Aug. 9, 1963 - The new baby boy of President and Mrs. Kennedy died early today, the White House announced at 4:26 a.m. The baby, born Wednesday, had been named Patrick Bouvier Kennedy. The White House press secretary, Pierre Salinger, placed the time of death at 4:04 a.m. “The struggle of the baby boy to keep breathing was too much for his heart,” Mr. Salinger said. The President, who spent the night at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Boston, was awakened by doctors at 2:10 a.m. The President’s brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, was notified two minutes later at his hotel. He left immediately for the hospital. From that time until the baby’s death, Mr. Salinger said, its condition grew worse. With the President when the baby died were Robert Kennedy and David Powers of Boston, a Presidential assistant and long-time friend of the 46-year-old Chief Executive. Mr. Salinger said the President plans to fly to Otis Air Force Base, leaving about 9:15 a.m. to see Mrs. Kennedy. The baby was christened shortly after birth by Caesarean section early Wednesday afternoon. The baby, 5½ weeks premature, weighed 4 pounds 10 ounces. Respiratory distress due to its lungs not being fully developed was apparent to physicians immediately. In medical language, the baby’s ailment was diagnosed as idiopathic respiratory syndrome. In non-medical language, this is a respiratory problem which causes trouble in breathing. Mrs. Kennedy, in “excellent” physical condition and convalescing in a suite at the Otis Air Force Base Hospital, where the baby was delivered by Dr. John Walsh, was told of the death by the physician when she awakened at 6:25 a.m. today. She was put under mild sedation.
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