Condolence letters after JFK's assassination published

Washington, March 10 (ANI): Condolence letters sent to President John F. Kennedy's widow Jackie after his assassination in 1963 have been published in a new book.

As many as 200 notes were selected from the 1.5 million condolence letters to feature in "Letters to Jackie: Condolences From a Grieving Nation," by historian Ellen Fitzpatrick.

The 200,000-page book divides the letters into three categories; vivid recollections of the day Kennedy was killed; letters that express views on society, politics and the presidency; and personal experiences of grief and loss, Discovery News reported.

Fitzpatrick said: "There have been so many books about the Kennedy assassination. We've heard from the experts, we've heard from the conspiracy theorists, we've heard from people in the Kennedy administration, but here are the voices of those voiceless, everyday Americans."

One of the shortest letters came from Martin Rosenberg, a student at the University of Massachusetts, who wrote: "Dear Mrs. Kennedy: I have never seen our football players cry ... but today, they did."

Another one by eighth-grader Mary South read: "I tried to tell myself he would be all right but somehow I knew he wouldn't. ... the tears wouldn't stop. The slightly damp keys were hard to play but I offered it up that the President might live."

Barbara Rimer, who was 15 when she wrote, penned: "I promise you that I will give body and soul to perpetuate the very ideals President Kennedy lived for." (ANI)