The Kennedy Presidential Rocker

History of the Kennedy Rocker

President John F Kennedy acquired his first rocker in the year 1955 when he was Senator from Massachusetts from the P & P Chair Company of Asheville, North Carolina. He had used the rocker on the advice of his personal physician, Dr Janet Travell, who recommended what she called the "Carolina Rocker" for rocking chair therapy of his ailing back injured in the war.

When the newly elected president moved into the White House, he brought his Carolina Rocker with him. When photographed in the Oval Office using the rocker, the curiosity of the media and public was aroused and eventually P & P Chair was identified as the source.

President Kennedy purchased additional rockers for Camp David and the various Kennedy estates. He also gave away dozens of rockers as gifts to friends and heads of state. At the request of the White House, Kennedy Rockers were shipped to several hotels around the country and placed in their Presidential Suites.

The rocker used by President Kennedy is now on permanent display at the Kennedy Memorial in Boston, Massachusetts.

In the year 2009, when the owner of the P & P Chair Company was ready to retire, he sold the tooling and rights to continue producing the Kennedy Rocker to another very traditional North Carolina furniture maker, the Troutman Chair Company.

Therapeutic Benefits

The rocker is roomy and comfortable, but perhaps even more importantly, its design is ideal for treating lower back pain. The chair's seat height allows both feet to remain flat on the floor while rocking, and the front and back movement will continuously stretch and contract muscles in the lumbar.

Features and Specifications

• Solid North American oak frame with hand-woven rattan seat and back
• Steam-bent back posts with knobs on top
• Swelled joint construction - no glue
• Hand-rubbed stain finish with clear lacquer top coat
• Indoor or covered porch use
• Seat dimensions 22.5" x 17" x 16.5"H
• Seat to top of arm 8"
• Arms 4" at widest point
• Overall height 43"
• Weight 30 lbs
• Ships fully assembled
• Handcrafted in North Carolina

FREE SHIPPING! Please allow about ten days for curbside delivery by commercial motor freight. Discounts available when more than one rocker is ordered.