In a revelation that seems more like a plot from a political satire than a genuine Cold War incident, declassified documents have exposed a truly bizarre diplomatic row between the White House and Washington officialdom. The cause? President John F. Kennedy's personal barber.
The story, long shrouded in secrecy, centres on John F. Hutton, the trusted hairdresser to the First Family. Hutton, who famously tended to the iconic bouffant of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, found himself at the heart of an unexpected security crisis.
A Security Snip at the White House Gates
According to the files, US security officials made the startling decision to ban Hutton from the White House grounds. The reason for the ban remains partly redacted, but its impact was immediate and significant. The man responsible for the President's appearance was suddenly deemed persona non grata in the most famous house in America.
The situation escalated rapidly, creating an embarrassing and highly unusual problem for the Kennedy administration. It wasn't merely an inconvenience; it was a full-blown diplomatic incident that required high-level intervention to resolve.
From Haircuts to High-Level Negotiations
The matter was considered so serious that it was reportedly handled at the highest echelons of the US government. The declassified papers suggest that resolving the barber's status became a priority, highlighting the immense value the Kennedys placed on Hutton's services.
This strange episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of personal preference, power, and security protocols at the highest level of government. It underscores how even the most mundane aspects of daily life can become international news when they involve the First Family.
The incident remains one of the more curious footnotes in JFK's presidency, a tale of clippers and conflict that proves truth is often stranger than fiction.
