a question about the appearance description of John F Kennedy
【Before breakfast on Thursday, November 21, the President of the United States drew on his back brace, laced his shoes, the left one of which had a quarter-inch medical lift, slipped into the clothes his valet had selected, anchored his conservative tie with a bright PT boat slip, and pocketed a black leather wallet containing $26 in bills, a gold St. Christopher medal which was clipped to it, and Massachusetts driving permit 053332D.】

This is a passage about John F Kennedy. I wonder what does "back brace" mean? Is it a kind of clothes, or an apparatus?

And “the left one of which had a quarter-inch medical lift”, what does “which” mean? Does “the left one” is one of the shoes?

Question

a question about the appearance description of John F Kennedy
【Before breakfast on Thursday, November 21, the President of the United States drew on his back brace, laced his shoes, the left one of which had a quarter-inch medical lift, slipped into the clothes his valet had selected, anchored his conservative tie with a bright PT boat slip, and pocketed a black leather wallet containing $26 in bills, a gold St. Christopher medal which was clipped to it, and Massachusetts driving permit 053332D.】

This is a passage about John F Kennedy. I wonder what does "back brace" mean? Is it a kind of clothes, or an apparatus?

And “the left one of which had a quarter-inch medical lift”, what does “which” mean? Does “the left one” is one of the shoes?

Answer

Yes, "the left one" is the left shoe. "Which" says the next words refer to the left shoe.

A back brace is something worn to support the back. It could be thin and small to prevent injury, or it could be because the back is hurt already. President Kennedy had back problems, hence the brace.

Answer

He wore an apparatus called a back brace due to wartime injuries. Yes, the left shoe contained a heel one-quarter inch higher than the right, for medical reasons that I assume were related to his back. The word "which" is used as a pronoun.

Answer

Oh, and the shoe lift - these are worn when your legs are different lengths, which would explain some back pain.

Answers · 6

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