Rare book from the personal library of President John F. Kennedy: The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1953. Unsigned. Hardcover with gilt text to spine and debossed Great Seal of the United States to the front cover, 8.25 x 11.5, 1361 pages. The front pastedown bears the ownership bookplate of President Kennedy, which consists of the presidential seal over capitalized name text: “John Fitzgerald Kennedy.” In fine condition, with some light wear to the head and tail of the spine. Accompanied by a Sotheby’s auction label, which was formerly affixed to the page adjacent to the title page, indicating that this book was sold as part of their prestigious ‘The Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ sale, which was held April 23-26, 1996.
As a senator from Massachusetts, Kennedy spoke at the National Conference on Constitutional Rights and American Freedom, held in New York on October 12, 1960, and offered these thoughts: ‘The Constitution is a wonderful document and it gives great powers to the President and great influence. It is, as Franklin Roosevelt said, above all a place for moral leadership, and as this is a moral question, it is upon the President the central responsibility will bear.’ A remarkable Kennedy artifact deriving from the historic bookshelves of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
