Jackie Kennedy’s Letter to Khrushchev: My Last Night In The White House

[big_dog]

Jackie Kennedy’s Letter to Khrushchev: My Last Night in the White House

About a week after JFK was assassinated, Jacqueline Kennedy wrote to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev ‘on one of the last nights I will spend in the White House.’ From The Letters of John F. Kennedy. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/19/jackie-kennedy-s-letter-to-khrushchev-my-last-nights-in-the-white-house.html

Washington, December 1, 1963.

Dear Mr. Chairman President,

I would like to thank you for sending Mr. Mikoyan as your representative to my husband’s funeral.

He looked so upset when he came through the line, and I was very moved.

I tried to give him a message for you that day—but as it was such a terrible day for me, I do not know if my words came out as I meant them to.

So now, in the last night I will spend in the White House, in one of the last letters I will write on this paper at the White House, I would like to write you my message.

I send it only because I know how much my husband cared about peace, and how the relation between you and him was central to this care in his mind. He used to quote your words in some of his speeches-”In the next war the survivors will envy the dead.”

You and he were adversaries, but you were allied in a determination that the world should not be blown up. You respected each other and could deal with each other. I know that President Johnson will make every effort to establish the same relationship with you.

The danger which troubled my husband was that war might be started not so much by the big men as by the little ones.

While big men know the needs for self-control and restraint—little men are sometimes moved more by fear and pride. If only in the future the big men can continue to make the little ones sit down and talk, before they start to fight.

I know that President Johnson will continue the policy in which my husband so deeply believed—a policy of control and restraint—and he will need your help.

“You and he were adversaries, but you were allied in a determination that the world should not be blown up.”
I send this letter because I know so deeply of the importance of the relationship which existed between you and my husband, and also because of your kindness, and that of Mrs. Khrushchev in Vienna.

I read that she had tears in her eyes when she left the American Embassy in Moscow, after signing the book of mourning. Please thank her for that.

Sincerely,
Jacqueline Kennedy

[Tansy_Gold]

1. Interesting quote

"While big men know the needs for self-control and restraint—little men are sometimes moved more by fear and pride. If only in the future the big men can continue to make the little ones sit down and talk, before they start to fight. "

[MADem]

8. We probably could do with a few more big (and little) women in charge around the world.

They couldn't do a worse job, I don't think. And they don't seem to have as much of a need to bully others into submission; they prefer consensus as a starting point.


That is quite the letter, given the times, though.

[pinto]

2. The danger which troubled my husband was that war might be started...

"The danger which troubled my husband was that war might be started not so much by the big men as by the little ones."

Touching letter.

[truedelphi]

4. Indeed it is touching. And it is so beautifully written. n/t

[truedelphi]

3. She and Bobby Kennedy together later contacted Russian officials, due to how they

Came to perceive that the "Official Story" of the Kennedy Assassination did not pass muster.

[Demeter]

5. A true First Lady

[KT2000]

6. Beautiful sentiments

and beautifully written at a difficult time for her.
Such graciousness is hardly seen anymore.

[mc51tc]

7. She had total respect for LBJ.

and it shows in this letter. I have listened to some of the telephone conversations from the LBJ Library between the two of them after Dallas. Listen and you will be surprised. The soft side of Lyndon Johnson is very prevalent. He even calls her again in March 1965 offering Air Force One to her and friends to attend a JFK dedication. He admired and respected Mrs. Kennedy. The phone tapes have shown me a whole different LBJ than what most people thought of him during his years as President.

You can listen to the LBJ phone recording here:

http://millercenter.org/expressionengine.php/presidentialrecordings/johnson

[Myrina]

9. Grace and class ... something so many GOP/media people lack.

"While big men know the needs for self-control and restraint—little men are sometimes moved more by fear and pride. If only in the future the big men can continue to make the little ones sit down and talk, before they start to fight."

Needs engraved and hand-delivered to every Tea Wanker.