A Plea for a raise
A 10-year-old future president makes a formal request
Late-1927, having just become a Boy Scout and acutely aware that his weekly allowance wouldn’t cover the costs of such a lifestyle, 10-year-old John F. Kennedy approached his father and asked for a raise of 30¢. Keen to teach the future President a quick business lesson, Kennedy Sr. immediately told him that, unless his plea was put in writing, it wouldn’t be heard.
The following letter soon arrived at his desk.
A Plea for a raise
By Jack KennedyDedicated to my
Mr. J. P. KennedyChapter 1
My recent allowance is 40¢. This I used for areoplanes and other playthings of child hood but now I am a scout and I put away my childis[h] things. Before I would spend 20¢ of my 40¢ allowance and in fixe [five] minutes I would have empty pockets and nothing to gain and 20¢ to lose. When, I a[m] a scout I have to buy canteens, haversacks, blankets, searchlidgs [searchlights], poncho things that will last for years and I can always use it while I cant use a cholcolate marshmallow sundae with vanilla ice cream and so I put in my plea for a raise of thirty cents for me to buy scout things and pay my own way more around.
Finis
John Fitzgerald Francis Kennedy
@shaun usher Love this ... and what a reminder to the power of making a good case when asking for something we want. Thanks for sharing.