sold Jackie Kennedy Tries to Protect Her Private Life During the 1960 Presidential Campaign

On January 2, 1960, John F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States, stating that he would enter the New Hampshire primary. He was immediately considered a strong candidate if not the front runner, and both his campaign and family quickly became the subject of public interest.

On January 18, Margaret Davis, editor of the Alumni Review of the George Washington University, wrote to Mrs. Kennedy and asked if she, “as a George Washington graduate, former reporter and an active member of the Kennedy for President team,” would like to contribute an article. Davis suggested that “you might be willing to write…of the lady in the case for Kennedy. Such a story could speak of your role and experience as the wife of a candidate for the presidency…” The editor, seeing this as a perfect chance for public relations and assuming a positive response, went on to give specifications for the article, including the number of words and a request for photographs to use as illustrations. She was in for a surprise.

Autograph Letter Signed on her personal stationery, Washington, circa January 20, 1960, to Davis, declining the offer because of her desire for privacy. “Thank you so much for asking me to write an article for the new Alumni Review. I wish I could do something to help George Washington in some way – as I have such interest in it – but I would really rather not write anything. One has to give enough interviews as it is, and if I start writing stories about our life, then it won’t be the private life I try to keep it! I’m sure you understand. I do appreciate your interest and wish you every success.” This letter comes with retained copies of both of Davis’s letters to Mrs. Kennedy on this subject.

So in the midst of a swirl of attention, with the spotlight on her husband and herself, the 30-year-old candidate’s wife turns down an easy public relations opportunity and stakes out a claim that she will protect her private life as her own. That speaks volumes about Mrs. Kennedy and leaves us wondering if such a show of individualism in a presidential candidate’s spouse would be allowed today.