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Never-before-seen footage captures JFK on vacation months before assassination


Videos of John F. Kennedy shows the president sunbathing, playing golf and cuddling with daughter, Caroline, while the family vacationed in Cape Cod 50 years ago. Footage comes from a 15-minute silent film that was released by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

John F. Kennedy smiles and gestures an okay while playing golf, in video capturing the final summer before his untimely death in 1963.

John F. Kennedy smiles and gestures an okay while playing golf, in video capturing the final summer before his untimely death in 1963.

In the last four months of President John F. Kennedy's life he was seen laughing, golfing, and intimately cuddling with his little girl in what would unknowingly become his final summer alive.

Never-before-seen footage taken 50 years ago this weekend remarkably captures the glamorous young family's vacation as they and their guests are seen boating and splashing off the coast of Cape Cod.

The president is seen teeing off, among his guests joining him being Press Secretary Pierre Salinger, lifelong friends Lem Billings and Charles Spalding, and British Ambassador Sir David Ormsby-Gore.
 
JFK Library The president is seen teeing off, among his guests joining him being Press Secretary Pierre Salinger, lifelong friends Lem Billings and Charles Spalding, and British Ambassador Sir David Ormsby-Gore.
 
The 15-minute silent video released by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum offers a rare albeit strikingly eerie glimpse into America's Royal Family in some of their final joyful moments.

John F. Kennedy chats with daughter Caroline during the family’s 1963 vacation to Cape Cod.
 
JFK Library John F. Kennedy chats with daughter Caroline during the family’s 1963 vacation to Cape Cod.
 
On November 22, 1963, the 46-year-old father of two was shot dead in his wife's arms.

Now seen in happier times on July 27-29, Jack and his wife Jacqueline lay out in the sun as their daughter, Caroline, in her pale pink swimsuit, laughs and plays with her cousin Maria Shriver.

In a tender moment, John F. Kennedy cuddles with  daughter Caroline during his family’s trip to Cape Cod 50 years ago.
 
JFK Library In a tender moment, John F. Kennedy cuddles with daughter Caroline during his family’s trip to Cape Cod 50 years ago.
 
While enjoying the summer days the strapping young president is first seen teeing off on the green among Press Secretary Pierre Salinger, lifelong friends Lem Billings and Charles Spalding, and British Ambassador Sir David Ormsby-Gore. He smiles and waves at the camera in a blue polo, giving an okay gesture with his hand.

Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy (right) is seen talking with her daughter Caroline.JFK Library Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy (right) is seen talking with her daughter Caroline.
 
The rose-colored film — capturing clear-blue skies and tall grass swaying along the New England coast — then cuts to the now-suited men gathering outside the Kennedy family's summer home after a gusty helicopter landing.

John F. Kennedy and his family are then-later seen taking a golf cart to the Honey Fitz for a cruise around Squaw Island, offering a firsthand account that's reminiscent of many American home movies.
Stills from the video show a festive gathering some four months before Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
 
JFK Library Stills from the video show a festive gathering some four months before Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.
 
The president, seen at one point sunbathing shirtless in the back of a boat, cuddles his little girl Caroline in his arms before she slips away to continue playing.

Like perhaps any American home video the president is seen at various times shirtless as he sunbathes around his friends and family.
 
JFK Library Like perhaps any American home video the president is seen at various times shirtless as he sunbathes around his friends and family.
 
Jacqueline, hidden under a pair of sunglasses, is also seen talking with her daughter as the child bounces around the boat and even makes faces at the camera.

As the day heats up the sun-soaked passengers take a dip in the water — Caroline jumping straight in after her father who bathes at a distance. The ladies follow behind Caroline, however gracefully, and a bit timidly, by using the boat's ladder.

Friends and family of President John F. Kennedy joined him aboard his boat.
 
JFK Library Friends and family of President John F. Kennedy joined him aboard his boat.
 
In a later clip the presidential couple's youngest child, John F. Kennedy Jr., also makes an appearance, wearing a pair of blue overalls as he cheerfully chases a dog while a helicopter lands behind him on dry land.

On November 22, almost exactly four months after the remarkable footage was taken, the nation's 35th president was publicly assassinated while driving in a motorcade in Dallas.

A still from the video shows John F. Kennedy’s daughter and neice, Maria Shriver, kicking their legs as they eat sandwiches and make faces at the camera.
 
JFK Library A still from the video shows John F. Kennedy’s daughter and neice, Maria Shriver, kicking their legs as they eat sandwiches and make faces at the camera.
 
The two girls dive into the water from the Kennedy's boat. Caroline's father already out in the water before them.
 
JFK Library The two girls dive into the water from the Kennedy's boat. Caroline's father already out in the water before them.
 
John F. Kennedy Jr. plays with the family dog.
 
JFK Library John F. Kennedy Jr. plays with the family dog.
 
President John F. Kennedy stands with guests outside the family home in Cape Cod.JFK Library President John F. Kennedy stands with guests outside the family home in Cape Cod.