Letters to Jackie (27 page)

APRIL 12, 1964

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CALIFORNIA

Dear Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy:

Months have passed since the tragic death of your husband and my
president
. Your’s was the Glory of loving and being loved—bearing his children—to one of the greatest men of all times—surely of our day and age. You will live with Jack Kennedy in written history as long as written history and Earth lasts.

My husband and I sat glued to the television thru those misery filled days of the assassination and funeral. We wept—unashamed. We wept for
you
and
ourselves
. You did not weep in public; your courage was tremendous.

On March 11, 1964 my Jack died of emphysema. He had been ill—with knowledge—about two years. He was not a political figure—just a number—one—in the statistics of population and individuals of this great country of ours. But he was a man with an unblemished character and my “Glory.” He was honest, good, loved by his small circle of friends and thought highly of in a hard business field—realty. He was a broker and had his own business. “Jack Cannon Realtor.”

I lack your wonderful qualities of faith, youth, position, courage and
need
. I roam thru an empty, two-story house filled with shadows. It is not a pretentious home but most comfortable—and it was filled with love when my Jack lived.

Should you plan a trip to Sacramento or vicinity, I offer you my home as long as you cared to use it. If it is not elaborate enough and given sufficient time, I would make whatever changes I could to improve to your convenience and comfort. This I do offer in gratitude for the joy of having known and lived during the times of Jack Kennedy and his charming family. And when he died so very many of us felt a personal loss because we loved him. He brought a closeness to his fellow citizens by sharing his problems, his family and giving of himself so
completely that we had to
care
when he died. I feel a little of us all died with him.

In my hours of grieving I feel closer to you but lack your strength. I would shout from the housetops “My Jack is gone.” If I could I would immortalize his name. He shared one thing in common with your husband—
a love of fellowman
. It is reflected in the eyes and cannot be expressed by lip service. It is created by the “Way of Living” and the reflection and image readable in the Eyes for they are the windows of the Soul.

You have my deepest sympathy which I offer from my departed husband and myself. He asked me to write a long time ago but I was too busy watching him dying little by little each day, painfully and yet struggling so hard to live.

Please accept the offer of my home if you should ever have use of it with the spirit of love that dwell here.

Sincerely
Irene Cannon

NORWICH, OHIO
JAN 15TH 1964

Mrs John F. Kennedy,

I hardly know how to begin this letter as it is the first I have ever written you. It isn’t going to be easy as I have lost the greater part of me. On the same day and the same hour of your terrible tragedy my husband dropped dead. I was on my way home from Janesville when I heard the awful news of our Dear Friend being assassinated and I was so deeply hurt I could hardly stand it and as I drew near my home I heard the sad news that my dear one had passed away. Why he was taken so suddenly from me I will never know. He was the most wonderful man to me that ever lived and I know you feel the same about your dear one. We always
listened to him on T.V. and was very proud of him. He was such a bright man and why he had to suffer so in his last moments no one but God understands.

And my heart aches for those two little youngsters who were so close to their Daddy and he was so proud of them.

I know they will be well taken of but that is beside what I mean. It is not the financial part but the awful loss of their Father will linger with them for years to come. I was left in very poor circumstances and not able to work any more but we do have God’s promise that he will never leave us or forsake us if we put our trust in him. My husband was B. F. Archer and we celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary Jan 1st 1963. He was 77 and I am 73.

We have worked hard and had lots of sorrows too. We have two lovely daughter’s and one son living and one dead. They are all married and live away. I feel very much alone.

The dear Father & Mother of Mr Kennedy I know are very sad and my heart aches for them. I know Mr. J. F. Kennedy was very fond of them and his passing would be very hard on folks their age and especially the invalid Father.

We were so proud to have John F. Kennedy as President of U.S. and we did all we could to help put him there. We wish for Mr & Mrs Johnson a very good year but we know it will be hard for them as they loved Mr. Kennedy too.

Only time and God’s love can help the heartache and loss and I pray God’s blessing on you and your family. Now if this letter does not make sense you know my heart is broken and will never heal until we meet again.

Sincerely,
Mrs. (Pearl) B. F. Archer

LATONIA, KY

7/17/64

Dear Jacqueline:

I know these have been trying days for you, as every time that I tuned in on the Republican Convention I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I don’t know what will happen when the Democrats have their Convention. I listened to Barry Goldwater’s nominating speech last night and I had never heard such a boresome speech in my life. I am certainly not a Nixon fan, but his speech was more interesting, even if he was on the other side of the fence. I thought it might have been I, but when the New York Delegates walked out of the Cow Palace and when other news commentators said the same thing that they enjoyed Nixons speech more than Barry Goldwaters.

Since you and President John F. Kennedy and the children are out of the Whitehouse, I don’t have any desire to see or hear anything concerning it. In fact I don’t have any desire to even vote this year. I had never been a hot Politician but I sure did change during the Kennedy Administration, but have lost all interest since you all are not in office.

I’m sending you a family picture, of you and President John F. Kennedy and the two children coming out of Church. I cut it out of a St. Aloysious Orphans Magazine, and have it framed and standing on my cedar chest and every one who sees it, wants one like it. So I contacted the Mother Superior of the Home and she sent me about a dozen copies, so I have given my friends a copy. You may have a picture like it, as not too long ago, some one showed the same one on TV. but in case you haven’t I know you would cherish it as I have.

Jacqueline, I am a widow also, and I know just how you feel and what you are going through. I stayed in my home too for almost a year, when I decided to sell and return to my home town which has helped a lot, although I am twenty-five or more years older than you and don’t have a family but the loneliness is just the same when your partner is gone. Although the sadness decreases as the years go on, but you will always miss him, as I know I have and it is going on four years that he is gone.

I am sending you a prayer that helped me so much. Our Faith means so much to us, so have Faith and keep praying.

Sincerely
P.S. I am sure that when you moved out
of the Whitehouse thousands more like I
move out with you.
Mrs. Catherine Rassche

BALTIMORE, MD.
JAN 28-1964

Dear Mrs. Kennedy:

After you have gotten your self a bit more together I’m hoping you will get around to this letter = If it’s God’s will I hope your heart have ease some what= we all morn with you over your lost, but we are still greatfull that
God
, left you here with the childrens (Caroline & John Jr.)

Would I be asking for to much if I would ask for a special favor? Mrs Kennedy you know; “I wish I could Own One of your HUSBAND’s SUIT!”? I would Cherish it to death if you would let me have one. = I’ve never own a real suit
made of such
worned by such a man like Mr Kennedy I would take great care of it! And if I couldn’t get a suit of his: would it be possible for me to get a picture of the family? or you & the Childrens?

Thanks
! & Truly yours
Chris K. Gatewood

HARRISBURG PA

DEC. 5 1963

Dearest Mrs Kennedy,

I am Just Able to write you of your Sorry not only yours but All of us I never had Something to hurt me So bad after the death of my one mother in January 1963

Darling all we Can do is Pray the good Lord will lighten our burdon

Just leave every thing to him and I declair he will fix for us Our President was not only a god blessed man he was a wonderful leader for all People little or big white or black it made no different with him.

I wrote him some time ago telling him that I had lost my job under the change of democrate to Rehublican with Mr Stranton and was buying my home and that my husband is not able to work never again and I am poor and I am colored and he took time to answer my letter showing me reinsurance [
reassurance
] that he would [
not
] let me loose my home every good President that we get Some one hafter take his life but one day there will be a nother good President and no man will be able to tuch him and that the good Lord.

I do believe Mr Johnson will make a nother good President If all the people stick with him me for one going out there and work on the pole from the time they open until they close if the good Lord is willing.

Mrs Kinnedy Please Send me some thing Personal of the President a pair of his socks or a Shirt Some thing I would like to have one of his Rocking Chairs if you not going to keep them I want some thing of his to keep in my living room for ever

PS. I always adore you for the love and care that you give to your Children they have a Sweet mother I wish you would visit me in Harrisburg I am colored and poor but Clean you are welcome any time

Please answer me back. So long for now
from
Grace Pinkney

NOV. 27, 1963

WALTHAM, MA.

My Dear Mrs. Kennedy,

I know you do not know me personally but I am one of the crew members of your Husbands P.T. 109

I wanted to send a telegram with my condolences but it seemed to cold & short.

Your husband was one of the greatest men I will ever have the honor to meet. I am only sorry I never had the honor to meet you, his wonderful wife.

I know the way he went was horrible but the Good Lord has mysterious ways of calling us to him.

You and your children are lovely & the whole world’s heart went out to You & them in the greatest trial I hope ever shadow’s your door.

I hope my feeling’s are legible in the above lines, but it has always been hard for me to put my feeling in writing & right now my heart is a little broken.

In my mind & heart you were married to one of the greatest men in our time & time to come. I do not think he would have hurt a soul intentionally he was that much of a Christian & if the rest of the world could have been the same there would be no more tragedy’s.

I want to wish You and your children all the happiness in the world, and thank you for taking the time to read my humble message.

Sincerely,
& Love to the Children
Charles A. Harris