Jacqueline Kennedy Manages the famed Kennedy White House Redecoration

A rare letter directly related to her famed Kennedy White House redecoration, being our first in over a decade

From the moment that John F. Kennedy was elected president in November 1960, it was clear that the incoming First Family would bring an unaccustomed sense of style, grace and optimism to the White House. Jacqueline Kennedy was a young woman of notable beauty, at once wistful and luminous, and of acute intelligence and exacting expectation. Her response to life was aesthetic, and to her appreciation of the arts, Mrs. Kennedy added a passionate sense of history. These qualities made her the ideal person to initiate a quest to bring beauty and history to the White House, one that was brilliantly executed, and led to the most influential redecoration in its history.

On February 23, 1961, hardly a month after the inauguration, the 12-member Fine Arts Committee for the White House came into existence as a body empowered to develop restoration plans and “locate authentic furniture of the date of the building of the White House and raise funds to purchase this furniture as gifts.” Henry F. du Pont, founder of the Winterthur Museum and revered as the most important collector of American decorative arts of his day, was named chair with Mrs. Kennedy serving as honorary chair. A primary aim was to procure furniture and furnishings, as well as artwork that was either owned by previous presidents or representative of particular periods in the building’s history. In this grand project, Jacqueline Kennedy used outside experts and dealers to assist her. The interior decorating firm Parish-Hadley Associates of New York was one that worked with her to decorate the White House, and Richard Nelson of that firm worked directly with her.

The First Lady turned the White House inside out and imprinted her own style upon the mansion. According to an official who worked with her, “In public, she was elegant, aloof, dignified, and regal. In private, she was casual, impish, and irreverent. She had a will of iron, with more determination than anyone I have ever met. Yet she was so soft-spoken, so deft and subtle, that she could impose that will upon people without their ever knowing it.” Relaxed and uninhibited, she was always popping up everywhere, wearing slacks, kicking off her shoes, sitting on the floor, hair flying in every direction. She was highly organized but rarely held herself to a schedule. She conducted “spelunking” expeditions into dusty storerooms and warehouses in search of forgotten treasures.

The Kennedys’ personal interest in making the White House a showcase of art, culture and history ultimately reached beyond its walls to affect the American people’s sense of their own history. Mrs. Kennedy’s efforts to restore the executive mansion won enthusiastic national support. For three days in January 1962, CBS correspondent Charles Collingwood was filmed interviewing her on a first-ever behind-the-scenes tour of the history, rooms, and contents of the White House. An estimated 56 million viewers watched the hour-long tour broadcast on all three national networks on Valentine’s Day that year.

Autograph letter signed, on White House letterhead, Washington, postmarked September 1, 1961, to Richard Nelson care of Mrs. Henry Parish, with regard to the Yellow Oval Room, which is used for small receptions and for greeting heads of states immediately before a State Dinner; and the President’s Dining Room, where the President may have casual meals alone or with staff and catch the news on television or discuss White House policy. The letter gives us a bird’s eye view of Mrs. Kennedy’s thinking, and her attention to detail.

She writes, “After spending a few days with your samples and designs, this is what I’ve decided. Would you send me the samples requested below as soon as Mr. Parish has a chance to scout for them.

“1. Yellow Oval Room. The color of the curtain taffeta is ideal, but the weight most definitely is not. It is not heavy like the Jansen sample I sent. It must be a heavy taffeta that stands up of its own accord when you drop the sample on the floor. I hope the sample you sent me hasn’t been woven yet, as it is not right.

“2. Yellow Oval Room design for curtain. I am copying one of Mr. du Pont’s photostats for you, which I will send. I prefer it to the design you drew up. Also could you send me a sample of the braid, so I can see it again.

“3. President’s Dining Room. I don’t like the shiny material you sent. Again, it must be a heavy paper taffeta, same weight as for Oval Room – in 2 shades of blue. If you send me samples of blue, I will decide when I am back in DC where paper will be on the wall. Also, a special design for fringe I will send you – also the design copies from du Pont.

“4. Oval Room furniture coverings. I enclose a plan of the furniture placement and what I would like on each chair – 2 of yours are perfect. Would you send samples of the others in the colors requested.”

This is a rare letter, as we’ve seen very few letters of Jacqueline Kennedy actually managing the famed Kennedy White House redecoration. It’s our first in over a decade.