Description:

Jacqueline Kennedy
n.p., November 13 [1968]
Jacqueline Kennedy to Card. Cushing After Marriage to Onassis: "…I will always be completely loyal to the Kennedys"
ALS
A superb content and very revealing autograph letter signed "Jacqueline", 5pp. 6" x 8.5", [n.p.], Nov. 13 [n.y. but ca. 1968], on "Christina" yacht letterhead to Archbishop Cardinal Richard Cushing of Boston, a close friend of the Kennedy family and who resigned after defending Jackie's marriage to Aristotle Onassis. Staple holes at top left corner of all pages, otherwise fine.

In part: "…I just wanted to write to you again not for any special reason - just because, as I told you, I am always thinking about you. With all that burst upon you - you still were so incredibly loving and thoughtful to send us a wedding telegram - which I don't think I ever thanked you for - which we feel is the only one that really matters. I want you to know - that all my grief over the pain I caused you is shared and felt as much by the man I married - when he goes back over it - and thinks out loud how differently he would have handled it - he doesn't speak of the pain it might have spared me or us - but ‘think of what we could have spared Cardinal Cushing' - or ‘look who takes the whole load of it - your friend Cardinal Cushing.' Because for him too, you were an unbelievable revelation of love and courage - and he would die for you too. I know I must not ever think of spilt milk - but in the beginning, Ari [Onassis] wanted to go to the Patriarch. And the Patriarch told him that if he (the Patriarch) could be in touch with you - he knew it could be handled smoothly in Rome. But I would not let him do that - because I was trying to do everything in the most honorable way with the Kennedys - everything I did, I did through them. They told me they had sent someone to Rome - (I wonder who he was - if he ever existed!) - and they would not let me go and ask your counsel - until in the end when I was just breaking down. I had to - and then I did that on my own and you so open heartedly received me. Everything you said to me about the Patriarch, your opinion of him - he says double of that about you. I don't think he admires anyone in the world as much. I would never tell all that to anyone but you, Your Eminence - as I will always be completely loyal to the Kennedys. I know they were upset. I am sure they are as miserable as anyone that all their actions in confusion ended by the mother of Jack's children being called a public sinner. Everything must have its good side also. Besides the torrent of hate mail - there are so many letters from people (Catholics and many who don't believe in anything) to whom you shared what God's love is - and I think you did more for Christ and for the Church than anyone except Pope John. And he was only praised for what he did - while look at all you had to suffer. When I come home - November 18 - I will telephone you if I may, Your Eminence. And when - or if ever – it does not cause even more difficulties for you - I would so love to come and pay my respects to you again. Except for my children - you are about the only person I care about seeing when I get home. And please know that there is one person who would crawl on his knees to Boston to pay his respects to you - though you may prefer that he doesn't - and that is Aristotle Onassis. With my deepest love Your Eminence - and my most profound respect - your Jacqueline."

Cushing's declaration that "Jacqueline Kennedy is free to marry whomever she wishes," caused a great deal of dissension among American Catholics, and he received reams of hate mail for urging "charity" towards Jacqueline in a speech made in Boston, as well as earning a formal contradiction from the Vatican. Although Liberals praised Cushing's attitude as being in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, conservatives grumbled that Cushing was condoning public sin. For Jacqueline, it was said that she "knowingly violated the law of the church," and thus was ineligible to receive the sacraments. Of this Cushing reportedly said: "And this idea of saying that she's excommunicated, she's a public sinner, what a lot of nonsense. Only God knows who is a sinner and who is not…We all have our faults, we all have our failings." (The Catholic Communicator, November 1968). Nonetheless, the court of public opinion would eventually have its say, and Cushing eventually resigned after defending Jaqueline's marriage to Onassis.

Cardinal Richard Cushing (1895-1970) Cushing served as the Archbishop of Boston between 1944-1970 and was appointed a Cardinal after 1958. He was a long-time friend of the Kennedy family who baptized many of the Kennedy children and helped John F. Kennedy when he was a presidential candidate to deflect fears of papal interference in American government if a Catholic became president. Cushing read an invocation at Kennedy's 1961 inauguration, and later conducted numerous televised funeral masses for the slain president in Washington, D.C. and Boston.

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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  • Dimensions: 6" x .8.5"
  • Medium: ALS

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