Description:

Jacqueline Kennedy
Newport, RI, ca. 1947
Longest Jackie Kennedy ALS - 14pp Among Most Interesting Extant - Teen Jackie Gossips About Love Interests, Dances & Cocktail Parties, PSA Authenticated
ALS

Jacqueline Kennedy (1929-1994). Fascinating lengthy autograph letter written by a teenage Jackie Bouvier to her girlfriend Woodley filled with the gossip of youth, signed "Jackie". 14pp, recto and verso, on Hammersmith Farm bifold stationery, 5.3" x 6.75", Newport, Rhode Island, circa 1947. Paper shows mild toning with isolated areas of foxing but overall very fine and boldly signed. Accompanied by a PSA Letter of Authenticity.

This letter presents some of the most interesting content we have seen from the former First Lady of the United States. The intimate tone of the letter reads like any other teen girl's correspondence: boosting her friend by telling her of all the admirers she has in Newport, dishing about the boys who were courting her, and even confiding she was writing the letter while at school "at the expense of U.S. History". Although the letter is undated, context clues allow us to deduce it is during the fall of 1946 or 1947, before the young Jackie Bouvier attended college or met John F. Kennedy, likely around the time she made her debutante debut in New York City's high society (the letter references "all the debs"). The fact that this ALS is written on Hammersmith Farm stationery also allows us to date it after 1942, when her mother remarried stockbroker and lawyer Hugh D. Auchincloss Jr. after divorcing Jacqueline's father. Hammersmith Farm was one of Auchincloss's properties at which Jackie began summering after her mother married him. The letter also references "Yusha" [Auchincloss], Hugh's son and Jackie's stepbrother, with whom she formed a close friendship.

The letter in full and separated by page for ease of reading:

"Dear Woodley -
I'm back in school now and this is the first chance I've had to answer your letter, I've been dying to - for it will make me think of summer all over again + I miss it so - At John Sterling's cocktail party the other day I talked to Nicky

2) King about you - he said Bayard had gotten a letter from you + that you were fine but that your house was damaged + it was just like living in war time England - You never tell me things like that Woodley - You are the most uncomplaining person I've ever seen - I hope it isn't too awful - I'll send you anything you want -
That's the most exciting thing I've ever heard of in my life - Bayard giving you that watch - + then you ask me if I think

3) he likes you - Not much - Just enough to spend $100's of dollars on you! I know he likes you for since you went away I've never seen him with any other girl except dancing + he never seemed to be rushing anyone - + don't worry about Diana Lanier - she goes around with Nicky + some decrepit Navy officers. You really have a devout

4) follower in Henry Ripley - He said to me at the beach one day - "Last year Woodley just used to go around with you (me) + Tanya but this year Bayard + I + Bob Ohst + Danny someone + Turk all miss her terribly + he said how much all the debs - Bunny + Sylvia etc liked you- (That was sweet of Bunny to give you those sweaters)

5) + he said Newport wasn't the same without you + how he saw you off on the bus or something.
I just read your letter over + looked at the picture of the watch - It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen Woodley - You're a born artist - I'd rather have that than an engagement ring. You must come back next summer - Do you think the Domingues' will - I know in a few years Bayard will want to settle down - The reason those boys don't marry now is because they don't want to be tied down before they've had a chance to make a good start in the world - in business - + it's always surer to last if they sow their wild oats first - But you + Bayard are so perfect together - He's just the kind of man I've always thought you would marry - +

6) you have so much fun together + so much in common - I know it would work - so just stay in there pitching + soon I expect to be your bridesmaid -
You also have Yusha as an admirer - He told me that he had long talks with you before you left + how interesting you were + that you were the only girl in Newport that he really felt he could trust - + it was such a wonderful thing to find that he always wanted

7) to be with you - I know he wrote you a letter - Do write him back - though he probably won't be able to answer too soon as he's laden with work at Groton -
If you come back next summer he'll be waiting with open arms as I think Tanya is but a thing at the moment - He likes to analyze her + see

8) what makes her tick - but he doesn't have much respect for her.
Now I'm going to tell you what I've been longing to all thru this letter. At the end of the summer - after you left + I got back from Hot Springs - Buddy started giving me a vague rush + John Sterling too - Buddy took me home from the Sates dance as I wasn't allowed to go to the beach dance. I couldn't think of much to say to him though - Then a week or so later I went to the movies with him + John - Buddy did most of the talking- but it was fun as he + John were sort of stooges for each others jokes + me in the middle - + we laughed the whole time -
Then alot of the girls went away + the last Thursday nite beach dance some people decided to have at the

9) last minute - Buddy + John took me + first we went to Buddy's house for cocktails - The other girls were Betty Corbin, Diana Lanier, Nancy Andrews + scads of the Navy I wasn't very scared!!! In the middle Mrs Corbin came flying in + said "Jackie you shouldn't be in here with all these old drunks - come out on the porch with me" - But Buddy wouldn't let me go + he + John were very attentive + it was fun - Then dinner at the M.K.

10) Betty + Diana's dinner - Then the dance - It was bliss - Buddy danced with me every second + John quite a lot - Buddy + I had a heavenly long talk - But just about N.Y. niteclubs + people there - which I've decided is as serious as he can get - John gave me his Brooks ring - but it was when Buddy + I were sitting outside + he came over + sort of put his arm

11) around me + started talking quietly + gave it to me - so it wasn't very serious - They drove me home + I think Buddy was a little tipsy for he had his arm around me + leaned awfully close + sort of talked + if I'd turned around to look at him we would have been practically kissing each other - But @x!!*! whenever something exciting like that happens John is always there - + when it happens with John - Buddy's there - we went to the movies a couple of more times - the 3 of us + sometimes Steven Spencer - whose really awfully sweet came - Once the 3 of us went sailing + it was heavenly - Then 1 nite we went to Marie Hill's picnic which we ate sprawled over her house + people played the piano + sang old songs + we toasted marshmallows on matches - It was the most fun I've had all summer - John brought Edie Sate be -

12) I'd told Buddy I'd go with him, but she wanted to go home early + John didn't so she left with a Navy Guy - They were both sweet - It was really good clean fun for Newport - People vaguely rough housed + they carried me around on their shoulders + Julie Dirks stood on her head + Nancy Andrews did acrobatics - Oh Boy
The next day Alison Kelsey came down for the weekend to stay with Buddy @x!!*! Damn! She couldn't be sweeter I don't know how deep she is but

13) she seemed to have a lot of sense + was so nice to me + I couldn't like her more - She + Ben + John + I + Steven went to the movies - Then John + Buddy had to go back to Harvard Sun. but they came back + I went out with them Mon. + Tues nites - but nothing much happened - Buddy said

14) he'd take me out at Xmas + once John said something about a Harvard dance but I'm sure he's forgotten - I don't think they'll write me but that doesn't keep me from hoping like mad! I don't like Buddy as much as I did - He's pretty shallow but has a lot of sweetness - + I love to talk to John + he's a wonderful person but there's no physical attraction - so I'm in love with no one which is much more comfortable!
I must go now - this was all at the expense of U.S. History but to H_ _ _ with that - write back soon Woodley - It's the queerest feeling having you miles away across an ocean + not just at Dana Hall - but I won't let myself be morbid about it as I know + hope + pray that you'll be at Newport next summer - You know what a wonderful friend I think you are + I always will + I'll miss you terribly all winter
All my Love
Jackie"

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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