President Kennedy Connection to Atlantic City & Asbury Park, NJ

There has been more than a 60-year fascination with former United States President John F. Kennedy.

And, there is a direct New Jersey, specifically, Atlantic City and Asbury Park, New Jersey connection to President Kennedy.

The 1964 Democratic National Convention was held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City from August 24-27, 1964.

Robert Kennedy delivered a moving tribute for his slain brother in Atlantic City on August 27, 1964.

This should have been President Kennedy’s Atlantic City convention, however, he was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Texas and it became Lyndon Johnson’s convention instead.

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Directly outside of Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall is known as Kennedy Plaza. There is an amazing bronze bust of President Kennedy, sculpted by the great artist Evangelos Frudakis.

In Asbury Park, the President Kennedy sculpture is best filed under it being an oddity of sorts.

It is an attraction, known as the “Eyeless Lizard - Kennedy Head.”

Here is how RoadsideAmerica.com describes it:

”The (Kennedy) head was unveiled during the 1964 Democratic National Convention, which was held in nearby Atlantic City. The bronze head has since turned
green with age, which only increases its sea bottom
antiquity allure.”

Local sculptor Fritz Cleary fabricated the Kennedy head and he added, what is described as lizard skin to it. As bronze oxidizes over the years, and takes on a green patina … it looks even more lizard-like as time goes on.

Tours of the Kennedy head are available at Kennedy Park in Asbury Park, on the southwest corner of Cookman and Grand Avenues.

SOURCE: For Asbury Park “Kennedy Head” - RoadsideAmerica.com