Just when you thought all the dirt on JFK was public, there’s more. In a fascinating article in today’s NY Post, The Kennedy Meth, Larry Getlen reveals the President's addiction to amphetamines. I took the liberty of editing and reworking most of the piece.
JFK’s association with Max Jacobson, dubbed Dr. Feelgood by his clients, began before his presidency. Kennedy, who suffered from Addison’s disease, migraines and gastrointestinal disorders, as well as chronic debilitating back pain, was complaining of a lack of stamina on the campaign trail. He received his first shot then. By early 1962, Bobby Kennedy, then US Attorney General, grew so suspicious of Jacobson that he sent the concoction to the FBI to learn what was in it. When he found out what it was, he confronted his brother. “I don’t care if it’s horse piss,” JFK said. “It makes me feel good.” Once, the doctor gave him too high a dose, causing a psychotic break that led to the President of the United States running naked and delirious through a hotel’s halls. He was on the verge of paranoia and feeling so free of pain that he almost wanted to perform gymnastic acts in the hallway. The Secret Service detail had to restrain him. One of New York’s top psychiatrists was summoned. He saw the President in a manic condition and immediately recognized it as drug-induced mania. He administered an anti-psychotic, and the President soon returned to normal. His relationship with Jacobson continued despite the episode. Jacobson also treated Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Truman Capote and Mickey Mantle. In 1961, Mantle and teammate Roger Maris were engaged in an epic battle to break Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record of 60. By Sept. 24, Mantle had 54, but he was exhausted and needed a boost. He was introduced to Jacobson by Yankee broadcaster and longtime Jacobson patient Mel Allen. Jacobson prepared a special mixture of steroids, placenta, bone, calcium and a very small amount of methamphetamine and injected it into Mantle’s hip. The shot left Mantle in pain, and with a massive infection that sent him to the hospital. He missed the last few days of the season, and Roger Maris became baseball’s new home run king. Despite this The Mick continued as Jacobson’s patient. I‘m glad stuff like this is not made public immediately. It’s hard enough to have confidence in politicians. We expect celebrities, even athletes, to do these sort of things, but we’d like our leaders to toe the line, although it seems a naive notion given how many of them succumb to human frailty.
I sold two books right out of the blocks today to a girl I'd guess was 13. She translated the titles in Russian to her mom, which reminded me of the hundreds of shopping trips to 86th Street where I did the same for my mother in Italian. A young gentleman purchased a CD by multilingual Israeli artist Eti Zach, who fronts the French pop band Alabina. Munsey, who has bought several books from me, donated much needed non-fiction and children's books, one of which was bought by a young mom, who also took Ann Rice's Lasher. Thanks, folks. I topped off the day by picking up a couple of squares at the Spumoni Gardens. This livin' large has got to stop.
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
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