A rocking chair used by President John F. Kennedy in the White House is on display in New York City -- and it will be auctioned in Dallas in November.
The chair is part of a collection of Kennedy memorabilia that Heritage Auctions will offer Nov. 23. The display, which also features items including two flags from the Oval Office, went up Thursday at the auction house's New York City location, where it will remain through Oct. 30.
The collection was amassed by Dean William Rudoy, a psychologist from New Mexico. He says that since this year marks the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination, it seemed like the right time to sell the items to the next generation of collectors.
As an 11-year-old, Rudoy volunteered on Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign and later worked on Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign.
Dallas-based Heritage says the chair sat in his White House bedroom. Heritage says that one of Kennedy’s doctors suggested that he use a rocking chair to help ease his back pain. Over the years, he bought or was given about 14 similar chairs to use in several locations, including the Oval Office, on Air Force One and in a hotel suite.
Several of JFK's rocking chairs have appeared on the auction market, and have proven lucrative, Heritage reports. At the 1996 New York Auction of Jacqueline Kennedy's possessions, two Kennedy rockers were sold, one for $442,500, and one for $453,500.
In a 1998 auction, the rocker from Kennedy's suite at the Carlisle Hotel fetched $332,500.
Heritage says that the chair is desirable because it was used by Kennedy in his private White House bedroom.
“[It] gives it a closer personal connection to JFK than many of the other Kennedy rockers,” Heritage states on its website.