. Once graduated, Powers worked at Sampson & Murdock Publishing Company. In 1941 he became a time-study analyst at Fort Devens. In 1942 Powers joined the US Air Force where he was in the CBI Theatre until 1945.
In 1946, Dave Powers joined John F. Kennedy’s first political campaign. Powers was instrumental in helping Kennedy win support in the 11th District for the US House of Representatives. Powers worked on all of Kennedy’s political campaigns from that point on.
In 1961, Powers joined the Kennedy Administration as a Special Assistant to the President. One of Powers’ duties as Kennedy’s special assistant was greeting distinguished White House guests and escorting them from reception to the Oval Office.
Powers continued to work in the White House until 1965, when he resigned to become the first curator of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
Dave Powers accompanied the traveling exhibit around the world. The purpose of this global exhibit was to solicit donations to build the Library where the collections, papers and exhibits would be stored. More than 36 million people around the world donated funds to construct the Library, which opened on October 20, 1979.
Starting in 1965 Powers worked at the National Archives Federal Records Center in Waltham, Massachusetts, for fourteen years. During this time, Powers collected and organized the Library’s collection.
Dave Powers was Museum Curator until his retirement in May of 1994. Powers was also a member of the John F. Kennedy Library’s Foundation, Board of Directors.
In 1946, Dave Powers joined John F. Kennedy’s first political campaign. Powers was instrumental in helping Kennedy win support in the 11th District for the US House of Representatives. Powers worked on all of Kennedy’s political campaigns from that point on.
In 1961, Powers joined the Kennedy Administration as a Special Assistant to the President. One of Powers’ duties as Kennedy’s special assistant was greeting distinguished White House guests and escorting them from reception to the Oval Office.
Powers continued to work in the White House until 1965, when he resigned to become the first curator of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
Dave Powers accompanied the traveling exhibit around the world. The purpose of this global exhibit was to solicit donations to build the Library where the collections, papers and exhibits would be stored. More than 36 million people around the world donated funds to construct the Library, which opened on October 20, 1979.
Starting in 1965 Powers worked at the National Archives Federal Records Center in Waltham, Massachusetts, for fourteen years. During this time, Powers collected and organized the Library’s collection.
Dave Powers was Museum Curator until his retirement in May of 1994. Powers was also a member of the John F. Kennedy Library’s Foundation, Board of Directors.