I was digging into the New York Times archives the other day to read stories about JFK’s assassination. I’m reading a book that takes place during the Kennedy years, and the other day the Dallas district attorney released some long-stored documents related to the assassination, so I got interested.

While digging, I came across a short article that ran on the morning of November 22, 1963.

Catholics Can Eat Meat At Kennedy Lunch Today

DALLAS, Nov. 21 (UPI) – Roman Catholics who attend tomorrow’s luncheon for President Kennedy have been given a special dispensation and may eat meat, a church spokesman confirmed today.

Sirloin steak will be served. Catholics are generally forbidden to eat meat on Fridays.

“Since most of the people at the luncheon will be non-Catholics we felt it would be easier to give a dispensation,” said the Rev. J. A. Schumacher of the Dallas-Fort Worth diocese.

He said President Kennedy would not have needed a dispensation.

“Since he is commander in chief of the military, he is a soldier,” Father Schumacher said. “The law says soliders don’t have to abstain.”

Kennedy never made it to the luncheon.