Two Louisiana Democrats — Sen. Mary Landrieu and Rep. Charlie Melancon, who’s challenging Republican Sen. David Vitter — will be the headliners for the Palm Beach County Democratic Party’s annual fund-raising dinner on Nov. 14.

The event used to be known as the Jefferson-Jackson dinner, but Declaration of Independence author Thomas Jefferson’s slave ownership and $20 bill portrait model Andrew Jackson’s “Trail of Tears” Indian-removal policies offended the sensibilities of local Dem leaders. The name of the event was changed to the Truman-Kennedy-Johnson dinner instead.

County Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel said the party hopes to draw about 500 people to the $150-and-up event.

As noted here previously, Palm Beach County Democrats have dumped politically incorrect 19th century presidents Thomas Jefferson (slaveowner) and Andrew Jackson (slave-owning Indian relocator) from their annual fund-raising dinner, tentatively changing the Jefferson-Jackson dinner to a Truman-Johnson event.

Since going public with those plans, county Democratic Chairman Mark Alan Siegel says party leaders have been lobbied by supporters of John F. Kennedy and will probably add the slain 35th president’s name, making it a Truman-Kennedy-Johnson dinner.

The event isn’t until November, so there’s probably time for more lobbying. Adding Jimmy Carter would make a complete roster of Democratic presidents from the Cold War. Watch this space to see if any other candidates emerge…..

The Jefferson-Jackson dinner has long been a staple of Democratic Party money-raising around the U.S.

But it will no longer be in Palm Beach County.
(more…)