Letters to Jackie (35 page)

My very deepest sympathy to you and your children during this bleak period of adjustment and activity.

Very truly yours,
Sheila J. Lynch

Authors often dream about writing acknowledgments—the pleasure that awaits the completion of an intense project. But never have I so looked forward to expressing my gratitude than in the case of this book. My debts to those who helped make it possible are legion. First thanks go to the extraordinary letter writers and their heirs who responded to requests for permission to publish with such heartwarming generosity. Their kindness, their memories of their loved ones, of President Kennedy, of their lives, and of the state of the country in 1963 inform every page of this book. In only a very few instances did those who were approached decline to give permission to publish. All had good reasons, which, of course, have been honored. But it is revealing that none of those reasons involved a change in the sentiment expressed in their, or their family member’s, letter. Thank you to one and all for making it possible to bring these letters to the public. The time the letter writers took to write to Jacqueline Kennedy not only reflects their personal thoughtfulness and generosity, it preserves for future generations an important part of our history.

My second debt of absolutely enormous proportions goes to the tireless, imaginative, dedicated, and oh so patient team of permissions researchers who found the letter writers—Mary Dalton Hoffman, Sarah Thorson Little, Ellen Lohman, Ann Louise Rossi, and Josh Sucher. Sarah Miller-Davenport’s excellent sleuthing through court records in Chicago at the
eleventh hour made her an honorary member of the group. The willingness of all these individuals to undertake a seemingly impossible task made the book a reality. Without genealogist extraordinaire Sarah Thorson Little there would have been no
Letters to Jackie
. The fact that I found Sarah through letter writer Ann Lounsbery Owens only deepened the sense that we were all in it together—thank you, Ann. Mary Dalton Hoffman led us all with her amazingly cheerful and resolute determination to find the letter writers nearly a half century after they penned their messages. Her sense of humor, good judgment, and support kept me—and the whole permissions group—going on many occasions. I gratefully acknowledge as well the valuable assistance of the New England Historic Genealogical Society and genealogist Polly FitzGerald Kimmitt. The staff at the John F. Kennedy Library proved unfailingly helpful and gracious with my unceasing requests for assistance. Thank you to the Library’s director, Tom Putnam, for his early encouragement and to Chief Archivist Allan Goodrich for granting me access to unprocessed materials as well as sharing his knowledge of the collection and all things related to President Kennedy. Archivists Sharon Kelly, Stephen Plotkin, and Michael Desmond not only found all the material I was looking for, they kept this scholar steady company in the beautiful research room at the library overlooking Dorchester Bay during the time I spent there reading thousands of condolence letters. Laurie Austin’s assistance in locating photographs uncovered many of the wonderful images in the book. The dedication and professionalism of all made research at the John F. Kennedy Library a pleasure for this historian.

To Lauren Dinger, my devoted research assistant, and to Elizabeth Armstrong who recommended Lauren, my deep appreciation. Whether through photo research, tracking down citations, proofing letters, organizing thousands of archival documents, contacting letter writers, and an endless array of additional tasks, Lauren’s efforts shaped and enriched this study. I thank her for all that she did and for being so good-natured while she did it. Leslie Hendrickson and Kelly Gu did yeoman’s work early in the project that provided a solid footing for the book. Genevieve Smith contributed her superb fact-checking skills late in the process. I am very grateful for their efforts.

Bette White and Lynda Gaudiana undertook, with utter selflessness, the very difficult task of transcribing the letters. Their skill, interest in the letters and the writers, commitment, and unflagging support—all of it exceeding even the most capacious bounds of a nearly forty-year shared friendship—made it possible to complete the manuscript. It’s hard to imagine the book without them and without Russ’s good cheer as value added.

Nancy Tuckerman was very gracious about answering my questions. Her observations and memories added substance and texture to the story. I thank her very sincerely for her willingness to speak with me about the condolence letters.

Several historians provided excellent advice as I prepared this study. Robert Dallek offered encouragement at the start of the project. Robert Clark, supervising archivist at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, answered crucial questions. I benefited enormously from the comments on Kennedy, civil rights, and race offered by several outstanding scholars of African American and/or Southern history—Jacqueline Jones, J. William Harris, John Dittmer, Catherine Clinton, and Vanessa Northington Gamble. Bill Harris read not one but three drafts of some material, improving each one with his suggestions. Jim Lehrer offered valuable assistance as I explored events in Dallas.

Much of the work on this book was completed during the year I spent at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. To the staff and fellows of the Institute, my very sincere thanks for your assistance, intellectual energy, and delightful company. To Judy Vichniac, director of the fellowship program, a special thanks for friendship, support, and generosity. Emma Rothschild’s encouragement also meant a great deal to me. The “book crisis group”—Judy Coffin, Susan Faludi, Willy Forbath, and Russ Rymer—made the year at Radcliffe so special. Our evenings together discussing our work combined fun—hilarity!—and great conversation about books and history. Thank you all for your friendship, and those memorable evenings. To Gail Mazur, brilliant poet and wordsmith, as well as dear friend, enduring gratitude for reading sections of the manuscript and offering so many superb insights and observations. Sara Rimer, Kit and Jane Reed, and Ellen Roth
man urged me to undertake a history that might reach a wider public—I’m grateful for their frequent infusions of courage.

The entire Ecco group has earned my admiration as well as enormous gratitude for their commitment and incredible skill at every stage of the process. Thanks to Allison Saltzman, Rachel Bressler, Greg Mortimer, Michael McKenzie, Rebecca Urbelis, Mary Austin Speaker, John Jusino, Doug Jones, Carla Clifford, Kate Pereira, Jeanette Zwart, and the remarkably efficient and dedicated Abigail Holstein. Dan Halpern’s commitment to the project made it happen, as did, most of all, my editor, the amazing Lee Boudreaux. Lee somehow manages to improve a book with such a deft touch that the author hardly senses the transforming alterations! Her commitment to and enthusiasm for the book, as well as her graciousness, have sustained me. It’s been a pleasure to work with Lee and the Ecco staff.

At so many points along the way, this was a project that might not have been. But the person who opened the door and kept it ajar was Lindy Hess, who understood the idea, valued its purpose, and remained steadfast and enthusiastic as I carried out the project. Among her many selfless and generous acts was an introduction to Scott Moyers. Scott’s belief in the book, his wisdom, warmth, and brilliant advice shaped all that followed. Revan Miles helped me to understand better what I was reading in the condolence letters—a gift I can only acknowledge but never adequately describe.

My family and friends listened patiently as I made my way through these remarkable letters, and, along with Winslow, kept me company through the writing. (My mother and my sister Maureen also offered sage advice about the project.) I thank them for being by my side through this and all my other life adventures.

The letter writers or their heirs were invited to provide a brief biographical statement about the letter writer. Some wished to remain largely anonymous, while others offered varying material and observations. Their remarks form the basis for the information offered below. Data on some deceased letter writers has been acquired through genealogical research in public records.

Albert, Mrs. Clytus

Anna Lou Albert was born and raised in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, one of eight children. A devout Catholic, she was the mother of six children, and at the time of her death, she was a grandmother to ten. Although she had only limited education, Mrs. Albert wrote letters on all sorts of occasions. She was an excellent seamstress. Her daughter recalls that her mother “loved helping people and loved visiting people…she was a giver, a healer, and touched everyone that she came in contact with.” Mrs. Albert died at the age of sixty-nine from congestive heart failure.

Alley, Miller A.

Miller Alley’s son reports that his father “was sincere, very sincere with regard to the letter. He passed away in 1972 of a brain tumor. Dad loved to go fishing with his buddies.”

Andersen, Sue Ann

Sue Ann Anderson finished her university education in early child development and taught kindergarten in both private and public schools. She joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1984 and has worked in Papua New Guinea as a literacy consultant as well as facilitator for two New Testament translations.

Anderson, Susie

Susie Anderson had a successful career in accounting and is now semiretired in Arizona. She is the mother of a son. She still vividly recalls meeting John F. Kennedy.

Anonymous

This letter, addressed to “John-John” Kennedy, was unsigned and provided no return address.

Archer, Mrs. B. F. (Pearl)

Pearl Archer lived from April 1891 to September 1979. She was a homemaker who enjoyed baking pies and was active in the Eastern Star fraternal organization. Her son is now ninety-one and lives in a nursing home. He remembers clearly that his father, who worked for the railroad, died the same day and hour as John F. Kennedy.

Ashburn, Nancy

Nancy Ashburn graduated from high school in Beacon, New York. A talented musician who played the piano and the viola, she also attended nursing school and studied ballet. She worked in a variety of settings, including as a construction equipment operator for the New York Thruway Authority. In that capacity, she was a member of the rescue/recovery team sent to the World Trade Center after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. She died in March 2007 at the age of fifty-seven.

Asselta, Madge E.

Madge Asselta died of breast cancer in 1978. Her daughter recalls: “I was seventeen years old at the time of the assassination and I remember clearly the sadness in our home.”

Baines, Mrs. Doris

In 1967, Doris Baines and her family moved to Westover, Maryland. She was a wonderful cook who, her family reports, “became famous for her pastries. Everyone knew her as the ‘Cake Lady.’” Mrs. Baines is now eighty-one years old and resides in a long-term-care facility in Princess Anne, Maryland.

Barnes, Ricco

Ricco Barnes was incarcerated for armed robbery when he wrote to Mrs. Kennedy from the Cook Country Jail. His father served time in a state prison shortly after Ricco’s birth. Ricco lived a long life and died in 2008.

Becker, Mrs. Duane

Mrs. Becker and her husband farmed from 1942, the year they married, until 1977, when they retired and moved to Mondovi, Wisconsin. They were active Catholics and enjoyed fishing and playing cards. After her husband’s death in 2003, Mrs. Becker moved to a nursing home, where she lives at the present time.

Bedsow, Ethel

Ethel Bedsow was born in Saskatoon, Canada. She grew up in New York and attended college. She settled in Chicago after the war and worked with prisoners, helping them to further their educations. She instilled her love of literature in her son and stressed to him the importance of a good education. She loved books, played piano by ear, wrote poems, and had, her son observes, “the gift of sentimental prose, and she meant every word she wrote in her letter” to Mrs. Kennedy. She returned to New York to care for her mother and died there in 1987.

Bentley, Mary W.

Mary Ward Bentley was born into one very influential Rochester family and married into another. Her father-in-law, Sardius Delancey Bentley, was a prominent Rochester attorney, and both the Ward and Bentley families contributed to education, science, and civil rights initiatives in Rochester. Her great-niece Eleanor remembers her “as a very kind, gentle woman, who had great empathy for those around her.” Mary W. Bentley died in Rochester in February 1973.

Berkery, Margaret

Born in 1917, Margaret K. Berkery was interested in art, opera, and travel. She had a large cane collection that featured animal heads and was also known for her sense of fashion. She loved New York City and was devastated after the 9/11 terrorist attacks; she spent much of her professional life, until her retirement in 1982, working as an employment supervisor for a company located in the World Trade Center. She died in 2005.

Bethell, Thomas N.

Thomas N. Bethell writes that he “was a book editor in Boston when he wrote to Mrs. Kennedy.” In the mid-1960s he moved to Appalachia to work in the War on Poverty as a supervisor of VISTA volunteers and then as a reporter for the
Mountain Eagle
, a crusading Kentucky weekly newspaper (where he is still a contributing editor). During the 1970s he served as research director for the United Mine Workers of America. For the past thirty years he has been a self-employed writer-editor, policy analyst, and consultant in Washington, D.C. He is married to Katharine J. Bethell, a retired social worker, has two adult stepchildren, and, as of November 19, 2009, one grandson. Despite the passage of time, he remembers November 22, 1963, as if it were yesterday: “the pain and sorrow never really end.”

Bingle, Mrs. Charles

Mrs. Charles Bingle’s admiration of and loss of her own father, her daughter notes, strongly shaped Mrs. Bingle’s response to the death of President Kennedy. Her mother identified with Mrs. Kennedy. Her mother was a letter writer who followed events on television and then was often inspired to offer her own commentary. Mrs. Bingle died in 1983.

Blumberg, Lisa

Lisa Blumberg attended Wellesley College, where she majored in political science, and later went on to study at Harvard Law School. In addition to her career as a corporate counsel, she has been actively involved in the disability rights movement and has published essays on the subject. She recalls that “as an elementary school student in the early 1960s, I was inspired by President Kennedy to believe that anything was possible.”

Boling, Patricia Lee Rita Mary

Patti Boling has been married for thirty-seven years. She is the mother of three children and grandmother to five. She returned to work when her youngest child was in fourth grade and lives in central Ohio.

Bond, Beatrice Joan

Mrs. Bond was a deeply religious woman who enjoyed reading and letter writing. She died in 1985. Her daughter remembers her as the “epitome of kindness, caring, and compassion toward her fellow human beings.
”

Boner, Mrs. Linnie

Linnie Boner’s daughter observes: “My mother was one of the old-fashioned ladies of the past. Probably a lot closer to the Proverbs woman than any I have ever known. She passed away at the end of December 1999, just a few days short of seeing the new millennium, having turned ninety on November 3 that year.”

Boorey, Mrs. Natalie

Natalie Boorey enjoyed travel with her husband in her later years. She is deceased.

Borders, Mrs. Frank

Mrs. Borders’s daughter describes her mother as “a private outspoken lady who loved God, her garden, her family, and her country. She lived an unassuming life with few excitements other than births, deaths, and graduations. She didn’t do anything extraordinary except die of gangrene in 1993 and get her first anything published seventeen years later.” She notes that her mother “was very fond of President Kennedy and thought he could have done great things for the country if he had lived. She also thought that is why he was killed.”

Bradbury, Teresa

Teresa Bradbury was thirteen years old when she wrote to Mrs. Kennedy. She has one child and lives in a small town in Kentucky.

Bradley, Mrs. Joseph, Jr.

Veronica Bradley raised five children. She retained her admiration for John F. Kennedy and considered him to be “the best president we ever had.
”
She died in 2003 at the age of seventy-two.

Brenner, Peter

Peter Brenner died just five years after he wrote to Mrs. Kennedy. He had three daughters and seven grandchildren who recall “his heroism in World War II” as well as their “father at the manual Smith-Corona typewriter, fragrant pipe smoke wafting through the air, classical albums on the RCA, pouring his heart and soul into a letter that simply had to be written.”

Brooks, Mrs. Wilma

Wilma Brooks was born in Kentucky in June 1930. She grew up in Indianapolis and was married and divorced at a young age. She worked in various restaurants and was known for her pecan cinnamon rolls during her years of employment at a delicatessen in Indianapolis. She enjoyed cooking, worked very hard her entire life, enjoyed reading, and was close to her family. Although she had no children of her own, her sister notes that “she adored my children and put claim on them.” Raised a Baptist, she converted to Catholicism. Her family reports that she died in 1980 at the age of fifty on a hot afternoon, as she was in the middle of moving to a new apartment in Indianapolis. She was pulling her possessions in a wagon; the heat contributed to her death. Her mother and sister survive her.

Buerman, Fred

Fred Buerman survived to the age of ninety-six. He lived with his extended family and left a lasting impression on several generations. His granddaughter is now eighty-four years old. Mr. Buerman’s great-granddaughter remembers him “in his wheelchair with handlebar mustache and cigar. He would tell me stories of crossing the Mississippi River when it was frozen in a covered wagon.”

Burke, Roger L., Jr.

Roger Burke worked as a dishwasher at the Park Street Diner in Ayer, Massachusetts. The owner’s son remembers him as suffering from a physical disability that affected his speech. He was very bright and was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox. He moved away from Ayer when the diner was closed. He died in 1998 at the age of fifty-four in a church-sponsored home for those unable to find affordable housing.

Burril, Mrs. Andrew

Bertha Burril suffered from a severe heart condition from childhood and was not expected to live to adulthood. In fact, she survived to the age of seventy-six and had two daughters and two grandsons. Her grandson recalls that though she had only a third-grade education, she greatly impressed upon him the importance of education. She is remembered as a “good Christian lady” who “loved life” and was much adored by all who knew her.

Cannon, Irene

Mrs. Cannon lived twenty years after her letter to Mrs. Kennedy, dying at the age of eighty-two. Her son Joel, who became a real estate broker in Washington, D.C., reports that “she passed on her considerable writing skills” to his brother “Lou and his son, Carl, both of whom are successful and well-known journalists.”

Carriker, C. O.

Born in 1895, Charles Omer Carriker worked as a farmer and machine shop tool and die operator; later in life he owned and managed property. He was retired when he wrote to Mrs. Kennedy and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease not long after. Although he had only attended school until the fifth grade, he was self-taught and wrote a book on his life. Mr. Carriker died in March 1980.

Cates, Robert T.

Robert T. Cates, M.D., was born in Mississippi in 1927. He graduated from Mississippi State and went on to earn his medical degree from Tulane. He completed an internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and his residency at Baptist Hospital in Jackson. His daughter recalls that her father was a Mississippi family doctor who practiced medicine “the old way and was a brilliant man.” Dr. Cates enjoyed fly-fishing and duck hunting. He had two daughters, one of whom became a physician. He died in 1995.

Chapa, Minerva

Minerva Chapa Medrano became a highly regarded and much-honored elementary school teacher. Scolded when she first attended school for not knowing English, she went on to graduate from high school and to earn a bachelor’s degree from Defiance College and an M.A. in education. She died at the age of forty-four in 1993, leaving a husband, two daughters, her mother, and eleven siblings.

Chapman, Marjorie B. “Peg”

Marjorie Chapman came to the United States from London, England, in 1911, when she was eight years old. Her father was an Irish immigrant. She became a teacher and taught for nearly forty years. Her husband was also a teacher. Married for nearly sixty years, Mrs. Chapman and her spouse died within seventeen days of each other in 1985.

Charley, Pearl

Pearl A. Charley was born in Yakima County, Washington. She is an enrolled member of the Klickitat Band of the Yakama Indian Tribe. Her deceased brother, Leo Aleck, was the last medicine man for the Yakama tribe. She is eighty-three and resides in Okanogan County, Washington.