JFK Memorabilia Fetches About $2M At Auction

February 19, 2013

The Associated Press

David Francis Powers, longtime aide to John F. Kennedy and former curator of the JFK Library in Boston for 30 years, is shown in a 1994 photo with displays at the library on the last day of his job as curator. (Steven Senne/AP, File)

A collection of John F. Kennedy memorabilia fetched almost $2 million at auction, including $570,000 for the former president's Air Force One leather bomber jacket.

The collection of about 2,000 photographs, documents, gifts and other items was auctioned Sunday at John McInnis Auctioneers in Amesbury.

The items belonged to David Powers, Kennedy's assistant and close personal friend who died in 1998.

About 350 people attended the auction, with another 1,000 online bidders.

The jacket went to an anonymous bidder and was only expected to fetch from $20,000 to $40,000.

Rich Travaglione of Nantucket paid $525 for a 1946 photo of JFK. He tells The Daily News of Newburyport he bought the photo because it reminded him of the time his father met Kennedy who was campaigning in Boston's North End.

This program aired on February 19, 2013. The audio for this program is not available.