Letters to Jackie (32 page)

11/22/63

Dear Mrs. Kennedy

I’m nobody special, just a student who, I’m afraid hasn’t seen a great deal of life.

But I’ve been told that if someone is in love and has been in love, he will have enough memories to last the rest of his life. It might be true.

Alden Diaz

LINTHICUM HGHTS, MD.

JANUARY 2, 1964

My Dear Mrs. Kennedy:

In times of stress God deems it wise to send a man of greatness and courage to lead our Nation. Washington, Jefferson Lincoln, F. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. I wanted to write your beloved husband and tell him how much he reminded me of President Lincoln and that one of his greatest achievements during his term of office would be the passage of the civil rights bill. I prayed the Rosary for you constantly during your great loss, because I know your sorrow was as heavy as Our Blessed Lady felt when our God was put to Death. The following lines are from the writings of Helen Keller and were a consolation to me in attempting to understand why.

“Let us not weep for those have gone away when their lives were at full bloom and beauty. Who are we that we should wish them back? Life at its every stage is good, but who shall say whether those who die in the splendor of their prime are not fortunate to have known no abatement no dulling of the flame by ash, no slow fading of Life’s perfect flower.”

The Civil Rights Bill will be passed and History will regard President Kennedy as a man of great courage, a champion of the people and a strong advocate for peace and brotherly love.

Your courage during your great sorrow was truly magnificent and I pray that Our Blessed Lady will always walk with you as She did at that time.

God Bless You.

Sincerely yours
Beatrice Joan Bond
(Mrs. Wm. Leslie Bond)

POMPANO BEACH FLA
NOV. 23. 1963

This montn just one year ago I Lillie Mae Lewis made and sent Little Carolyne a hand made DOLL for her 5th. Birthbirth date On July 22, Of this year I recivird an answer from the (our greastest Pres. of all times thanking me for his daughter gift along with a card of Which he himself autographed also a picture of mrs Kennedy and the two childr

To_day with a heart filled with exceedingly sorrow I can;t fine words suitable to really express to you and your children Mrs Kennendy as well as his immediate family. Truly hope that you realized that ther is a God that ruled the earht and heaven promised to put not upon us no more than we could bear.

Yes I am a negro woman and to I am christian an we all are human. So we much feel each other cares and woes. Your husband and our Late Pres. in my heart seam like twin brother as I am only from May 17. to May 29. older than he was.

I would like so very much to be Little Carolyn Negro Godmother. If only had the privelege to remember her on all holiday and as she grow up she too could only remember by my cards if nothing more I shall always keep your picture.

May God forever bless you and your family Mrs Kennedy

Respectfully Yours
Lillie M Lewis

NEW YORK, N.Y.
MARCH 6, 1964

Dear Mrs. Kennedy:

Through the days, the weeks, the months, my heart has gone out to you in the loss of your beloved husband and our beloved President.

I too lost my loved one in a tragedy, not comparable, of course, but
an experience so calamitous that even the many years have not dimmed its memory.

I am a survivor of the TITANIC disaster in which my husband, Henry B. Harris, gave up his life.

I have wanted so much to show you in what high esteem I hold you and know no better way than to send you one of my most precious possessions.

It is a tiny beaded purse with a gold top that was given to me by Lillian Langtry when in 1901 my husband managed her American tour. She claimed it had belonged to Marie Antoinette, but in any event it is a delightful little thing and I’d like you to have it.

I won’t presume to send it to you until I know you will accept it, so please let me know where it may be sent so that you will personally receive it.

In highest regard,
Irene Harris

Please forgive type. My writing is not too legible—

I. H.

BESSEMER PA
AUG
. 64

Dear Jackey & children

I Just don’t know how to put it in words what a wonderful and coragious person you are. I also loved the President a great deal. I shook his hand when he was in New Castle Pa. It made me feal so good and I am 62 yrs old no wonger the younger folks loved his so much. You must excuse the writing and spelling as I only had 6 yrs of school. Then My Father died so us children had to find work. I am a granmother of 15 grandchildren I had 6 children 3 boys and 3 girls.

So I just wanted to do this picture in cross stitch of your late Husband I just didn’t have a frame for it so would you please except it as it is
with all my love you can keep it and put it in the Library. I am also making one for each of my Sons as they sure loved Jack and worked hard for his election. I hope and pray you can read this. I did want one of my Sons to write for me.

But they said it wouldnt be rite so I should do the best I can.

Hoping you will enjoy your new home in N.Y. May God Bless you and your family I remain just another Friend

Mr & Mrs Andrew Vrabel

BATESVILLE, INDIANA

Dear Mrs Kennedy & children this letter may have started plain but my family & I think of you as someone good plain & honest like ourselfs. We miss our wonderful President so verry much. I wonted to tell you that my Mother & Dad are old & sick. But Christmas day there was a small Gift wraped pacage for me under the tree. when I opened it, it was a plate with your husbands picture painted on it. Mother had crocheted with her Crippled fingers a little frame & ribbon all around to hang it by. it’s a wonderful Christmas Gift. One I will Cherish all my life. good luck to you & your children & God bless you Always.

Mrs Jerome Paul

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY
JANUARY 16, 1964

Dear Mrs. Kennedy,

I am only thirteen and I know you are well educated, but I still feel I could give you some advise.

I have been operated on four times for polio and I am now recouporating from a broken hip, but I know you too have problems so I will
tell you my remedy for smiling and happiness. Alway sing “You Gotta Have Heart” from
Damn Yankee’s
and I think you’ll be happy. I doubt weather or not you’ll read it, but the aid whose reading this letter; it goes for you to. But could you at least tell Mrs. Kennedy this? Thank-you for you time.

Most respectfully yours,
Janis Hirsch

NEW BEDFORD, MASS.

To Our First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy,

Now and Forever In Memory of our Late Great President

John F. Kennedy

·

Never
(forget)

Dear Jacqueline Kennedy,

Knowing how you feel with your Loss, I write in deepest regret and utter sorrow, sending my sincerest condolence to you, to your wonderful children, and the entire Kennedy Family. Never was there a greater President than our own, John F. Kennedy, to me he was a saviour of our troubled times and ills and was God given to us and the whole world.

Never
was such a vast job to be done left so unfinished as the one started by President John F. Kennedy.

Never
was there a greater Diplomat than Pres. John F. Kennedy, and Jacqueline you yourself his wife.

Never
was there a younger Pres. and First Lady as the Kennedy’s.

Never
was there a more handsome President + First Lady as the Kennedys

Never
was there a more brilliant President + First Lady as the Kennedys

Never
in the history of the United States had a President met such an untimely death as John F. Kennedy

Never
will President John F. Kennedy be forgotten.

Never
shall President John F. Kennedy be forgotten in our prayers.

Never
could I come to an end of this Never letter saying all the nice things there are to say about our famous Pres. John F. Kennedy, so I will close by saying I cried openly for him and will Never be ashamed of it.

P.S. I will always try to remember President John F. Kennedy in my prayers, he has gone to a higher + greater achievement he has gone to God

Jacqueline, I am sorry for you in your loneliness.

John H. Jakusik

DENVER, COLO.

DEC. 18, 1963

Dear Mrs. Kennedy,

I am writing for my brother and I trying to express how sorry we are for you, Caroline, & John

My Uncle Loyal Mull had a heartattack after he heard of the death of the Pres. and died 2 hrs later & now we know one thing for sure and that’s that they are both in Heaven. My brother and I have decided we are going to earn about a dollar apiece and send it to Pres. Kennedy’s Memorial Library

Merry Christmas
Linda Gayle & Donnie Nichols

P.S. I’m sending you a picture of Mary so don’t [worry] she will take care of you.

NORRISTOWN, PA
DECEMBER 7, 1963

My Dear Mrs. Kennedy:

Today as I watched you walk into your new home, my prayers for your happiness and contentment went with you. Now you will enjoy a greater measure of privacy, where you can weep with your children, until all of your pent up emotions and the frustration of it all will slowly ebb like the surging tides. Take long tiring walks in the snow the wind and the rain, sing soft lullabyes to John-John at twilight before the lights are turned on in the evenings.

Allow John-John and Caroline to snuggle close in bed with you once in a while as a special treat to them.

Nothing heals wounds like the great outdoors and the warmth of little children.

I hope you will not resent the familiar tone of my remedy for sorrow and lonliness because every mother in America has held you with their arms of sympathy.

I am a negro mother and grandmother, poor in the material things of life, but rich from the thought that to-day and to-morrow, the American negro can breathe a little freer and hold his head a little higher, because of a great young man of courage. No more party criticism of plans and dreams well meant for we the common people, but a beautiful memory in the minds of all nations who walked with you from the North West gate in honor of his greatness and the compassion he had for all man kind.

I have for you two beautiful antique pieces of furniture if you will accept them, a lovely old marble top bureau and a graceful old sway back chair.

If you are ever in Norristown or are passing through you are most welcome to inspect them, to see if you would like them.

May the peace of the Yuletide be with you and the children.

My grandchildren, Andrea and Christopher Baptiste send Christmas greetings to Caroline and baby John-John

Most Sincerely
Ethel M. Robinson

F
ew expressions of grief and loss in the entire body of condolence mail are more poignant than those offered by children. With far fewer psychological resources to make sense of such a tragedy, many wrote with insight, eloquence, and compassion. Teenagers who had taken an interest in JFK’s presidency wrote powerfully of the impact his life and death had on their coming-of-age. As one expressed it, “It is said you are not grown up until you have experienced the death of someone you love. On November twenty second I grew up.” Large packets of letters from children sent from schools often clearly had their origins in a classroom assignment. Though they are touching to see, with their painstaking effort to print clearly, they have not been included in this collection. Occasionally a pupil strayed and offered his or her own spontaneous addendum to the task at hand. Their messages reward reading. Very often, however, children on their own wrote letters to Mrs. Kennedy from home. What follows are letters from children that capture their unique perspective.

Lisa Blumberg to Mrs. John F. Kennedy, no date, Adult Letters, box 14, folder 104, Condolence Mail, John F. Kennedy Library. Reprinted with permission of Lisa Blumberg.

JAN
. 17, 1964

LEVITTOWN, PENNA.

Dear Mrs. Kennedy,

Something vital is missing from the house on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Maybe it is youthfulness, a lovely young couple, two charming children, or maybe a guiding hand, a gay wit, and a special security people drew from his presence, all these things and more, Americans lost when Lee Harvey Oswald committed his heinous crime. These losses are irreplacable.

Though you have lost a loving husband, Caroline and John a devoted father, Robert and his sisters and brother, a brother, Mr. & Mrs. Kennedy a son, and all Americans a cherished friend, we will not forget John Fitzgerald Kennedy. We share a wonderful memory though he died, still his ideals were not and will not die be buried. I promise you I will give body and soul to perpetuate the very ideals President Kennedy lived for. And, I am sure he would wish to be remembered for his humanitarian beliefs.

So now, in your time of grief, I offer to you and your children all I can, my deepest sympathy and a solemn promise for the future.

Sincerely yours,
Barbara Rimer (15 yrs. old)