October 21st, 1954:
Senator John F. Kennedy, undergoing dangerous back surgery that in his own words "either kills you or cures", sadly dies. Hearing news of it late into the evening, Senate friends of the late Senator, most notable Senator George Smathers of Florida and Vice-President Richard M. Nixon of California, send their regards to the Kennedy family.

October 22nd, 1954:
News of the Senator’s death escapes to the media. The story of the “young, sick, handsome Senator” plays across the nation as the Kennedy family grieves. Flying up from Washington D.C., Smathers and Nixon meet the grieving Jaqueline Kennedy, who was married to Jack for only fourteen months. Nixon and Smathers, who both have known Jack since 1947 when they were all three freshmen in the United States House of Representatives, warmly embrace the young widow and recount stories of their dead friend.
October 25th, 1954:
The funeral of the late Senator John F. Kennedy is held. Attending are the entire Kennedy family including Joseph Kennedy Sr., Rose Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Teddy Kennedy, and the rest. As well, friends from Washington are there including Vice-President Richard M. Nixon, Senator George Smathers, members of Kennedy's staff including secretary Evelyn Lincoln, and other members of Congress. At home in the White House, President Eisenhower comments to Mamie, "You know, this death of a young, young Senator, completely out of the blue, it's given me a lot to think about in terms of my health." The President resolves to lead a healthier lifestyle in the wake of seeing how someone much younger and fitter than he could easily be struck down.
October 28th, 1954:
A week after Senator Kennedy's death, Massachusetts Governor Christian Herter, a Republican, announces he shall appoint a replacement for Kennedy. In accordance with Massachusetts tradition and law, a special election shall be held in 1956. With over two years until the people of Massachusetts can elect a replacement, there's a certain amount of media speculation as to who Herter will nominate.
November 2nd, 1954:
The 1954 mid-term elections occur. Despite Vice President Nixon's nation-wide campaigning for Republicans, the mid-terms are, well, mid-terms and the Republicans take losses, losing the Senate and the House. However, with one Senate seat vacant, the Republicans may just retain their majority. The same day, Ambassador to the United Nations Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., in a call with Massachusetts Governor Herter, accepts the offer to be re-appointed to the Senate. "I have no intention of running in 1956", the Ambassador adds, "So you'll hopefully by then find someone to fill the spot."
November 5th, 1954:
On Friday, the end of the week, Governor Christian Herter, eager to make sure that Massachusetts has representation in the Senate come next year's session, and to buck jeers of "indecisiveness", makes it official: He's appointing former Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. to the Senate seat left vacant by the death of John F. Kennedy. Jeers of favoritism come from Democrats, more than a few of whom are upset that only two years ago they had won the seat fair and square only to see it return to the same man's hands who had just left it.
November 8th, 1954:
Eager to have Lodge sworn in before Congress' Christmas break, Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. is sworn into the United States Senate by Vice-President Richard M. Nixon, leaving his post as United States Ambassador to the U.N. to be filled by someone of President Eisenhower's choosing. The same day, the once again newly inaugurated Senator Lodge moves into office #362, where his predecessor once worked. A somber former Vice-President looks on from office 361, right across the
hall. It is after all the office his friend once occupied.
November 19th, 1954:
Making his decision in a relatively quick amount of time, President Eisenhower appoints Nelson Rockefeller, who is currently serving as Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs, to be the next Ambassador to the United Nations. Like all ambassadors, he must be confirmed by the Senate.
November 22nd, 1954:
Making its decision in a relatively short amount of time, the Senate easily confirms Nelson Rockefeller, who has served in various foreign policy positions in the Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower positions, to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

December 2nd, 1954:
Senator Joseph McCarthy (Republican-Wisconsin), is censured by the Senate in a vote of 68 to 22. Senator Lodge is among the majority in voting to censure McCarthy. Despite being a Republican, Lodge, like many other moderates, is uncomfortable with the Senator's "scorched earth" tactics.