sold John F. Kennedy’s Signed Contract For the First Dramatization of the PT-109 Story

Jack Kennedy was a 26 year old lieutenant in the Navy during World War II. Traveling to the Pacific for active service, he arrived at Tulagi and took command of PT 109 on April 23, 1943. On 30 May, several PT boats, including PT 109, were ordered to the Russell Islands in preparation for the invasion of New Georgia. After the landing at Rendova, PT 109 moved to Lumbari. From that base PT boats conducted nightly operations to interdict the heavy Japanese barge traffic resupplying their garrisons in New Georgia, and also to patrol the Ferguson and Blackett Straits near the islands of Kolumbangara, Gizo and Vella-Lavella, in order to sight and to give warning when the Japanese Tokyo Express warships came into the straits to assault U.S. forces in the New Georgia-Rendova area.

PT 109 was one of the fifteen boats sent out on patrol on the night of August 1, 1943 to intercept Japanese

warships in the straits. The PT boat was creeping along to keep the wake and noise to a minimum in order to avoid detection. Around 2AM, with Kennedy at the helm, the Japanese destroyer Amagiri traveling at 40 knots cut PT 109 in two in ten seconds. Two of the men were killed immediately and the rest found themselves in the water. Kennedy decided to swim for a small island three miles to the southeast. Because his engineer was badly burned, Kennedy towed him all three miles with the strap of the man’s life jacket in his teeth. He also assisted two other injured men. Eventually all eleven survivors made it to the island. After finding no food or water on the island, Kennedy spotted another slightly larger island with coconuts to eat and all the men swam there, with Kennedy again doing the  towing. Now at their fourth day, Kennedy swam to Nauru Island and found several natives. He cut a message on a coconut that read "11 alive native knows posit & reef Nauru Island Kennedy." On August 8, a week into their ordeal and thanks to Kennedy’s message, they were rescued.

For these actions, Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal under the following citation: “For heroism…while attempting a torpedo attack on a Japanese destroyer in the Solomon Islands area on the night of Aug 1-2, 1943. Lt. Kennedy, Capt. of the boat, directed the rescue of the crew and personally rescued 3 men, one of whom was seriously injured. During the following 6 days, he succeeded in getting his crew ashore, and after swimming many hours attempting to secure aid and food, finally effected the rescue of the men. His courage, endurance and excellent leadership contributed to the saving of several lives and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." Kennedy’s feat became known and a Reader’s Digest article appeared relating the tale of courage and inspiration.

“Navy Log” was a documentary-style television program recreating stories gleaned from the Naval Archives, and aired on CBS and ABC from 1955-58. In 1957 it decided to feature the story of John F. Kennedy and his boat, PT-109. Up to that point, the PT boat’s saga had never been the subject of treatment by radio, television or film. Then U.S. Senator Kennedy was approached about granting the rights. He agreed and executed the following contract for the TV episode with the show’s creator, Gallu Productions, Inc.

Typed Document Signed, 2 pages, September 13, 1957, with Gallu, allowing it to produce an episode recreating his PT-109 incident. “I understand that you contemplate producing a motion picture, the working title of which is presently ‘PT 109 (The John F. Kennedy Story),’ as part of  a series of television motion pictures presently entitled ‘Navy Log’…I hereby grant you the right and license to use my name and likeness and to portray, impersonate and/or simulate me or my voice, and/or to make use of any episodes in my life…including but not limited to any and all of my activities in or as a member of the United States Navy…” There are a a few cellotape stains on the document.

JFK was so excited about the filming of his story that he traveled to San Diego to act as a consultant for it. He returned to Washington overwhelmed by the technical job but "slightly embarrassed" by the dialogue.

The episode aired on October 23, 1957. "He was the skipper: Kennedy, John F.," announced a voice as it opened. Time Magazine reviewed the program, saying “On the screen flashed the story of PT 109…A Japanese destroyer sliced Kennedy’s craft in two in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands one day in August 1943. Watertight bulkheads kept the wreckage afloat long enough for Skipper "Shafty" Kennedy, nicely played by Actor John Baer, to direct rescue operations and collect the remains of his crew. Soon all but one were languishing safely on a coral island. But Shafty was still at sea, towing in a panicky sailor who had been badly burned. ‘He’s a champion swimmer,’ one crewman reassured the others. ‘Besides, it’s only three miles. He’ll make it.’ He did, but within seconds Shafty had redonned his life belt for another plunge. ‘I’m going to swim over to that next island and try to hail one of our patrols,’ he said. From then until show’s end, day and night, Shafty swam and swam and swam; the camera caught him barechested, fighting currents, rolling almost unconscious in the swirl, negotiating dangerous reefs, coughing, stumbling through the underbrush. ‘Let me tell you,’ says Crewman Maguire, ‘there’s a guy.’”

The show further enhanced Kennedy’s popular reputation just a few years prior to the announcement of his candidacy for president. As president, it served as a theme, with JFK handing out PT-109 tieclips to visitors to the Oval Office. A major motion picture was made of the exploit as well .