Nanny Taught Kennedy Children English Prayer

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30954, 10 January 1966, Page 2

Nanny Taught Kennedy Children English Prayer

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright)

NEW YORK, Jan. 9.

Although President Kennedy and his wife were staunch Roman Catholics they were broadminded about the prayers their children learned.

Miss Maud Shaw, the former English nanny to the late President’s children, Caroline and John, recalls two incidents in her White House memoirs published in the January issue of the “Ladies’ Home Journal.”

“I was teaching the children a new prayer once—‘Thank you God, for the world so sweet’—and did not notice Mr Kennedy standing behind me,” she writes. When she finished the prayer, the President said, “That’s a lovely prayer, Miss Shaw. Is it an English one?” Miss Shaw said it was, and he said, “Well, I like it. I hope they learn it.” Another time she got confused between the Roman Catholic and Protestant versions of the Lord’s Prayer.

“This time Mrs Kennedy happened to be standing at the door while I said the prayer with John and Caroline.

“When I had finished, she asked: “That’s the Episcopal version, isn’t it, Miss Shaw?” “Oh, is it?” I replied. “I’m sorry ... If forgot.” “It doesn’t matter,” Mrs Kennedy said.