Reprinted with permission.
JFK Kennedy visit to stout 1960 Library display industry technology From left, students Pat Wenner and Carol
Peterson met Feb. 26, 1960, with John F. Kennedy in Harvey Hall when Kennedy visited Stout State College for a
Wisconsin primary campaign speech.
News
April 5, 2010
UW-Stout student, two others met privately with JFK
MENOMONIE – Fifty years later, Pat Wenner Reisinger still considers herself a lucky person. Not
only did she hear future President John F. Kennedy speak at Stout State College, but she and
another student were the envy of campus: They had the chance to meet privately with the upand-coming senator from Massachusetts.
It happened Feb. 26, 1960, when Kennedy was campaigning for the Wisconsin primary, which
was to be held April 5, 1960.
Reisinger, then known as Pat Wenner, 20, was the Stout Student Association secretary. She,
Stoutonia student newspaper associate editor Carol Peterson and Stout State College President
Verne Fryklund were chosen to meet with Kennedy for about 20 minutes in Fryklund's office in
Harvey Hall, as his wife, Jacqueline, sat nearby.
Reisinger recalls Kennedy's tour de force personality, charisma and intellect, which she said were
a winning political combination. "He was delightful, energetic and intelligent," said Reisinger, who
now lives part time in Menomonie and part time in Madison with her husband, Dave.
Reprinted with permission.
"Kennedy was so well-spoken and could answer any questions with ease. You could feel that
energy when you were with him. I was so impressed with him, with the agility of his mind to be
able to discuss the political issues at that time," she said.
Jacqueline remained quiet during their meeting. "She sat on the sidelines and understood that
this was his work. She was all dressed up with a black pill box hat on and a red dress and gloves
and sat very still. We greeted her, but she was so intent on this being his platform that she really
moved to the side," Reisinger said.
Reisinger, a native of Rice Lake, graduated in 1961 in home economics education and earned a
master's degree in clothing and textiles in 1967 from UW-Stout. She worked in alumni services at
UW-Stout beginning in 1985, including as assistant chancellor for development and alumni
services from 1998 to 2003. She continues to work as a fundraising consultant.
Kennedy's speech was in a 750-seat auditorium at Harvey Hall, although the crowd was
estimated at 1,000 people, many of them students. He received a standing ovation when he
arrived, according to a Dunn County News account, and then was introduced by Fryklund.
Kennedy, with Jacqueline sitting on stage, talked for 20 minutes and then answered questions.
Among the issues he raised were the importance of citizens getting involved, saying, "We cannot
wash our hands of the political process," and the need for "greater leadership than ever before
because economic policies we face today dwarf all previous problems."
During the speech Reisinger was impressed, for the second time, by Kennedy. "We found out
that he certainly knew what he was talking about. He was an excellent speaker," she said.
Kennedy went on to win the Wisconsin primary as a record 50 percent of state voters went to the
polls.
In the primary in Dunn County, however, Kennedy was badly beaten by Humphrey, 3,549 votes
to 1,408, or a margin of 51 percent to 20 percent. The other 29 percent of the vote went to
unopposed Republican candidate Richard Nixon, the vice president at the time.
After his speech at the university, Kennedy attended a luncheon at the Hotel Marion on Broadway
Street near campus. About 200 people were at the luncheon. He also visited the nearby offices of
the Dunn County News, shaking hands with ink-stained press crew members, according to the
Dunn County News account.
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After the luncheon, Kennedy was scheduled to talk in Mondovi. However, when he stood on the
curb and checked his watch it was apparent that his transportation either was late or wasn't
coming. Paul Hassett, the Dunn County News editor, noticed Kennedy's predicament and offered
the senator and his wife a ride, even though Hassett was chair of the Republican Party in Dunn
County.
Former university professor Bob Melrose, in a 1988 remembrance talk at UW-Stout, recalled how
the Kennedys left town. "(Hassett) had the two Kennedys in the back seat of his jalopy, and it was
a jalopy," Melrose said. "He had 'Nixon for President' bumper stickers front and back."