Unusually lengthy ALS signed “Jackie,” fourteen pages on five sets of adjoined sheets, 5.25 x 6.75, Hammersmith Farm letterhead, no date. Letter to her close girlfriend, Woodley. In full: "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 King about you — He said Bayard had gotten a letter from you & that you were fine but that your house was damaged & it was very hard as you had to start from scratch & 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 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 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) & 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 — & 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 to be with you — I know he wrote you a letter — Do write him back — though he probably wont 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 of the moment — He likes to analyze her & see 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 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 Navy I wasn't very scared!!! In the middle Mrs Corbin came flying in & said ‘Jackie you shouldnt be in here with all these old drunks — Come out on the porch with me’ — But Buddy wouldnt let me go & he & John were very attentive & it was fun — Then dinner at the M.K. 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 outside — 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 around me & starting 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 all 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 bc 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 she seemed to have a lot of sense & was so nice to me — I couldnt like her more — She & Bev & 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 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.” In fine condition, with some scattered mild toning.
Jackie penned this letter when she was in her teens and a student at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut. Its likely recipient was Jessica Leigh-Hunt Wood, or Jessie Wood, a friend from Newport, Rhode Island and later classmate at Vassar. Jackie wrote it from her childhood home, Hammersmith Farm in Newport, where the Kennedys would hold their wedding reception. During his presidency, Kennedy spent so much time at Hammersmith Farm that it was called the “Summer White House.” In the letter, Jackie mentions multiple friends and acquaintances, including her stepbrother Yusha (Hugh Auchincloss). Jackie had a number of beaus in her teens, but the flirtation never went beyond a chaste kiss. Speaking of Jackie’s letters to Woodley, Caroline Kennedy said, “In a life that was scrutinized so carefully, she considered her letters to be the one place where she could express herself freely, and in confidence." A chatty and unguarded letter providing a rare glimpse into the formative years of the future first lady. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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