Senator John F. Kennedy‘s invaluable assistance in returning his wife after the deportation event and his further help in setting both of them on the path to citizenship made my father forever grateful.
In return, Kennedy called upon my father several times in the future.
In the first instance, he summoned Mohamed out to The Kennedy compound in Hyannisport, asking Mohamed’s opinion on a brewing political situation in the Middle East & Africa. Kennedy said, “Sit down, doctor. I want to ask you a question.”
My father said, “Go ahead.” Kennedy continued, “The French are asking for helicopters and weapons. Eisenhower didn’t answer them; he put it in our lap to study the situation. I want your opinion. What do you think? Should we or shouldn’t we help the French.” My father thought about it for a moment, then said, “Mr. Kennedy, the Algerians, so far, have lost 500,000 dead. Now, you tell me, when a people, or a nation, lose so many, will they retreat?”
Kennedy looked at my father and said, “I guess not.” Mohamed followed up by saying, “Either the Algerians are going to be wiped out, or they will wipe out the French. When you lose so much, there is nothing left to lose, and it’s not going to end.”
Some months later, Mohamed was again summoned to Hyannisport. The second time Kennedy called upon my father, John Foster Dulles, was the Secretary of State. Dulles supported an arranged marriage between King Faisal of Iraq and a princess from Turkey to cement the Baghdad Pact and reduce Soviet influence in the region.
O’Keefe once again approached Dad and said, “Kennedy wants to talk to you about that Baghdad business.” Kennedy said, “What do you think of the Baghdad Pact?
Dad replied, “All that I think is that you are condemning the King of Iraq to death.” Surprised, Kennedy asked, “What do you mean?” My father continued, “He is going to get killed.”
Kennedy seemed to ignore my father’s grandiose statement, and the meeting adjourned. King Faisal and his family were assassinated only a week later during the July revolution and coup.
That same day, Dr. O’Keefe came to my father and said: “Kennedy wants you right away.” Dad returned to Hyannis Port. Kennedy was visibly upset and said bluntly. “Doctor, I helped you, helped your son, your wife.” Dad replied, “Yes, and I am very grateful.” Kennedy then said, “I am going to ask you a very, very important question. Are you from the Syrian intelligence service?” Dad said, “No, sir. When I left Syria, the people there wanted me to stay and help rule. I told them I had no interest in ruling and wanted nothing to do with politics. On this, I swear to God that I am telling the truth.”
Kennedy sighed and said, “I believe you.” Where did you get that hunch on King Faisal?” Dad replied, “Sir, I know my history going back fifteen hundred years, and I know my people and how they react.”
In the famous Kennedy Humphrey presidential race debates, Kennedy called upon my father, who was seated in the audience, to explain that a man with a hernia could have it repaired and still serve military duty. Humphrey, unlike Kennedy, had avoided military service, citing a hernia as the excuse. It would seem the godfather’s favors had been returned in kind.