Story Highlights
- historical event: Archbishop Cardinal Richard Cushing was a personal friend of the president's family. He baptized many children from that family, and held the memorial service for the assassinated John F. Kennedy.
Famous American cardinal Richard Cushing died on this day in 1970. He was a personal friend of the president’s family. He served as the Archbishop of Boston for nearly 26 years, and was known for his tolerant and sociable nature. He was named a cardinal of the Catholic Church by Blessed Pope John XXIII in 1958.
Cardinal Cushing’s parents were of Irish descent, just like the Kennedys. Cushing was ordained at the age of 25. In 1939 he became an auxiliary bishop and, in 1944, the Archbishop of Boston.
As archbishop, Cushing married John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier. He also baptized many children from the Kennedy family. When John F. Kennedy was elected president, Cushing held a prayer at the inauguration ceremony. At that time he was already a cardinal.
Cardinal Cushing held the memorial service for the assassinated John F. Kennedy. He was a supporter of ecumenism and a hardline anticommunist. He died on this day in Boston, aged 75.
