John F. Kennedy, Jr.'s handwritten fourth grade composition, written on April 16-17, 1969 after a field trip to the Bethlehem Steel shipyard with his Collegiate School for Boys classmates (class of 1978), and chaperoned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. His essay is on one 8 x 10.5 lined sheet of composition paper and reads, 'When I am an adult, I will remember April 16, 1969 because it was my first time to go to a ship yard and it was nice to go on a rainy day. I've never seen a bottom of a ship such as the Cap Norte. It was more fun going on a ship from another country, especially from germany [sic]. It was very kind of the man to give us the helmets. We looked like a bunch of bobbin buoys or an army. I saw many ships and I learned about them too. I learned which was which - like a tanker and a freiter [sic] and all about a ship yard. What they did there. I saw a propeller shaft and a propeller. Signed at the conclusion, 'John Kennedy.' Eighteen of Kennedy's classmates compositions are included, each detailing the student's experiences of their trip to the shipyard. All of the essays were apparently gathered together and sent to the shipyard by Jacqueline Kennedy. She sent the essays along with an undated ALS to a gentleman at Bethlehem Steel, but written soon after the trip, in which she writes 'John's class wrote these compositions about their magical day at your ship yard. I thought they were so enchanting that it might amuse you to have them - With all thanks again, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.' Her letter and the compositions were then sent in the original mailing envelope, which accompanies this lot, addressed in Onassis' hand, with her signature 'Onassis,' appearing in the return address area of the envelope. Jacqueline Kennedy also sent a one page TLS, signed 'Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis,' dated April 17, 1969, sending thanks to a gentleman at Bethlehem Steel. In part, 'It is with deep appreciation that I write thanking you for all you did to make the morning at your ship yard such a truly memorable occasion for John and his classmates. In fact, it was the happiest day for all of us and I only wish you could have been with us - on the return trip - to hear the enthusiasm of all the children as they talked about all they had seen and what interested them most.' Accompanied by several original photos of the class and chaperones, taken on the trip, with John Kennedy visible in all of them and John and Jackie Kennedy together in two others. In fine overall condition, with mild toning and some light wrinkles to composition pages. A great early Kennedy piece, with provenance from none other than his mother. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
