Sold For $12,500
*Includes Buyers Premium
ALS signed “Jackie,” eight pages on four sheets, 5.25 x 7.5, White House letterhead, April 5, 1963. Handwritten letter to "Jack," the architect John Carl Warnecke, who developed the master plan for Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., and later conceptualized the eternal flame at JFK's grave site. Kennedy comments on his plans for Lafayette Square and offers a fascinating discussion of the early planning stages for John F. Kennedy's presidential library.
In part: "Thank you for your charming thank you letter—It was lovely to have you come with Lafayette Square—and it will be sad when you go—but I don't think you will for ages—Ethel's new wing may put you in Walter Reed—You add an insidious element of intrigue in your 'new existence as a bachelor' (which you try to make sound pathetic!—and which I find rather refreshing). Yes I am still interested—more than anything in Lafayette Square—The square is perfect because you kept it as it was—but I would love to see the designs of the big buildings behind as they near the final decision—as I rather forget them—I was so excited about saving the square—and I think it important they be marvelous in themselves (I am sure they are)—and they don't really have to harmonize with the square too much as how can you make a skyscraper harmonize with an old residential square.
And the gardens too I would love to do with you—maybe in early May—I will try and persuade Bunny Mellon–who is a genius at gardens—she redid the Rose Garden at the W.H. to come with us—as I am awful at gardens and she has such an eye—and is always longing to do new gardens—like King Stanislas, who built Nancy—I think she feels if she stops building or doing gardens she will die—She is helping me now with the grounds at the W.H. and though she is busy—I know I can lure her into this.
What fountains or pools in Europe can I ask you to look at that I love—Versailles the Italian chateaux—none of them would fit so you decide—I love fountains and the sound of splashing water in this hot city so maybe you—& maybe Bunny—will have some ideas.
About JFK's library—could you find out from Bill who will know who to ask about it? I don't know whose realm it is under—I hope Bernie Boutin's—but the $ still has to be raised. I haven't even seen the site—but I would love you to do research on it & so would he…just snoop around & be rather discreet—see what the buildings around it are like—if they are in a horrible modern part of Harvard…I hope it is in a brick & ivy part—as he likes old things & as I may spend my old age stamping tickets for tourists there—I don't want to be sitting in the Seagram building.
Also I suppose you should visit—or get plans & pictures of other Pres. libraries, Truman, Eis., Roosevelt—& figure out what the functions of a Presidential library are—filing—reading rooms—he wants a room that will be a replica of his office—a souvenir hall I suppose—with some things on exhibition—as that is what draws people—state presents—some of my dresses though I hate that idea. Arthur Schlesinger can tell you some of the working part of a library. I don't know how to pick the architect—I hope it is you—maybe the Dem. Nat. Committee promises it to the nephew of the man who raises the most $ for it—Bill will know all that—
I just passed Roosevelt's library at Hyde Park the day of Mrs. Roosevelt's funeral—it was one story—& low & inviting like a house—probably that is impractical for JFK's—but I would love it to be as much like that as possible—you could dig an enormous basement for files and there must be a private part—cut off from the throng of tourists & students where he can work—as that will be his office—& he will be writing a book or something—so 2 or 3 private rooms—even one I could creep off to—& a full bathroom—but you will have to see the site before we can think of any of this.
My house in Va. is so rustic a gazebo would make it look even more pathetic. You must come & see it when it is done as I designed it & learned so much from my mistakes & successes—but if you see 2 stone or lead 18th century (or copies) of 18th cent. sphinxes with ladies heads in Europe could you get them for me if they are not too fabulous ($)—as I have always longed for them * they will make me forget all the asphalt tile & asbestos roof & it does have an incredible site—against a great ledge of rock where there will be a secret rock garden with a waterfall."
She adds a postscript at the head of the first page: "P.S. Since I wrote this I spoke to JFK—He says it would be marvelous if you would go ahead & scout around. Also the exact location of his site is not set—so you might have suggestions on that—and thank heavens it is under GSA Bernie Bourin so you can find out who to contact at Harvard from him—I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this—J." Also includes a later TLS signed "Jackie," one page, 5.75 x 7.75, 1040 Fifth Avenue letterhead, November 1, 1983, in part: "How very thoughtful of you to send me the lovely flowers. I was most touched…Lafayette Square meant so much to Jack. You should be enormously pleased by the part you have played in making this tribute possible." In overall fine condition.
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library was originally intended to be built on the campus of Harvard University, near where Kennedy studied as an undergraduate. Plans for the library began shortly before his assassination in 1963, with Jacqueline Kennedy playing a central role in shaping its vision as both an archive and cultural center. Local opposition in Cambridge over concerns about traffic, construction, and environmental impact delayed the project for years. Ultimately, the site was moved to Columbia Point in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, where the library opened in 1979, designed by architect I. M. Pei.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$75.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
