ALS signed “xxoo, Jackie,” four pages on two sheets, 5 x 7.75, personal ‘Mrs. John F. Kennedy’ letterhead, postmarked on July 20, 1954. Addressed from the Merrywood estate in McLean, Virginia, a handwritten letter to close friend Shirley Oakes, in full: “I called Susie, only to find you had fled to Peru. I do pray you still might be going over as it would be such heaven if we could do something in the beginning of Sept, before you go back to work + me back to moving into a new house. Just the thought of the fun we could – & have had in Europe together makes me wish I could get you to sign a contract in blood that we'd do it every year! Anyway here are my plans — The Kennedys have rented a house near Cannes for August. They want Jean + I to spend the last week there. Blissful as that sounds, I think it will be rather a family week + we will all be doing things together. But then for the next 2 weeks I don't know what to do + I refuse to waste those 2 precious weeks I've been dreaming about, just bobbling around calling up friends who will all be gone away for the summer. I would like to go to Rome for a few days + get some clothes + look at paintings. Tish Baldridge who lives in Washington + was Mr. Bruce's secretary in Paris, is Claire Luce's secretary in Rome + she always has heavenly things up her sleeve so at least we'd have her there. Would you like to meet me in Rome then. Then we could drive to Austria or whatever that lovely plan was we talked about on the phone. Do let me know as soon as you can as it's getting closer + closer. We'll definitely be in DC till the beginning of August. I now end this letter in fear + trembling that you can't, but anyway, I shall hope. I know you are having a delicious time in Chile. I wish you would move in with us next year + be Jack's legislative assistant!” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original hand-addressed mailing envelope.
John and Jackie Kennedy had been married for less than a year, in September 1953, and the lease on their first house had expired in June 1954. They returned to one of Jackie's childhood homes, the Merrywood estate in Virginia because John was scheduled to undergo a risky back surgery in October and would need time to recover.
Shirley Oakes was a childhood friend of Jacqueline Kennedy (then Jacqueline Bouvier). They were classmates at Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut. The two maintained their friendship throughout their lives, with Shirley Oakes Brunson (as she became known after marriage) remaining part of Jackie Kennedy's social circle.
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