On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 06:57:49 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:
"I don't expect you'll hear me writing any poems to the greater
glory of Ronald and Nancy Reagan."

Robert Penn Warren, on being appointed the first U.S. Poet
Laureate, this day in 1986.
===============================

I had a distinct (but apparently incorrect) impression that Robert
Frost had served as Poet Laureate under Kennedy. A little digging
around on Google turned up the following off topic information:

"The Poet Laureate is appointed annually by the Librarian of Congress
and serves from October to May. In making the appointment, the
Librarian consults with former appointees, the current Laureate and
distinguished poetry critics. The position has existed under two
separate titles: from 1937 to 1986 as “Consultant in Poetry to the
Library of Congress” and from 1986 forward as “Poet Laureate
Consultant in Poetry.” The name was changed by an act of Congress in
1985."

So in reality the position in question has existed since 1937 but
under two different names. And Robert Frost did indeed hold the
position under its old name in 1958 and 1959. I seem to recall having
heard him referred to as "the national poet laureate" at Kennedy's
inaugaration however.