Sold – JFK & Jacqueline Kennedy Design the Presidential Medal of Freedom

If we do these things which mean so much, we should do them as superbly as possible. I don’t want to interfere but this is something I care about & love to work on.

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 she brought with her a broad knowledge of the arts. With her historical sense, she understood that the White House was not a private residence but the property of the American people, and her brilliantly executed quest to bring beauty and history to the President’s House led to the most important redecoration of the White House in its history. However, it was not just the executive mansion that came under her influence, but all artistic and cultural aspects of the positions she and the President held.

One significant example of this is the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was established in 1963 by JFK’s executive order. It is a decoration bestowed by the President and is the highest civilian award in the United States. It recognizes those individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” Maj. Gen. Chester “Ted” Clifton was a senior military aide to the President, joining Kennedy’s staff in 1961 and serving throughout his presidency. Clifton was in almost constant touch with both the President and First Lady during those years, and it was his responsibility to act as liaison between the Kennedys and the medal design team.

Autograph Letter Signed by Mrs. Kennedy on White House letterhead, Washington, circa July 1, 1963, to Clifton, relating her interest in the medal project, revealing the lengths to which she would go to make things beautiful, and saying that beauty is something she cares about. “The President told me about the President’s Medal – which I guess has been designed or you are in the process of. Could I please see it? I did not like the Presidential Citation being prepared for the Harrimans – so redesigned it from old Presidential documents from archives & got the old looking vellum to print it on.  I am so anxous this medal be something beautiful too. Is there a deadline when it must be given? Could you send it over to the Treaty Room for me to see today. If you can get any examples of old medals from archives could you send them too – what is its material – bronze”?Could it be silver – what is to be written on it? I thought his inauguration medal was so awful. If we do these things which mean so much, we should do them as superbly as possible. I don’t want to interfere but this is something I care about & love to work on. If you have a special sculptor or designer with whom i should get in touch if I want to make any changes, can I see him before we go to Florida Wednesday??Also could I see its presentation box?” Clifton complied, and Mrs. Kennedy soon after sent this Autograph Note Signed on a White House card, Washington, July 14, 1963, to Clifton. “I have written suggestions inside folders for B, D, E. Could we see them in color by next weekend?”

In early September 1963, Clifton wrote the President and First Lady about the ribbon design of the medal and sent six samples. The President responded in this Autograph Note on both sides of a White House card, Washington, to Clifton. “Ted, I like this best. What about a more attractive blue ribbon-  without stars – and with a white border?” His ribbon design change was accepted and is the very ribbon for the medal still given out.

Clifton’s letter to Mrs. Kennedy ended by saying “We would certainly appreciate your judgment on the colors.” As usual, she responded in an Autograph Note Signed right on the sheet. “I agree with you that the group of #1 is a blue to prefer over the more garish blue of group #2 – & 1B looks better than any other. You are miraculous, producing a beautiful Freedom Medal & presentation sword.”?She then digressed in a note relating to a dog the Kennedys wanted to give Clifton, and buttons Jackie wanted to give the President for Christmas, but thought better of it and crossed it out. She continued, “Since I wrote this I read your memo on the Wild Geese buttons. You are a saint to pursue it this far &?I think we have all done the best we can & it is a lost cause – though I would pursue the Spanish Military Museum in Madrid as suggested (not for September 12) just for the future – maybe an excuse for you to go there! Do write them as it would be lovely to have these buttons someday. So if you can track them down – do – or any other Irish historical buttons that you think JFK might like – just one set for Xmas.” The Wild Geese were Irishmen who served in the Spanish and French armies, wherever they could fight against England and for the freedom of Ireland.  Kennedy had a great interest in them and referred to them in speeches. Here we see Mrs. Kennedy looking everywhere for a piece of their memorabilia to give her husband; a Spanish military museum indeed seems like a place to try.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom manifested the Kennedy’s desire to reward excellence in all fields of endeavor, and to focus attention on those fields. It still serves that purpose today. This group of letters and notes comes right from the Clifton files and has never been offered for sale. It seems to exemplify the esthetic beauty, love of culture and art, and grace of the Camelot years. There is a poignant side to this letter too, for JFK did not live to see the Christmas of 1963, so never received the Irish historical buttons his wife was so anxious to find for him.