WASHINGTON — President Obama and former President Bill Clinton came together Wednesday to honor the memory of John F. Kennedy days before the 50th anniversary of his assassination.
In a solemn ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, the two leaders both clasped a large wreath and placed it on the site of Kennedy's grave.
They were joined by their wives, First Lady Michelle Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in walking the wreath toward the Eternal Flame, while members of the multigeneration Kennedy clan looked on.
The president and former president each grabbed a hand of Ethel Kennedy, 85, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, assisting her up the stairs to the grave site, which isn't far from that of her late husband.
As the two presidents walked up the winding hill to the site on a crisp, sunny day, they were greeted by Caroline Kennedy's son, John "Jack" Schlossberg, 20, JFK's grandson, who shares his grandfather's distinctive shock of brown hair.
When it came time to lay the wreath, Obama helped guide his predecessor, quietly instructing him on when to begin inching forward. Then, as they faced the Eternal Flame, a military bugler played "Taps," while all four dignitaries placed their hands on their hearts.
None of them spoke during the ceremony. More than a dozen members of the Kennedy clan looked on.
Bill Clinton considered JFK to be an inspiration, and Clinton made much use of a famous photo of a young Clinton meeting the president.
Obama's change-oriented campaign drew heavily from Robert Kennedy's 1968 presidential run — and the endorsements he won from Caroline Kennedy and the late Sen. Ted Kennedy helped propel him into the White House.
Hillary Clinton, who wore a bright green scarf, is widely considered to be next in line for the Democratic nomination if she wants it, aided by Obama's efforts to keep the Clintons close.
She chatted warmly with several Kennedy family members after the ceremony. Obama and Bill Clinton each spoke at length after the event to Schlossberg, whose mother, Caroline Kennedy, jetted off to Japan last week as the new US ambassador.
Schlossberg was to introduce Obama at a lavish dinner at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
Earlier Wednesday, at a ceremony for Medal of Freedom winners, Obama called attention to the next generation Kennedy, joking that Schlossberg was a "pretty good basketball player."
Obama also saluted Bill Clinton, who was given the award, for making life "better and easier for so many people across the country" during his presidency and "lifting up families like his own" who came from humble roots.
He even thanked Clinton for advice "on and off the golf course."
The homage to Bubba and his record in office came just weeks after a new book, "Double Down," described a 2011 golf game between the two men, where Obama reportedly told an aide, in reference to Clinton: "I like him . . . in doses."
Clinton was joined by talk queen Oprah Winfrey, Chicago Cubs great Ernie Banks, country singer Loretta Lynn, director Steven Spielberg and other notables in receiving the nation's highest civilian honor.
But it was the Kennedy legacy the White House was most interested in promoting. Kennedy launched the Medal of Freedom, creating a new version of a honor awarded by President Harry Truman. Hank Aaron, Aretha Franklin and other award winners from the past were on the guest list for the awards dinner.
Also on the list was Jean Kennedy Smith, the last surviving sibling of President Kennedy and a former ambassador to Ireland.
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