Typed and ALs, Jacqueline Kennedy writing from the hospital, 5 December 1960.
Date: 5 December 1960
Pages and Size: 11”x 8.5”
Rarity or scarcity: unique
Provenance: from the estate of Gladys Beauchamp, press secretary to Mrs. Kennedy, 1960.
Price: $2000.00
Condition: VG condition, with two old horizontal folds and a couple of very light old vertical fold impressions. There is also a tiny 3mm tear along the bottom left horizontal fold. (Condition grading is compared to the condition of the publication when it was new; to give a condition quote that states "good for its age" comparing something to a fluid state without a common denominator is almost without value, so the publication is compared to its condition when it was first published.)
The images I've included here accentuate the old folds--in "real life" (so to speak) the letter is nicer looking than in the scan. (Better to be pleasantly surprised than the opposite.)
This is a typed letter written to Jackie Kennedy from her press secretary, Gladys Beauchamp, in December 1960. This is the period following John Kennedy's election (3 November) and the birth of their son John Kennedy Jr. (25 November, 1960). Mrs. Kennedy was in Georgetown University Hospital from (at least) 25 Nov to her release on either 9 or 10 December following a difficulty and Cesarean delivery; the family left for Florida that day. Ms. Beauchamp reiterates that one of Mrs. Kennedy's doctors—Dr. Walsh—wants her to rest.
Ms. Beauchamp runs interference for Mrs. Kennedy, shielding her from inquiries and requests from correspondents and reporters for interviews and to respond to submitted questions. She does need to be clear that Mrs. Kennedy wants no interference from the media.
To Ms. Beauchamps' letter Mrs. Kennedy sends her handwritten responses at the bottom of the letter:
Mrs.. Kennedy's response:
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“Can't do any interviews before I get to Florida—or before I am in White House. None will be done in Florida. Please don't forward more any questions. I just can't cope with them now—Tell press I will cooperate fully with them once I am there—but I need this time for myself. Just say that very nicely to each person—as I am no doing ANYTHING till after Jan 20.
[And in response to a query about possible clashes between her inaugural gown and Lady Bird Johnson:]
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“My Inaug gown will be White—so I'm sure that anything Mrs. Johnson (wears?) will go with it. Thanks Gladys. Don't get too tired. Jackie”
Certainly Mrs. Kennedy wasn't feeling up to the images that were portrayed of her leaving the hospital--she was clearly not well.
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