President Kennedy was killed on November 22, 1963.
You’d think that 3 days later, the New York Daily News’ “Inquiring Fotographer” feature would ask about that nation-shaking event.
You’d be wrong.
The column — which paid $10 for each question used by readers — went ahead with their pre-planned query: “Is the average American afraid to take a chance today?”
That’s so vague. Afraid to take a chance on what?
As for “average American”: inquiring “fotographer” Jimmy Jemail asked it in a decidedly unaverage place: Westport.
And he chose some far-from-average Westporters to answer it.
The first was Board of Education member Robert Anstett. The well-known attorney — later a town prosecutor — said: “Absolutely not, at least as far as Westport is concerned. Our citizens are willing to work hard in their careers and to provide the best schools for their children. They know real success is a combination of knowledge and the gumption to act when opportunity knocks.”
Police Chief Sam Luciano answered the question through his own profession’s lens: “Far too many risk their lives on the road by taking foolish chances.
Westport Woman’s Club president Mrs. George W. Patch — those were the days when women were identified by their husbands’ names — believed that while the average adult took chances, “many of our young adults are reluctant to start at the bottom and work up. For many, unfortunately, college is merely a means of landing a soft job at a good salary.”
And Lou Nistico, “restaurateur” — known, then and now, as owner of the legendary Arrow restaurant — said, “Yes. This attitude is nationwide. How do you expect people to act on their own initiative when the Administration is moving closer and closer to a welfare state? The average person feels what’s the use, the government takes most of our money.”
(Hat tip: Diane McGrath)
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