John F. Kennedy visited the Rice Hotel in 1962 , and in 1963 before traveling to Fort Worth , and then Dallas , where he was assassinated . Kennedy used a suite at the Rice Hotel to hold meetings , which was supplied with caviar , champagne , and his favorite beer . After a brief visit at a LULAC event and his speech at the Albert Thomas Convention Center , he returned to his suite for a change of clothes . After less than six hours in Houston , he headed to the airport for his flight to Fort Worth . He also delivered his famous speech on religion in politics there to the Greater Houston Ministerial Conference on Sept. 12 , 1960 . Other notable people who have orated at the Rice are Texas Governor William P. Hobby and Captain James A. Baker of Baker and Botts . Other notable guests of the Rice Hotel include Groucho Marx and Liberace . Notable musicians who have performed at the Rice include Tommy Dorsey , Perry Como , Xavier Cugat , Woody Herman , Lawrence Welk , and a young Illinois Jacquet
assassinated
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Rice Lofts