For Cornwall author: memories of Jackie and JFK

CORNWALL — As a snapshot in time, the period known as Camelot in the early 1960s, when the Kennedy family was in the White House, remains a particularly bright image.  

Jacqueline Kennedy was seen by many as a new kind of woman, and as paragon of grace and elegance. She did not disappoint those who revered her, in the aftermath of her husband’s assassination.  Even as she avoided the spotlight, she took the time to respond to some 1.25 million condolence letters sent to her.

Cornwall resident Paul DeAngelis has collected some of those letters in his new book, “Dear Mrs. Kennedy: A World Shares Its Grief.� The book has been out since summer and the author is in the middle of a multi-state book tour. But he continues to be fascinated by the subject of the book, and said he has found that interest in it has come from some surprising quarters.

“It’s been very highly received on young adult book blogs,� DeAngelis said. “I had not even thought of it as a young reader’s book. It seemed to me a 16-year-old would think of 9/11 as the moment that changed history.�

DeAngelis’ career has been as a publishing company editor and ghost writer. Like most anyone in the publishing/media business, he has at least one book in him that he would like one day to get around to writing. It would likely be an historical novel, he says.

Author Jay Mulvaney had already written several books on the Kennedys when Harper Collins accepted in 2007 his idea to publish what would essentially be a collection of some of the letters.

The project involved reviewing the 204,000 letters that had not been destroyed by an archivist at the Kennedy Library.

Mulvaney was in the process of seeking permission from some of the letter writers when he died suddenly. DeAngelis was tapped to finish the book, and shares author credit with Mulvaney.

“My part of it was to add some of the history of John F. Kennedy. It really became an exercise in recreating his appeal,� DeAngelis said. “It was a very interesting approach to writing a book. It is a window on that moment in time, and when you have a limited way of presenting, it can be much richer.�

What he finds most fascinating about the letters is that, whether they came from a world leader or a young child, a person who was rich or poor, or from whatever part of the globe, there is an overlying and very genuine tone of respect.

There is also a great deal of taking stock — and presenting a compelling case that the assassination had a pivotal effect on the world.

“A lot of people wrote about how they were going to rededicate themselves to something in their lives. There was so much optimism that came out of it, as if people felt they owed it to JFK to continue what he had started.

“And during that time, people were vying to call themselves liberals. The country was ready to look at new social aspects, such as the women’s movement.�

The book is getting great reviews, with about half of the 15,000 printed copies sold in the first few months. DeAngelis said it’s far from a best-seller, but is doing very well. He believes sales were boosted by a good dust jacket presentation.

“We went through lots and lots of photos for the jacket. They were generally very somber. A final selection was Jackie in a black veil. Then Barnes & Noble offered to take a position on the book, but only if they had input on the jacket. They came up with a very unique photo of JFK and Jackie walking on the beach. I think it’s perfect.�

He also credits the tour with generating book sales. It has taken him to television studios around the country and into libraries here in the Northwest Corner. He said it has been a fascinating experience.

“It’s much different from soothing writers’ egos,� he said of spending time with readers rather than authors.

But more than that, it has been a chance to meet people and experience their enduring fascination with Camelot.