People: Jul. 15, 1966

"It was absolutely a ball—we laughed until we ached." There it was, another daredevil adventure by the U.S.'s most publicly athletic family. With 14 assorted youngsters in tow, Bobby and Ethel Kennedy, Astronaut John Glenn and a platoon of guides piled into World War II rubber landing craft and shot nearly 100 miles of boiling rapids in the Middle Fork of Idaho's Salmon River. It is known as "the River of No Return," and the poor guides thought that was for sure. The place is full of dangerous rocks and swirling eddies; so naturally every time a guide stood up to...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!