California alone is the world's fifth largest economy. Los Angeles County's contribution is a quarter of that.
President Trump wants Denmark's Greenland. Danes now want America's California. What's in it for Angelenos?
Photo by Bill Beebe, from the L.A. Times Photographic Collection at UCLA Library.
1962. U.S. President John F. Kennedy, on a visit to the Los Angeles area, spent an afternoon at the Santa Monica beach home of his brother-in-law, Peter Lawford. There, attracted to the surf on the nearby public beach, he decided to take a swim. According to the 1971 book, Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye, by then White House staffer Kenny O’Donnell, Kennedy strode out to the beach without his protection detail, followed only by aide Dave Powers. He was quickly recognized by beachgoers, excited to unexpectedly see the President of the United States among them. Some even joined Kennedy in the surf while still in their street clothes. Kennedy swam out about 100 yards and, after returning to the beach, found himself among the gathered throng of about a thousand admirers. When Secret Service agents finally arrived, they had to wade into the surf in their suits to try to surround Kennedy. The photo here was captured by L.A. Times photographer Bill Beebe and was featured on the front page of the August 20, 1962, edition of the Times. The headline read, "Kennedy Caps Visit With Dip In Pacific."
Five U.S. Presidents (and one First Lady), at some point in their lives, made their home in Los Angeles County.
