84th birthday, a piece of rarely-viewed archival film takes us back to the kennedy compound in hyannisportore than 50 years ago. it was a family celebration on what no one new would be the last summer of president john f. kennedy's life. mike taibbi tonight. >> reporter: it's the kind of detailed, close-up look of a president at play that wouldn't be seen today. jfk golfing, his swing hampered by a chronically bad back, never a thing of beauty. and relaxing on the water, a motor yacht this time, in swim trunks and shades with jackie nearby, sometimes with a cigarette, and daughter caroline swimming and goofing around as children will and returning to her father's side. >> in a way, one of the last weekends that a president could really relax without very much aforethought. none of that security, none of that enormous cordon between the press and the public. >> reporter: the scenes are from squaw island near the family compound in hyannisport in cape cod. at one point during the three-day weekend the president does some business, in a suit and tie, meeting with the british ambassador and hi

then joe comes out and there's the famous portrait of the whole family in hyannisport all a clove in the close victory but victory that nevertheless object. >> host: they have these kind of grand parties when jack was first running. didn't rose and her daughters gave people a feel like they could come meet royalty? was that part of their appeal? >> guest: it was unveiled were called tea parties. the kennedy tease that started in 1946, the very first ones. for the congressional campaign and then they just kept doing these through the senate campaigns. there was quite an upset in 1952. quoted as saying it was those tea parties that did me in but you were right to say first of all the women love to come to this because they could need what passes for royalty and united states and the fact that the kennedy family had rubbed elbows literally with royalty during their time in prewar england. women would be given these great invitations, come meet the kennedys at this tea and women were known to go out and buy new dresses and some of the more foremost. they're wonderful photographs at the k

later, dignitaries arrive by helicopter, and as was so often the case, neighbors gathering there in hyannisportwho it was paying a visit. taking that familiar golf cart down to the dock where they would board the presidential yacht. little caroline on his lap, and then down the stairs to share a swim with her dad, four months before she would lose him. a backstroke before getting back on board, where she would find her mother and, again, the lap of her father, as they finished their sun-splashed weekend, 50 years ago tonight. a daughter with her dad. "good morning america" first thing in the morning. and i hope you have a great week ahead. from all of us here at abc news, good night. >> protesters set up camp outside this building in the east bay. >> the charges a driver could face after a crash that killed a woman this morning. >>> two security officers attacked by a gunman at a bay area home depot and that man is on the loose. >>> right now people are camped out in the east bay, fighting to keep historic post office from being shut down. let's go live to lillian kim who is at the post office

. >> this is where they would go to hyannisport. >> reporter: with the cuba missile crisis behind himings, the summer found kennedy at the peak of his popularity. >> the sense you have is people who are frolicking. he's playing golf. what i noticed is after he sank a putt he didn't spend doubtdown to get the golf ball because he was wearing a back brace. he had a tcluded in moscow on a treat yo to ban all nuclear tests in outer space and under water. >> reporter: it continues with them taking a cruise on the yacht. he can be seen as a doting father. daughter caroline nestles up to him and they go for a swim. jackie kennedy is there, too, pregnant. she would give birth to a premature son patrick who died two days later. the president was assassinated almost four months after they were captured. they were at the time seemingly without a care. >> they had a kind of excitement, a kind of it's not entirely clear why it's been under wraps for nearly 50 years. >> extraordinary stuff. >> it really is. everybody likes behind-the-scenes stuff when you can see the president swimming with his chi