Letters to Jackie (5 page)

DALLAS, TEXAS

Dear Mrs Kennedy,

I would like too express my sympathy in losing your most wonderful husband

Mrs. Kennedy I was one of the ladies choosen from my Church St. Pius X to serve the dinner at the Trade Mart.

I was so proud and thrill too know I would get to see you and your beloved husband and all the party with you all.

I couldn’t hardly sleep or eat knowing that we ladies were going to serve.

We ladies had everything prepare and just waiting for you all too come too the Trade Mart. My heart just fell when we heard the sad news and I felt like it was one of my family. I wish I could do something more for you and your children. But the only thing I can offer is too pray to God for you and your children.

I will never forget you and Mr. Kennedy. I pray for his soul every night and ask God too take good care of you and your children. May God Alway Bless You.

Mr & Mrs. Frank Cuchia

JANUARY
6, 1964

DENTON, TEXAS

Dear Mrs. Kennedy,

Regardless of my knowledge that you will probably never see this letter, I am writing to express my deepest sorrow over the death of your husband.

Having grown up in a strongly Republican family, I was most dis
heartened after the 1960 election. I was not a Kennedy supporter; in fact, I was bitterly disappointed when he won. It has been only in the past few months that I had come to a realization of your husband’s greatness and value to us all. On the eve of your Texas visit, I finally reached the conclusion that President Kennedy was a great president and that I would vote for him in the 1964 election.

I tell you this boring history that you may know that my overwhelming and lingering sorrow at his death came not from an emotional attachment to an extremely popular man and name, but as the result of serious consideration in light of his proven ability.

My anguish at his death was probably heightened by the fact that on the morning of Nov. 22, I waited in front of the Trade Mart in Dallas to catch a glimpse of you and the President. To this hour I can still feel the same horror and grief I felt then when I understood the delay in reaching the place where I stood.

As a student of history, I know the memory of the American public to be short. In the coming months many people will forget the horror of that black Friday and the exhilaration of your husband’s administration. But I will not forget. And I join with you in the belief that “there was once a spot; for one brief, shining moment that was known as Camelot.”

Most sincerely,
Carol Oakey

DEC
-17-1963
TEAGUE, TEXAS

Dear Mrs. Kennedy, Carolyn and John John,

I am a person of poor education as you will see, but I wrote President Kennedy a letter of gratitude for all the many things he had done for us the American people and as I was sending out greetings to friends and loved ones, I felt impressed to write our Dear President, so in my feeble way I sent a greetings to him and you his wonderful fam
ily last year. And I received a letter of thanks from his secetary to my happy surprise.

I am still stuned and grieved over the horrable death he met so suddenly on Nov–22–1963 in Dallas Texas. I had watched on T V your visit to Sanantone, Houston, Ft worth and Dallas, which is 100 miles to the north of us. I was watching the parade and thinking how Happy you and our President were over the warm welcome from the people of Dallas, when at a split second we noticed that the presidents car also the Vice presidents car, had turned and left the parade, of course we were very upset, then the news flash just in seconds gave us the sad news that our Dear President had been shot.

My daughter and I were having lunch celebrating her birthday the 22nd we stoped and folding our hands in prayer we ask the Good Lord, if it was his will to be with our president to heal, and spare his life, but in just a short time there was another news flash, that our wonderful President had died from the cruel snippers bullet. And I want to commend you Dear mrs Kennedy for your great courage at that time. And altho I’m sure your life and the lives of your darling children can never be the same, I believe in God and I will continue to pray for the presence of the Lord to ever be near you and that his holy angles will watch over you and your children and that you will have the peace of God in your heat that passeth all understanding during this Xmas season and on through life.

Mr and Mrs J Harper

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

JANUARY
17, 1964

Dear Mrs Kennedy,

May I extend my heartfelt sympathy and prayers to you and your family? I do so admire your courage and strength. It has been an inspiration to me the way you have conducted yourself. You see Mrs Kennedy, my husband died of a heart attack while sitting at the table drinking a glass of
milk on Friday, November 22, at about the same time your husband and our beloved President was killed. We were listening to the news about your husband when my husband had his attack. His last words were “how could anyone have such hate in his heart that he could do such a thing to our President.” My sixteen year old son came in at that time from school and was with me when he died. He died not knowing for sure the President was dead. My husband was 46 years old also—born in April, 1917. We have five Children—four boys and one girl. Our oldest boy is 22 years old and doing graduate work at Brown University in Prov. R.I. My youngest is nine years old and in the 4th grade. My husband was a retired Army Major.

I feel so for your young children. Mine are older and will remember their father real well.

My prayers will be with you and your family in the difficult days ahead. I can truly sympathize with you as I am going through the same adjustment—that of adjusting your life without the man you love by your side.

Sincerely, Margaret McLean

NOV
. 22 1963
FORT WORTH, TEX.

Dear Mrs. Kennedy,

I was at school when I heard about the President. I cried for two or three minuts. My mother also cried, and so did my teacher Mrs. Mansir. I was very sad for President Kennedy. He was my friend even though he didnt know me. Some of my school mates hid their faces in their arms in sadness. I told my father that I wish we could have you and your children to care for. Today I saw you and your husband at Carswell Air Forse Base. He was happy. It was terrible to have him shot. Ive been watching T.V. sense 3-40, friday. I respected him, I liked him. Would you please if you can send two photographs of you and President Kennedy. Thank you.

David Blair McClain

BEACON, NEW YORK

NOVEMBER 22, 1963

My dear Mrs Kennedy,

I know that in a tragic day like today, I shouldn’t be silly enough to write you a letter. And I know you probably won’t read this, and I will never have an answer. I am writing this in school. During the changing of classes there was a rumor that your husband had been shot. Nobody believed it. Nobody wanted to. I went back to my room and told my teacher about this rumor. She didn’t say much. About 5 minutes later, the principal announced over the intercom that the President had passed away. My teacher broke down in tears. No one else did because no one believed it. We got a radio and sat in class to listen to the news. Slowly, as I looked around, I saw everyone break down. The principal, the superintendent of schools and everyone was crying. The nurse came to my room to say that her office was packed with hysterical pupils, and that if any of us wanted to go to her office we could. I went because I was a nervous
wreck. As I walked through the halls I noticed an unusual calm. I knew the rumor was true. I have grown up with[out] a father. Last year the head man on my list, my grandfather, passed away. Since then your husband was the man I looked up to. Your husband was the greatest President that I have ever heard of. I feel that I knew him as a man and a friend, not the head of a country. As I write this letter I burst into tears, over the loss of a great man. You had a great husband, and his memory will last forever.

Thank you for listening.

Sincerely,
Nancy Ashburn

P.S. I wish they would let me get my hands on the assassinator.

11/22/63
LYNBROOK, NY

My dear Mrs. Kennedy,

Now that I have started this letter I find how difficult it is to express sympathy for a loss as great as yours. Some would resort to tears. Some may be shocked into silence. Some would merely shrug and try to pretend that it never happened. My school showed sympathy with a traditional “half-mast” of the flag.

I cannot be traditional nor shrugging nor silent nor tearful. Many times I keep my deepest feelings to myself as I am keeping this expression of grief a secret from my family.

The news of Mr. Kennedy’s death was announced to me between classes. I felt, of course, astonishment then pain. A knot built up in my throat and tears threatened to overflow. My mind was briming with denials of the cold, hard fact that the President was dead. After school I hurried home only to find my news had reached there before me. On the way home I glanced at people going about their every day lives and I wondered if they knew. I was the messenger, the Mercury, to tell all of them what had happened. I tried to yell but the words stuck in my throat and found no release.
The only relief I felt was upon stroking my dog’s head and watching the blue violet clouds go by, seeming to know of the tragedy for all their color.

Your husband’s death reminded me of another in Stephen Crane’s
The Red Badge of Courage
:

“…I see’ a feller git hit plum in th’ head when my reg’ment was a-standin’ at ease onct. An’ everybody yelled out to ’im: Hurt, John? Are yeh hurt much? ‘No,’ ses he. He looked kinder surprised, and he went on tellin’ ’em how he felt. He sed he didn’t feel nothin’. But, by dad, th’ first thing that feller knowed he was dead. Yes, he was dead—stone dead….

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Dear Mrs. Kennedy,

I am a Catholic also, I go to Saint Georges School. I can remember Nov. 21, the day before you came. We go to mass every day, then we go to lunch. This day was different, after mass our pastor told us to sit down. I wondered to myself “Whats going on?”) Then he told us some wonderful news “Our wonderful president and his lovely wife are comming tomorrow.” Then terrible news “Only the 7th and 8th graders are going,” and wouldn’t you know I’m in the 6th grade! I couldn’t stand it! They got to go and I dident!

But we got to watch you on T.V. (There was such a big crowd, they didn’t get to see you anyway.) When you dident come, we got worried. Our class clapped when President Kennedy came, yet when you dident arrive, it left us wondering. We noticed that he didn’t smile. His first realy and truly grin, was when he saw you. Everyone in our classroom cheered and appualed. What excitement.

After mass we went to the chior pratice. I am an alto. We heard the phone ring, and after a moment she hung up (our principle Sister Leanardice) and rushed away. Everyone but me, was calm. I sencted something wrong. Then the mikeraphone was turned on, an a sad voice said “Kneel down and pray, the president has been shot.

Nearly everyone broke into tears. I tried to control myself. Then we heard that he was dead. I couldn’t believe it. Nancy Keeney who can’t controle herself, and who had cried sence he had been shot fainted, I almost did. We went for the lowering of the flag. Then we said a rosary for him. Everyone even me, cried, except for Debra De Milo, all she worried about was war. I got mad and told her “Fine time to worry about war. The president is dead, worry about him, he’s more important.

That evening large headlines covered our newspapers front page. Kennedy slain, Connally wounded. I wish I was as brave as you.

My sister goes to Incarnet Word said that his hair was surprisingly light.

If at all possible send me a picture of your family. Also if you have any time tell me a little about your family.

Mary McMillen

At least I can say, “The president had his last meal in my town. I can also say “I was born in Warshington D.C. (Doctors Hosbitle)

Yours Sincerly
Mary

NOV
, 23, 1963

Dear Mrs. Kennedy,

As I and many other people of the United States heard the shocking new of our late husband Mr. J.F. Kennedy made us bust out in tears. When I heard the shocking news the tears came out of my eyes very fast. I felt so bad. Then all of a soden I stop crying and thought about you. As I was thinking I said to my self I said how does poor Mrs Kenedy feal as she sat beside her husband when he was shot. Then when I went home from school I found my grammother sitting down in front of the television set. And I could see she was crying. So I said what’s the matter gram. She said she had heard the shocking news, and was thinking how you must of felt. Because in 1926 she was setting on the front pourch of her house with my gramfather when a group of man drove by the house in a car and shot my gramfather in the chest 3 times. Instintly he died. So she said she nows how you must feal.

I send my greatest simpathy to you and your family.

Very Truly yours
Jo-Ann Palumbo

P.S.

I think God said he wanted your husband the man who searved his country well to join him in heaven now and no other time. God bless you and your children.

Jo-Ann Palumbo